AP Gov Bureaucracy Questions
Which of the following is a difference between the power of nineteenth-century presidents and that of the modern president according to the passage? A Presidents in the nineteenth century had to contend with congressional committees, which had significant powers in foreign affairs. B Modern presidents have acquired the power of the purse, which allows them to spend freely on foreign affairs. C Modern presidents must win wars in order to keep members of Congress from criticizing their foreign policy. D Presidents in the nineteenth century were more likely to support intervention in foreign affairs.
A Presidents in the nineteenth century had to contend with congressional committees, which had significant powers in foreign affairs.
A policy that sets emission standards for automobiles is an example of A regulatory policy B judicial policy C fiscal policy D distributive policy E monetary policy
A regulatory policy
Based on the passage above, which of the following constitutional provisions would the author most likely identify as a solution to the problem of the imperial presidency? A Congress exercising the power to regulate commerce B Congress insisting that it declare war prior to the use of international force C The president making stronger use of bureaucratic discretion D Congress creating term limits for all members of government
B Congress insisting that it declare war prior to the use of international force
Which of the following is true of the relationship between Congress and executive agencies? A The agencies were created by and work under the direction of Congress. B Agencies, once created, work totally independent of Congress. C Because the agencies have bureaucratic expertise, Congress delegates "rule-making authority" to them. D Because of differing objectives, their relationships are always adversarial. E Congress creates, staffs, and supervises all executive agencies.
C Because the agencies have bureaucratic expertise, Congress delegates "rule-making authority" to them.
The mission of the Department of Transportation is to ensure the safety and efficiency of the transportation system. The Department of Transportation has accepted public comments regarding the safety of automated vehicles in the United States in order to establish standards and guidelines for this new technology. Which of the following concepts is most related to the scenario? A Exclusive powers B Reserved powers C Delegated discretionary authority D Enumerated legislative authority
C Delegated discretionary authority
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will spend money appropriated by Congress to maintain wildlife refuges. This action is an example of A the power of the filibuster B congressional oversight of the bureaucracy C bureaucratic implementation of law D an unfunded mandate E an independent expenditure
C bureaucratic implementation of law
When independent regulatory agencies make rules, enforce those rules, and adjudicate disputes arising under those rules, they risk violating the constitutional concept of A equal protection of the laws B due process of law C federal supremacy D separation of powers E federalism
D separation of powers
An advantage that bureaucrats in federal government have over the President in the policymaking process is that bureaucrats A control the budgetary process B have an independence from the President that is guaranteed by the Constitution C find it easier to marshall public support than does the President D usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the President lacks E have better access to the media than does the President
D usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the President lacks
Which of the following stages comes first in the policy-making process? A Agenda setting B Legitimation C Program evaluation D Policy formulation E Implementation
A Agenda setting
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority? A Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards B The chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce appointing the chair of the Environment subcommittee C The House of Representatives establishing the jurisdiction for the Committee on Energy and Commerce D The president nominating the attorney general of Ohio to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
A Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards
Which of the following is an example of the executive branch implementing a public policy passed by Congress? A The Department of Health and Human Services determines eligibility requirements for government assistance. B As chief diplomat, the president negotiates a treaty that is then ratified by the Senate. C A Federal Trade Commission official is asked to testify before Congress about the agency's activities. D Congress passes a law reorganizing the structure of the federal bureaucracy.
A The Department of Health and Human Services determines eligibility requirements for government assistance.
Which of the following explains how the bureaucracy can address a problem shown in the infographic? A The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume. B The president can negotiate a treaty that would allow for increased imports of oil. C The House Committee on Energy and Commerce can hold a hearing on the cost of fuel. D The Supreme Court can overturn laws that regulate fuel economy.
A The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume.
Which of the following is an action a president can take to rally public support for the administration's legislative agenda? A Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes. B Hold private meetings with key members of Congress to promote a compromise on the budget. C Forge an executive agreement with another country regulating the safety of consumer products. D Sign a bill into law that would provide increased aid to college students.
A Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the text by Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 ? A While Schlesinger views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, The Federalist 70 views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness. B While The Federalist 70 views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, Schlesinger views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness. C Both Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 view centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous. D Both Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 view centralization of power in the presidency as vital to the presidency's effectiveness.
A While Schlesinger views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, The Federalist 70 views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness.
In The Federalist 70, Alexander Hamilton states that "energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government." In this statement, Hamilton is arguing in favor of the need for A a single executive who can respond quickly to crises B a president who has a good understanding of public policy C an electoral college in the selection of the president D a president who is youthful and assertive
A a single executive who can respond quickly to crises
The expansion of the executive branch since 1939 has affected the separation of powers by A increasing presidential control over the legislative process B increasing the power of the media as a result of more frequent presidential press conferences C reducing the power of the Supreme Court through the use of executive orders D giving more power to interest groups than to parties E making senatorial approval of presidential appointees ceremonial
A increasing presidential control over the legislative process
Which of the following scenarios illustrates how social media has changed the way presidents relate to the public? A A president appearing on a late-night comedy talk show to make jokes about the news B A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference C A president allowing film crews to cover a visit to a natural disaster area to highlight federal aid distribution D A president hosting a rally in a swing state to increase support for policies helping the working class
B A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference
Which of the following statements best relates to the information shown in the infographic? A Despite many attempts at reform, some members of the federal bureaucracy are still hired through political patronage. B Like most businesses, the federal government has to seek out well-qualified and diverse job candidates. C Specialized skills, such as a background in STEM, are less important than a degree in political science for most jobs in the bureaucracy. D Most members of the federal bureaucracy work near Washington, D.C., or in state capitals.
B Like most businesses, the federal government has to seek out well-qualified and diverse job candidates.
Refer to the passage for the following question. In many places, classrooms are overcrowded and curricula are outdated. Most of our qualified teachers are underpaid, and many of our paid teachers are unqualified. So we must give every child a place to sit and a teacher to learn from. Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty. But more classrooms and more teachers are not enough. We must seek an educational system which grows in excellence as it grows in size. This means better training for our teachers. It means preparing youth to enjoy their hours of leisure as well as their hours of labor. It means exploring new techniques of teaching, to find new ways to stimulate the love of learning and the capacity for creation.... . . . While our Government has many programs directed at those issues, I do not pretend that we have the full answer to those problems. But I do promise this: We are going to assemble the best thought and the broadest knowledge from all over the world to find those answers for America. I intend to establish working groups to prepare a series of White House conferences and meetings... on the quality of education, and on other emerging challenges. And from these meetings and from this inspiration and from these studies we will begin to set our course toward the Great Society. The solution to these problems does not rest on a massive program in Washington, nor can it rely solely on the strained resources of local authority. They require us to create new concepts of cooperation, a creative federalism, between the National Capital and the leaders of local communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 Which of the following explains President Johnson's motivation for the speech in relation to his role as the head of the executive branch? A President Johnson believes that Congress will soon pass a bill on education reform, and he would like to be able to claim credit for it. B President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education. C President Johnson is expecting the Supreme Court to soon rule on the constitutionality of a law passed by the previous administration. D President Johnson is issuing an executive order calling on local governments to increase training for teachers and address poverty among students.
B President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education.
Which of the following explains President Johnson's motivation for the speech in relation to his role as the head of the executive branch? A President Johnson believes that Congress will soon pass a bill on education reform, and he would like to be able to claim credit for it. B President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education. C President Johnson is expecting the Supreme Court to soon rule on the constitutionality of a law passed by the previous administration. D President Johnson is issuing an executive order calling on local governments to increase training for teachers and address poverty among students.
B President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education.
Which of the following statements describes the author's main argument in the passage? A Congress must reassert its responsibility to declare war in order to ensure a balance of power. B Presidential power in foreign policy has expanded since the beginning of the twentieth century. C The Korean War was a turning point in presidential power. D The acquisition of the Panama Canal gave the president undisputed power over foreign policy.
B Presidential power in foreign policy has expanded since the beginning of the twentieth century.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of bureaucratic rule making? A The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs considers the credentials of a person nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits. B The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand. C The president signs Executive Order 13777 intended to "lower regulatory burdens on the American people by implementing and enforcing regulatory reform." D The Supreme Court denies a writ of certiorari in Freddie H. Mathis v David J. Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which focused on veterans' disability claims.
B The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand.
Which of the following is an example of bureaucratic rule making? A The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) collecting back taxes with interest from citizens B The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) writing a regulation to support a clean water bill C Congress passing legislation to establish the Department of Homeland Security D The federal government listing a business opportunity on its clearinghouse Web site for government contracts
B The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) writing a regulation to support a clean water bill
Cabinet departments differ from independent regulatory agencies in which of the following ways? A The President can use an executive order to create a cabinet department but not to create an independent regulatory agency. B The President can dismiss cabinet officers, but not commissioners of independent regulatory agencies. C The President seeks appointees who reflect administration views in making cabinet appointments but not in making appointments to independent regulatory agencies. D Through the appropriations process, Congress can exert control over the cabinet departments but not over independent regulatory agencies. E The courts can overrule regulations issued by cabinet departments, but not those issued by independent regulatory agencies.
B The President can dismiss cabinet officers, but not commissioners of independent regulatory agencies.
Lobbyists from the Airlines for America, an advocacy group that represents commercial airlines, work with members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and officials from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to discuss a new policy that addresses issues of airline safety. This scenario best illustrates A a political action committee B an iron triangle C a social movement D an independent expenditure
B an iron triangle
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are examples of A cabinet departments B independent agencies C Executive Office bureaus D congressional committees E White House staff agencies
B independent agencies
Which of the following is likely to occur as a result of new legislation regarding automobile safety? A The Supreme Court will be asked to review the legislation annually. B States will be empowered to begin automobile manufacturing. C The Department of Transportation will be given discretionary authority to create auto regulations. D Mandatory spending will be required in all future federal budgeting for the program.
C The Department of Transportation will be given discretionary authority to create auto regulations.
To be sure, the President's control over foreign affairs had been growing since the Theodore Roosevelt administration [1901-1909]. . . . [President Roosevelt's] acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone preceded Woodrow Wilson's decision to enter World War I, which was a prelude to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's management of the run-up to the victorious American effort in World War II. In the 1950s, Harry S. Truman's response to the Soviet threat included the decision to fight in Korea without a Congressional declaration of war, and Dwight Eisenhower used the Central Intelligence Agency and brinkmanship to contain Communism. Nineteenth-century presidents had had to contend with Congressional influences in foreign affairs, and particularly with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But by the early 1960s, the president had become the undisputed architect of U.S. foreign policy. One reason for this was the emergence of the United States as a great power with global obligations. Neither Wilson nor FDR could have imagined taking the country to war without a Congressional declaration, but the exigencies of the cold war in the 1950s heightened the country's reliance on the president to defend its interests. Truman could enter the Korean conflict without having to seek Congressional approval simply by describing the deployment of U.S. troops as a police action taken in conjunction with the United Nations. Robert Dallek, "Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama," Smithsonian magazine, January 2011 Which of the following explains why the author believes presidential power has expanded? A Congress has passed legislation requesting that the president take on a stronger leadership role in foreign affairs. B The media has influenced public opinion to support the president's unrestrained control of foreign policy. C The United States has emerged as a global power, which has enhanced the power of the president in foreign affairs. D The chief executive's role as defender of freedom and democracy has promoted support for a more active presidency.
C The United States has emerged as a global power, which has enhanced the power of the president in foreign affairs.
In the last years presidential primacy, so indispensable to the political order, has turned into presidential supremacy. The constitutional Presidency—as events so apparently disparate as the Indochina War and the Watergate affair showed, has become the imperial Presidency and threatens to be the revolutionary Presidency. . . . The imperial Presidency was essentially the creation of foreign policy. A combination of doctrines and emotions—belief in the permanent and universal crisis, fear of communism, faith in the duty and right of the United States to intervene swiftly in every part of the world—had brought about the unprecedented centralization of decisions. Prolonged war in Vietnam strengthened the tendencies toward both centralization and exclusion. So the imperial Presidency grew at the expense of the constitutional order. Like the cowbird, it hatched its own eggs and pushed the others out of the nest. And, as it overwhelmed the traditional separation of powers in foreign affairs, it began to aspire toward an equivalent centralization of power in the domestic polity. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Which of the following statements is a correct implication of the author's argument? A The modern president has abused the power of the executive branch through the use of the bully pulpit. B Federal courts play a substantial role in the American political system, but they have been unable to check the executive. C The perception of multiple crises has led to the growth of an executive branch that is undermining the separation of powers in the government. D The Constitution has failed to protect the separation of powers by giving the executive branch and the president too much power.
C The perception of multiple crises has led to the growth of an executive branch that is undermining the separation of powers in the government.
A President attempting to influence Congress to pass a legislative program might employ all of the following strategies EXCEPT A using the media to draw attention to the legislative program B assigning legislative liaisons in the Executive Office of the President to lobby legislators C denying campaign reelection funds to legislators who oppose the President's policy stand D exploiting a partisan majority for the President's party in both the House and Senate E reminding legislators of high popularity ratings for the President in public opinion polls
C denying campaign reelection funds to legislators who oppose the President's policy stand
All of the following are true about the relationship between regulatory agencies and the industries they regulate EXCEPT: A Agency employees are often recruited from the regulated industry. B Agencies often rely on support from regulated industries in making budget requests before Congress. C An agency's relationship with a regulated industry may change when a new president takes office. D Agencies usually make decisions without consulting the regulated industry. E Agency employees often are employed by the regulated industry once they leave the agency.
D Agencies usually make decisions without consulting the regulated industry.
Which of the following possible actions illustrates a way Congress interacts with the bureaucracy to address the problem shown in the infographic? A Congress could raise money through gasoline taxes to address the issues shown in the infographic. B Congress could request that an iron triangle be formed to ensure that all bureaucratic solutions are heard prior to taking action. C Congress could remove the members of the cabinet who work on issues related to transportation. D Congress could have members of the Department of Transportation testify before a committee to discuss the issue and potential solutions.
D Congress could have members of the Department of Transportation testify before a committee to discuss the issue and potential solutions.
Which of the following situations is an example of the president using the bully pulpit as a tool for agenda setting? A President Clinton invoking executive privilege in resisting a subpoena by the United States Senate during the Whitewater investigation B President Bush issuing a signing statement in the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 that considerably weakened its provisions C President Obama issuing an executive order delaying the deportation of at least five million undocumented immigrants D President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes
D President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes
Which of the following is an example of how the innovation of social media can influence presidential behavior? A The president holds a press conference to discuss midterm election results. B The president outlines the administration's legislative agenda in the State of the Union Address. C The president hosts a White House dinner with a foreign head of state. D The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.
D The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.
In general, independent regulatory commissions are created primarily for the purpose of A supporting and helping cabinet-level departments B proposing policy alternatives during periods of crisis C regulating the activities of other bureaucratic agencies to ensure that they act in a fair and objective manner D regulating certain industries to protect the public interest E increasing the President's patronage powers
D regulating certain industries to protect the public interest
Which of the following is the best predictor of the Department of Education's annual budget? A The preferences of the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee B The budget recommendations of the National Education Association C The rate of increase of teachers' salaries D The number of children entering kindergarten E
E The size of the previous year's budget
Which of the following is true of independent regulatory agencies? A They tend to have larger budgets than cabinet departments. B They are directly supervised by cabinet departments. C They provide a product or service directly to the public. D They are insulated from contact with interest groups. E They tend to be freer from presidential control than are cabinet departments.
E They tend to be freer from presidential control than are cabinet departments.
A fundamental source of power for the federal bureaucracy lies in its A role in moving legislation out of subcommittees B role in mediating interstate conflicts C ability to convince Congress to fund most projects it supports D ability to mobilize public opinion in support of legislative initiatives E ability to set specific guidelines after receiving a general mandate from Congress
E ability to set specific guidelines after receiving a general mandate from Congress
Rules and regulations created by an agency such as the Federal Communications Commission are called A constitutional law B statutory law C common law D equity law E administrative law
E administrative law
All of the following have contributed to an increase in presidential power in the post-1945 era EXCEPT A tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War period B an increase in public expectations for services from the federal government C economic and domestic problems such as inflation, unemployment, and civil rights issues D increasing United States involvement in international affairs E legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress
E legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress
Congress adopted the War Powers Resolution to A give the president additional powers in case of military emergencies B delineate a clear chain of command in the event of nuclear war C criticize the president for declaring war without authorization from Congress D enable the president to commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping forces E limit the president's authority to commit troops overseas
E limit the president's authority to commit troops overseas
A President may persuade recalcitrant members of Congress to vote for a particular bill by A having members who oppose the bill transferred to unpopular committees B denying campaign funds to members who oppose the bill C threatening to deny renomination to members who oppose the bill D threatening to item veto part of a different bill that enjoys bipartisan support in Congress E making a direct appeal to the public through mass media
E making a direct appeal to the public through mass media
In trying to influence legislation, the President is generally more successful than congressional leaders in A using the legislative schedule to political advantage B enforcing party discipline C satisfying interest group demands for access to the policy process D effectively using formal parliamentary powers rather than persuasion E using the media to set the policy agenda
E using the media to set the policy agenda