Chapter 14. The Bureaucracy Inquisitive
Which of the following is an example of a revenue agency?
the Interval Revenue Service (IRS)
How can politicians and interest groups influence the rule-making process?
All are Correct Answers: -Interest groups can comment on a proposed rule in the period leading up to its implementation. -The courts can change the way the bureaucracy interprets a congressional action. -Congress can write a bill that gives the bureaucracy little discretion in how it is implemented. -Presidents can tell the bureaucracy how to interpret a law.
In 1883, the ____ was passed in order to create the merit system for staffing the bureaucracy. It required appointees to be qualified based on ______.
Civil Service Act, competitive examinations
Select the principal in the passage that illustrates an example of the principal-agent problem. In 1970, Congress passed the Clean Air Act and further amended the Act in 1977 and 1990. Seventeen years after the Act was considered, the Court ruled that the definition of "air pollutant" was sufficiently broad enough to encompass greenhouse gases. This was something unforeseen at the time Congress passed the legislation, yet now this ruling conferred the authority upon the Environmental Protection Agency to address climate change. This set into motion actions that Congress had never contemplated or endorsed at the time.
Congress In this example, Congress is the principal and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the agent. The principal (Congress) passed a policy that is being implemented by the agent (EPA), and the vagueness of the law has given the agent (EPA) a great deal of latitude in addressing climate change.
Which statement about the design of bureaucratic agencies is correct?
Congress and the president generally have less control over independent agencies such as the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau that have automatic funding.
Identify the correct and incorrect statements.
Correct Answers: -Congress has the power of oversight over the bureaucracy. -Under Article II, Section 2, the president is given the power to nominate officers of the United States. -The U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention the bureaucracy. Incorrect Answers: -The president and Congress lack sufficient control over the bureaucracy.
Different parts of the bureaucracy often focus on national security, the economy, or public welfare. Match each policy area to the departments, agencies, or offices that focus on that area.
Department of Education Correct label: public welfare Internal Revenue Service Correct label: economy Environmental Protection Agency Correct label: public welfare Federal Reserve Correct label: economy Department of State Correct label: national security
Almost one out of four federal employees work outside of Washington, D.C. T/F
False
The trend in congressional oversight has been toward more "police patrol" oversight, and less "fire alarm" oversight. T/F
False
Match each type of agency or bureau to its correct example.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) -independent regulatory commission U.S. Postal Service (USPS) -government corporation Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -cabinet department National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) -independent agency
The _________ is the top presidentially appointed management rank for career civil servants. These individuals ______ civil service protections.
Senior Executive Service, lack
Rules made by the bureaucracy of one administration can easily be reversed by the next administration. T/F
True
Indicate whether the following activities are a responsibility of the Treasury Department ("Treasury") or the Federal Reserve ("Fed").
administering monetary policy -Fed regulating bank lending activities -Fed administering fiscal policy -Treasury printing currency -Treasury
Secretaries are the top officials within ________, the largest subunits of the executive branch, whereas ______ have the broadest discretion to make rules and have been referred to as "mini-legislatures."
departments, independent regulatory commissions
Which of the following aspects of bureaucratic rule-making are accurate? Which aspects are inaccurate?
Accurate about Rule-Making -Congress tends to delegate the responsibilities of lawmaking to the administrative agency. -Bureaucratic rule-making can have the same impact on policy as legislation. Inaccurate about Rule-Making -Before being implemented, bureaucratic rules must be approved by Congress. -The longer rule-making process demonstrates how inefficient the bureaucracy is.
Which of the following agencies were created by Congress to give them information independent of the information it gets from the executive branch?
Correct Answers: -Congressional Budget Office -Congressional Research Service -General Accounting Office Incorrect Answers: -Office of Management and Budget -Federal Reserve
Identify the correct and incorrect statements.
Correct Answers: -Not all political appointees require Senate confirmation. -The Pendleton Act replaced the spoils system with a merit-based system. Incorrect Answers: -Bureaucrats serve at the pleasure of the president and can be fired without cause. -Bureaucrats have little power due to congressional oversight.
Identify the correct and incorrect statements.
Correct Answers: -Privatization downsizes government. -The reliance on contractors raises a variety of challenges with oversight and accountability. Incorrect Answers: -Contracting always leads to lower costs. -Contractors are generally more skilled and have greater expertise than career bureaucrats.
Which of the following groups or organizations can initiate oversight of executive branch bureaucracy?
Correct Answers: -congressional committees -Congressional Budget Office -individual members of Congress -private citizens Incorrect Answers: -Supreme Court
Identify whether each example illustrates the enforcement, rule-making, or implementation function of the federal bureaucracy.
In 2020, the EPA rescinded standards that specifically regulate methane emissions. -making rules In 2015, the EPA fined Volkswagen billions of dollars for installing devices that helped their cars cheat on emissions test standards that were implemented in the 1970s. -enforcing laws In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed legislation that provided cash payments to qualifying Americans. The Internal Revenue Service carried out this law, ensuring those eligible Americans received their stimulus checks. -implementing laws
Match the agency to its description.
agency that provides Congress with information about how tax dollars are spent and how the government could be made more efficient -Government Accountability Office agency within the Executive Office of the President with control over the federal budget and regulations -Office of Management and Budget has key staff reporting directly to the president and includes groups such as the National Security Council and Council of Economic Advisers, among others -Executive Office of the President agency addressing consumer complaints and regulating banks, payday lenders, debt collectors, among other firms -Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Why might Congress choose to delegate authority to bureaucrats?
Correct Answers: -Congress may prefer to delegate politically tricky decisions to bureaucrats to avoid taking positions on controversial issues that may anger constituents or interest groups. -As Congress faces collective action issues and stalemates, bureaucratic agencies afford flexibility and adaptability, which ensure laws are administered in ways that can take new conditions into account. -Bureaucrats typically have more specialized knowledge and expertise, and members of Congress trust their judgment in carrying out the law. Incorrect Answers: -Because Congress provides staff for the bureaucratic agencies, the agencies always act in a manner consistent with Congress's desires.
Which of the following statements about the size and growth of the federal bureaucracy are accurate?
Correct Answers: -The federal civilian workforce has decreased over the last 60 years. -Several recent presidents have made a point of campaigning against the size of the federal workforce. Incorrect Answers: -The federal workforce has nearly doubled because of programs like health care and education reform. -Although the federal workforce has stayed relatively the same in numbers, it has grown as a percentage of the population.
Which of these accurately describes the bureaucracy and what it does?
Correct Answers: -employs experts -implements laws passed by Congress and the president -interprets laws Incorrect Answers: -ensures the president's agenda is enacted