Midterm Review Questions- Chapter 7- AP Government

Which of the following best describes the function of the iron triangle? -A network of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates to address specific issues -A coordinated and mutually beneficial effort between the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals -A network of foreign governments that are coordinated in their efforts to block the spread of Communism to developing nations -A group of interconnected interest groups and bureaucracies that advocate for the passage of legislation that will benefit defense and military contracting

-A coordinated and mutually beneficial effort between the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals

Which position would be considered part of the federal bureaucracy? -An aide to a member of the House of Representatives -A clerk for a justice on the United States Supreme Court -A member of the Department of Homeland Security -A policy advisor to a member of Congress

-A member of the Department of Homeland Security

In 2016, a federal state of emergency was declared in Flint, Michigan when it was discovered that the water in the city was heavily contaminated. Many felt that the lack of previous knowledge of the contamination was due to the downtrodden socioeconomic climate of the city and argued that the water disproportionately affected African Americans. How might the Environmental Protection Agency avoid future incidents like the one in Flint, Michigan? -Dissolve the Environmental Protection Agency altogether and allow private entities to monitor water quality -Establish nation-wide lead detection systems and standards for the highest acceptable amount of lead in drinking water -Dispatch Environmental Protection Agency workers only to impoverished communities that are predominantly African American -Actively strive for a representative bureaucracy that includes low-income or African American members

-Actively strive for a representative bureaucracy that includes low-income or African American members

What is a bureaucrat? -Someone who has made a career out of being in the government -Another word for a member of Congress who has served several terms -An official who is employed within an executive department or agency -A corrupt member of the government who pushes for their own interests

-An official who is employed within an executive department or agency

Which of the following is a criticism of a patronage system in a democratic government? -Appointees are frequently not qualified to serve the public interest. -It rewards those who are loyal to past administrations. -It is unrepresentative because there is no check on the appointment of cabinet heads. -It prevents Congress and the judiciary from checking bureaucratic actions.

-Appointees are frequently not qualified to serve the public interest.

The graph supports which of the following conclusions? -President Obama's policies favored federal employment over private-sector employment. -As of January 2011, there was more than an 18 percent gap between the growth of federal and private-sector employment. -From January 2008 to January 2011, the percentage of federal workers has grown at twice the rate as the percentage of private sector employment. -From January of 2008 to January 2011, private-sector employment steadily declined.

-As of January 2011, there was more than an 18 percent gap between the growth of federal and private-sector employment.

Which president prioritized diversity in their cabinet appointments? -Donald Trump -Barack Obama -George W. Bush -Bill Clinton

-Barack Obama

Suppose that a pipeline bursts and causes a massive oil spill contaminating the water supply in a nearby national park. In response, the president issues an executive order calling for new policies regarding the safety and location of pipelines, but the order leads to a dispute between the Departments of Energy, Transportation, and the Interior about how exactly it should be implemented. The process of resolving this dispute corresponds with which role of the federal bureaucracy? -Implementation -Bureaucratic discretion -Regulation -Bureaucratic adjudication

-Bureaucratic adjudication

How is the president able to influence the federal bureaucracy? -By confirming appointments made by Congress -By determining how a policy should be implemented -By approving the proposed budget -By appointing members of the bureaucracy

-By appointing members of the bureaucracy

How does the position of a top-level cabinet secretary differ from that of General Service employee? -Cabinet secretaries serve in career-long positions, while General Service employees change with administrations. -Cabinet secretaries tend to be more qualified and experienced for the job than General Service employees. -Cabinet secretaries are usually promoted from lower-level positions and General Service employees are appointed by the president. -Cabinet secretaries often change with administrations, whereas General Service employees tend to be career civil servants.

-Cabinet secretaries often change with administrations, whereas General Service employees tend to be career civil servants.

Suppose that the slow government response following an earthquake in California creates a harsh public outcry. In response, the president promises to allocate more resources to FEMA so that such a situation does not occur again. Who would the president have to persuade in order to see this promise fulfilled? -Congress -The Senate Majority Leader -The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court -The Secretary of Homeland Security

-Congress

Who has control over how much money each bureaucratic department, bureau, and agency can have? -The president -The Supreme Court -Congress -The American people

-Congress

During the last week of July 2017, members of the Federal Communications Commission testified before Congress about net neutrality rules. In the same week, the House Homeland Security Committee heard testimony about the role of technology in policing the border. These hearings are an example of -Congressional oversight of executive agencies -Iron triangles and issue networks -The power of Congress to revise legislation pertaining to the bureaucracy -The rulemaking and enforcement authority of the bureaucracy

-Congressional oversight of executive agencies

Which cabinet department established by George Washington is still in place today? -Department of Commerce -Department of the Interior -Department of Agriculture -Department of State

-Department of State

Which of the following describes the purpose of the Hatch Act? -Permitting federal workers to run for office while they serve in the government -Restricting the amount of money that a federal worker can donate to a campaign -Prohibiting any federal worker from voting in any presidential election -Ensuring that federal workers cannot become overly-partisan by engaging in politics

-Ensuring that federal workers cannot become overly-partisan by engaging in politics

What is the main function of the president in relation to the executive branch bureaucracy? -Allocating funds to each department and subunit to further the agenda -Ensuring the departments are properly executing laws and policies -Confirming the members appointed to each department by the Senate -Managing the various people and programs within the bureaucracy

-Ensuring the departments are properly executing laws and policies

Suppose you are a member of the federal bureaucracy. You earned the position based on your educational qualifications and performance on a competitive examination, and it has led to a long career in the civil service. Which classification of federal employee do you likely fall under? -Cabinet secretary -General Service -Deputy secretary -Senior Executive Service

-General Service

Which step is crucial for anyone who wants to influence the policymaking process? -Ensuring the budget funds the policy -Evaluating the effectiveness of the policy -Implementing the policy -Getting on the policy agenda

-Getting on the policy agenda

What is the primary function of the federal bureaucracy? -Signing new legislation into law -Introducing new legislation into Congress -Voting in favor of a new bill to become law -Implementing laws passed by Congress

-Implementing laws passed by Congress

How is the Government Accountability Office different from other government agencies? -It was established for the president to ensure his cabinet departments are acting appropriately. -It is a bureaucracy established by Congress, for Congress, instead of for the executive branch. -It was established for the sole purpose of responding to complaints from American citizens. -It is a bureaucracy that allows other bureaucracies to file complaints against one another.

-It is a bureaucracy established by Congress, for Congress, instead of for the executive branch.

How does the system of checks and balances actually hamper the functioning of the bureaucracy? -It prevents the bureaucracy from getting sufficient funds from Congress due to extensive oversight by the other branches of government. -It makes the process of implementation and regulation hyper partisan, so no policies are ever implemented or funded for longer than one president's administration. -It requires that bureaucracies respond to all three branches of government, leading to mixed signals and inefficient oversight. -It creates conflicts between the president and Congress, which keeps the bureaucracies from ever enforcing any policies.

-It requires that bureaucracies respond to all three branches of government, leading to mixed signals and inefficient oversight.

Why is agency capture a problem within the federal bureaucracy? -It leads to high turnover and a bad image for the president in charge of the bureaucracy. -It creates a partisan environment within the bureaucracy that leads to corruption. -It prevents qualified members of the bureaucracy from being promoted. -It undermines the goals of the bureaucracy and can lead to corruption within the government.

-It undermines the goals of the bureaucracy and can lead to corruption within the government.

The federal bureaucracy is often limited in its actions by its sheer size, providing additional checks on its own power. Was this check an intentional one by the framers of the Constitution? -Yes, George Washington established several large bureaucracies as president, all of which were intended to check the power of one another. -No, the Constitution does not require that the federal bureaucracy be so large that it cannot operate effectively. -Yes, the Constitution explicitly states that federal bureaucracies were to be established to provide advice to the president and check one another's power. -No, the framers of the Constitution did not intend for the executive branch to have any checks on its power.

-No, the Constitution does not require that the federal bureaucracy be so large that it cannot operate effectively.

During Hurricane Katrina, there was a delay in FEMA resources dispatched by the Department of Homeland Security to the victims in New Orleans. Based on the structure and functions of the federal bureaucracy, who likely received most of the blame for FEMA's failure to respond in a timely manner? -President George W. Bush -Members of the House of Representatives -The bureaucrats in the Department of Homeland Security -Local government officials in New Orleans

-President George W. Bush

What would result if the Department of Homeland Security worked with private organizations to coordinate efforts to respond to natural disasters all over the United States? -The Department of Homeland Security would likely improve their operations and break off from the private corporation shortly after working with them. -Public trust in the federal bureaucracy would likely increase and the response to disasters would likely be greater. -Large corporations would likely lose the support of millions of customers for working with the government to provide relief efforts. -The public would likely distrust the government for appealing to other organizations for assistance and thus refuse their help in times of emergency.

-Public trust in the federal bureaucracy would likely increase and the response to disasters would likely be greater.

How could the bureaucracy be changed in a way that would reduce overhead and increase efficiency? -Establishing an over-arching bureaucracy that oversees the actions of all other bureaucracies and makes recommendations for more efficient processes -Reducing the size and scope of the bureaucracy by cutting regulations and devolving responsibility to the states and private organizations -Eliminating lower-level political appointee positions and retaining only those that require confirmation by the Senate -Allow Congress to appoint cabinet secretaries and deputy secretaries, bypassing the lengthy confirmation process

-Reducing the size and scope of the bureaucracy by cutting regulations and devolving responsibility to the states and private organizations

Why might the regulation process delay the enforcement of a new law passed by Congress? -Each law that is passed must go through a review process in each of the 15 main bureaucracies before it can be fully enforced. -Since the federal bureaucracy is so large, legislation tends to pile up as bureaucrats read through it and make notes on it. -Many federal bureaucrats disagree on how laws passed by Congress should be interpreted, which causes debate and gridlock. -Rules that are added to legislation must be reviewed by interested parties, the president, and Congress before being implemented.

-Rules that are added to legislation must be reviewed by interested parties, the president, and Congress before being implemented.

President George Washington had only three cabinet departments, including the Department of State, which handled foreign policy and diplomatic relations with other countries. Why were the functions of the Department of State so important to George Washington that he dedicated an entire department to them? -Since the United States was a relatively new country, the interactions with other countries had to be strong and upstanding so as to assert America as a powerful nation despite its newfound independence. -George Washington wanted to ensure that other nations knew the United States had a powerful military that could properly defend its borders and used the Department of State to do so. -Once the Constitution had been ratified, the United States was in desperate need of money, and George Washington used the Department of State to appeal to other nations for loans. -George Washington did not believe the Constitution gave the president enough power, so he established the Department of State as a way to expand the power of the executive branch.

-Since the United States was a relatively new country, the interactions with other countries had to be strong and upstanding so as to assert America as a powerful nation despite its newfound independence.

Suppose that Congress has recently passed a net neutrality bill. Under the new legislation, internet service providers are classified as common carrier services, like telephone companies, and thus are subject to regulation by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). If internet service providers believe the law's regulations are being unreasonably interpreted by the FCC, how would they most effectively challenge the law? -Suing the FCC in federal court -Calling for an investigation by the GAO -Pressuring lawmakers to amend the bill -Asking the president replace the FCC commissioners

-Suing the FCC in federal court

Assume you have just been appointed by the president to serve in a cabinet department that will fund and oversee research into the return on investment for solar panels and wind turbines. Which department have you been appointed to? -The Department of Agriculture -The Department of Housing and Urban Development -The Department of the Interior -The Department of Energy

-The Department of Energy

The dispatch of FEMA resources during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 is an example of which bureaucracy in action? -The Department of the Interior -The Department of Homeland Security -The Department of Housing and Urban Development -The Department of Health and Human Services

-The Department of Homeland Security

Which department fell under considerable scrutiny following Hurricane Katrina? -The Department of the Interior -The Department of Homeland Security -The Department of Health and Human Services -The Department of Housing and Urban Development

-The Department of Homeland Security

How does Congress check the power of the president when it comes to the federal bureaucracy? -The House of Representatives must confirm the cabinet members nominated by the president. -The House of Representatives must agree on who to appoint as an advisor to the president. -The Senate appoints and the House approves the members of the president's cabinet. -The Senate must approve the cabinet secretaries nominated by the president.

-The Senate must approve the cabinet secretaries nominated by the president.

The cartoon expresses which of the following criticisms of the bureaucracy? -There is too much congressional oversight of the bureaucracy. -The average American does not benefit from the bureaucracy. -Bureaucrats are underpaid for the hard work they do. -The bureaucracy is inefficient.

-The bureaucracy is inefficient.

Which of the following makes it difficult for the executive branch to control the bureaucracy? -The Pendleton Civil Service Act protects bureaucrats from being fired. -The Hatch Act protects the political independence of bureaucrats. -Cabinet heads are appointed based on their expertise, and presidents defer to them. -The bureaucracy is large and deals with complex issues.

-The bureaucracy is large and deals with complex issues.

The cartoon is from India. What is the viewpoint expressed in the cartoon? -The bureaucracy is similar to an out-of-control mad scientist. -A merit-based civil service will make the bureaucracy more efficient. -A storm is coming that will overwhelm the bureaucracy. -The bureaucracy is overly complex and inefficient.

-The bureaucracy is overly complex and inefficient.

Why do cabinet secretaries often have to consult with the lower-level members of the federal bureaucracy? -Cabinet secretaries often seek the input of lower-level members of the bureaucracy to give the lower-level members more experience in implementation. -The lower-level members are usually more experienced and have greater knowledge than the appointed cabinet secretary. -The implementation of a bill is a process defined largely by the teamwork and camaraderie within the cabinet. -Cabinet secretaries are mostly symbolic figureheads with no real power and often defer to the lower-level employees for direction.

-The lower-level members are usually more experienced and have greater knowledge than the appointed cabinet secretary.

How does the merit system established by the Pendleton Act differ from the political patronage system used by Andrew Jackson? -The merit system ensures that only those who are qualified for a position are hired or promoted, whereas the political patronage system allows for hiring and promotion based on political support. -The merit system encourages presidents to appoint those who supported them to cabinet positions, whereas the political patronage system incentivizes hiring someone from the opposing party. -The merit system rewards those who donated the most money to a presidential campaign, whereas the political patronage system rewards those who have the proper qualifications and experience. -The merit system makes it difficult for a president to get a nominee for a cabinet position through the Senate, whereas the political patronage system makes it easier for a nominee to pass in the Senate.

-The merit system ensures that only those who are qualified for a position are hired or promoted, whereas the political patronage system allows for hiring and promotion based on political support.

Suppose state legislatures and the federal courts reviewed a policy that restricted the sale and use of firearms. Which result would likely occur if they found that the policy was failing to lower violent crime rates as Congress stated it would? -The policy would be implemented differently. -The policy would be terminated. -The policy would receive additional funding. -The policy would be sent back to the regulation stage.

-The policy would be terminated.

How does the power of the president over the bureaucracy compare to the power of Congress over the bureaucracy? -Congress only has the authority to fund the president's cabinet departments, but it has little control over the bureaucracy otherwise. -The president has considerably less power over the bureaucracy than Congress has over the bureaucracy. -The president has extensive powers when it comes to the establishment and funding of the bureaucracy, but Congress retains the power to appoint members of the bureaucracy. -The president's authority over the bureaucracy is not specifically granted in the Constitution, but Congress's power over the bureaucracy is.

-The president has considerably less power over the bureaucracy than Congress has over the bureaucracy.

Which statement would you cite to defend the argument that the federal bureaucracy is a threat to the American system of federalism? -Powerful positions within the federal bureaucracy are largely held by career politicians who are embroiled in partisan conflicts and subject to corruption. -Congress' authority over the federal bureaucracy is far too overreaching compared to the executive branch's relative lack of power. -The president is given too much power over the cabinet members, making for a largely corrupt body of advisors. -The size and reach of the bureaucracy make it impossible for average Americans to fully know who is making choices for them in unelected and unrepresentative positions.

-The size and reach of the bureaucracy make it impossible for average Americans to fully know who is making choices for them in unelected and unrepresentative positions.

What was the primary function of the Pendleton Act of 1883? -To remove all qualifications for persons appointed by the president to cabinet positions -To divide executive departments into areas that required extensive expertise and those that did not -To enforce rules on hiring and promoting members of the civil service based on merit -To establish the Department of Homeland Security in response to growing threats to national security

-To enforce rules on hiring and promoting members of the civil service based on merit

What is the main function of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)? -To hold the president accountable when appointing cabinet secretaries -To make sure that bureaucracies are not involved with special interest groups -To keep the federal bureaucracy accountable to the American people -To ensure that executive agencies are using their funds and exercising their authority properly

-To ensure that executive agencies are using their funds and exercising their authority properly

What is the purpose of federal bureaucrats? -To propose legislation to Congress that would benefit a certain interest or group -To determine whether or not a law passed by Congress violates the rights of Americans -To implement regulations and standards that Americans must follow to comply with the law -To pressure members of Congress to pass certain legislation to serve their interests

-To implement regulations and standards that Americans must follow to comply with the law

Suppose an interest group that advocates for accessible and affordable health care is lobbying members of Congress on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services to secure additional funding to develop a public health campaign to increase awareness about changes to the Affordable Care Act. These groups are engaged in which activity? -Using political patronage -Providing campaign support -Developing propaganda -Using the iron triangle

-Using the iron triangle

An issue network can be best described as -a long-standing network of federal bureaucrats and interest groups for the purpose of addressing chronic economic and social problems. -a temporary web of influence between policymakers, policy advocates, and interest groups to address a specific need. -the issues that come with the reduced oversight, favorable funding, and lobbying that happen under the iron triangle. -the interconnected policy issues that arise between members of Congress and interest groups while lobbying for a different set of policies.

-a temporary web of influence between policymakers, policy advocates, and interest groups to address a specific need.

Suppose a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission is a former employee of a large investment firm on Wall Street and has been easing the enforcement of regulations on his old firm. This is an example of -appropriations. -preferential enforcement. -oversight. -agency capture.

-agency capture.

Beginning in early 2016, Native American tribes, environmental groups, and human rights advocates began a protest movement against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, gaining the support of numerous members of Congress. The opposition to the pipeline's construction could be characterized as an example of -bureaucratic discretion. -congressional oversight. -an issue network. -an iron triangle.

-an issue network.

Suppose a member of Congress is part of a committee in which she reviews the actions of the president's cabinet departments to make sure the funds that were granted the year before are being used properly and the goals of each policy are on track to being achieved. This member of Congress is part of -a controlling committee. -an implementation committee. -an oversight committee. -a regulatory committee.

-an oversight committee.

Suppose Congress has just passed a new law that would impose additional standards on public schools for receiving state funding. The Department of Education needs time to determine how the new standards will be applied to public schools, which is an example of -bureaucratic adjudication. -bureaucratic discretion. -implementation. -regulation.

-bureaucratic discretion.

The following statement appears on the Food and Drug Administration Web site: The objective of FDA regulatory programs is to assure compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act). Specific enforcement activities include actions to correct and prevent violations, remove violative products or goods from the market, and punish offenders. The type of enforcement activity FDA uses will depend on the nature of the violation. The range of enforcement activities include issuing a letter notifying the individual or firm of a violation and requesting correction, to criminal prosecution of the individual or firm. —U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA Enforcement Actions The quote refers to which of the following tasks of the bureaucracy? -oversight -compliance -regulation -discretion

-compliance

In authorizing the president to establish executive departments and seek the advice of the heads of those departments, the founding fathers -anticipated that the president would require hundreds of advisors to run the country properly. -did not expect the president to be an expert in all areas of social, economic, or military matters. -intentionally gave the executive branch more power than all the other branches of government. -essentially established an authoritarian government under the guise of a federal republic.

-did not expect the president to be an expert in all areas of social, economic, or military matters.

Following Hurricane Katrina, groups like Habitat for Humanity and Minnesota Helpers stepped up to help the victims of the natural disaster, demonstrating the -ability of the federal government to effectively take action in efforts to rebuild after a natural disaster. -effectiveness of private organizations to take quicker and more effective action than federal agencies. -scope of FEMA to provide additional services beyond medical aid, food, and water in times of emergency. -difficulty in dispatching other relief efforts to an area that was relatively isolated from the rest of the United States.

-effectiveness of private organizations to take quicker and more effective action than federal agencies.

Iron triangles have been criticized because they benefit their members but limit the ability of outside groups to influence the policymaking process. This criticism represents which theory of democracy? -representative -pluralist -participatory -elitist

-elitist

Someone that is appointed to the Department of Education based on their extensive experience as an educator and their unique success with implementing new methods of teaching would be -unfairly utilizing personal connections. -in violation of the Pendleton Act of 1883. -taking advantage of the political patronage system. -part of the federal civil service.

-part of the federal civil service.

Suppose a president who has just been elected to office is deciding who to appoint to a cabinet position and decides to nominate several of the people who had worked on his campaign. This is an example of -merit-based appointment. -political patronage. -standard nomination procedure. -bureaucratic corruption.

-political patronage.

Suppose a group of Congress members have successfully passed a new bill that would improve the interstate highway system to make it safer and more efficient for drivers. Once the president has signed the bill into law, the next hurdle for the policy would be -terminating the policy due to lack of necessity. -receiving the proper funding to implement the policy. -implementation by beginning work on construction. -determining how effective the new policy is.

-receiving the proper funding to implement the policy.

According to ABC News, the average chocolate bar contains eight insect parts. Anything less than sixty insect pieces per 100 grams of chocolate (two chocolate bars' worth) is deemed safe for consumption by the Food and Drug Administration. This is an example of bureaucratic: -regulation -discretion -red tape -inefficiency

-regulation

Suppose a member of Congress received campaign contributions from a group committed to fighting climate change by exploring clean energy options. Once elected, that member of Congress joins a committee that authorizes additional funding to the Department of Energy for the purpose of researching and implementing clean and renewable energy sources. This is an example of -federal oversight. -the iron triangle. -bureaucratic corruption. -pork barrel spending.

-the iron triangle.

Select the pair of answers that matches a branch of government with the correct check on the bureaucracy. Branch of government Check on the bureaucracy a. Executive Appropriates funds b. Congress Appoints agency heads c. Supreme Court Issues decisions overturning regulations d. House of Representatives Confirms Cabinet appointments B A D C

C