8.3 Bureaucrats and Accountability

What are three features which characterize American bureaucracy: (Choose three answers.)

- It includes a strict division of labor where in work is apportioned among specialized workers to increase productivity. - It includes a chain of command in which authority flows from top to bottom, the characteristic of a hierarchy. - It includes superb measurement of productivity for success where work and action is evaluated based on rules and clear, outlined expectations.

Congress delegates substantial authority to administrative agencies in several areas: (Choose three answers.)

- devising and enforcing regulations - transferring money to state and local governments for grants-in-aid - paying subsidies

The authority to make policy decisions given by the Congress to the bureaucracy comes in several forms: (Choose three answers.)

- expertise - rule-making - administrative discretion

Some of federal bureaucrats, such as _____, take special tests and meet special criteria. (Choose three answers.)

- postal employees - doctors in the Public Health Service - FBI agents

Which two of the following are government-funded programs under the bureaucracy? (Choose two answers.)

- roads and highways - welfare programs

The civil service examinees must meet selection criteria, such as _____. (Choose three answers.)

- training - education levels - prior experience

can write lots of legislative stuff that increases or decreases bureaucratic freedom

congress

Even though bureaucrats work at a variety of jobs, most are blue-collar and construction workers.

False

Fifty percent of civilian employees work in the Washington, D.C. area.

False

In 1993, Congress strengthened the Hatch Act by making many forms of participation in politics more restricted.

False

The President, the legislative branch and the judicial branch lack the ability to force the bureaucracy to be accountable.

False

The Supreme Court is responsible for lots of important government-funded programs, such as the National Endowment for the Arts.

False

The government and the people are so contented with the size and efficiency with the bureaucracy that there is no need to reform and reorganize it.

False

The number of federal employees per 100 people in the United States population has increased from over 14 per 100 in the early 1970s to a little over 10 per 100 by the late 1990s.

False

can interpret the actions of the bureaucracies in order to determine if the actions are constitutional or not

Supreme court

Which one of the following is NOT a reason why the people have a negative opinion of the bureaucratic system?

The bureaucracy consists of voters who caters to the administration.

A federal bureaucracy is a set of complex hierarchical departments, agencies, commissions, and their staffs that exist to help the President carry out his Constitutionally mandated responsibility to enforce the laws of the nation.

True

About 30% of the civilian federal government employees work for the army, the navy, the air force, or some other defense agency.

True

Accountability is the holding of bureaucrats or other public officials for how they implement laws and presidential directives.

True

Federal government employees represent a broader cross section of the American population than do members of Congress.

True

The Hatch Act forbids employees from engaging in many party activities, such as running for public office or raising funds for a party or candidate.

True

The bureaucracy is notorious for being out of touch with the people and difficult to navigate.

True

The bureaucracy links the three branches together with a main job to make policies.

True

can change the functions of bureaucratic departments and agencies

congress

can confirm or reject presidential appointments to bureaucratic organizations

congress

can investigate bureaucratic activities and can force bureaucrats to testify

congress

can give an executive order

president

can hire and fire agencies

president

can pose proposals to change the rules and send it to the Congress to make it into a law

president

can reorganize the bureaucracy

president

Which one of these groups of people is knowledgeable in handling the bureaucracies?

specialized experts

can hold threats of legal sanctions on bureaucratic administrations

supreme court

About 90% of all federal bureaucrats are hired under regulations of _____.

the civil service system