bureaucracy 2

Which of the following is an example of congressional oversight? A Holding hearings for review of an executive agency's activities B Assisting constituents with particular problems (C) Reporting campaign contributions to the Federal Election Commission (D) Signing trade agreements with other countries without input from the president (E) Conducting ethics investigations of congressional leadership

A Holding hearings for review of an executive agency's activities

Which of the following represents the Securities and Exchange Commission exercising its discretionary authority? A Imposing a fine on an individual who has traded stocks based on insider information. B Selling government securities in order to reduce inflation. C Designing new currency that is more difficult to counterfeit. D Negotiating trade agreements with foreign nations.

A Imposing a fine on an individual who has traded stocks based on insider information.

The Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 requires administrative agencies to publish proposed regulations at least 30 days prior to implementation. How has this affected the policy-making process of the bureaucracy? A The public is kept more aware of the bureaucratic policy-making process. C B The judiciary is prevented from interfering with the implementation of policy by the bureaucracy. C It protects the power of each individual agency to use its own unique method of creating policy. D It prevents the president from exerting influence over the policy-making process within the bureaucracy.

A The public is kept more aware of the bureaucratic policy-making process.

Which of the following r the MOST effective strategy for the Executive Branch to use to end an investigation by another federal department? A Fire the head of that department. B Sign an executive order ordering that department to cease the investigation of the President. C Issue a press release calling into question the integrity of the department. D Work with a congressional committee to remove end the investigation.

A Fire the head of that department.

Which of the following is an example of congressional oversight? A Holding hearings for review of an executive agency's activities (B) Assisting constituents with particular problems (C) Reporting campaign contributions to the Federal Election Commission (D) Signing trade agreements with other countries without input from the president (E) Conducting ethics investigations of congressional leadership

A Holding hearings for review of an executive agency's activities

Which of the following falls within the discretionary authority of the Environmental Protection Agency? A)Reducing the fuel efficiency*standards for most automobiles to 20 miles per gallon. B)Increasing the admissions fees charged at national parks. C)Creating regulations that prevent oil drilling in a protected wildlife refuge. D)Conducting research to develop hydrogen fuel cells as an alternate energy source.

A)Reducing the fuel efficiency*standards for most automobiles to 20 miles per gallon.

Which of the following best illustrates an xample of the Department of Veterans Affairs fulfilling the responsibilities it was given by Congress? A Establishing the physical requirements that must be met for a member of the military to serve in combat. B Guranteeing housing loans for those who have served in the military. C Prosecuting members of the military who have been accused of crimes committed while on duty. D Providing aircraft for military operations overseas.

B Guranteeing housing loans for those who have served in the military.

In which of the following ways did the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 change the federal bureaucracy? A It established limits on the length Af time that civil service employees can be employed by the same agency. B It provided for the selection of most government employees based on a competitive exam rather than political affiliation. C It required that presidents appoint an equal number of Republicans and Democrats to civil service positions. D It exempted the appointments of cabinet secretaries from Senate confirmation.

B It provided for the selection of most government employees based on a competitive exam rather than political affiliation.

Which of the following represents an exercise of the discretionary authority of the Department of Transportation? A Requiring drivers to maintain liability insurance on their automobiles B Prohibiting passengers from bringing weapons in carry-on luggage on airplanes. C Increasing the price of train tickets between Washington, D. C. and Philadelphia to $100. D Establishing stricter emissions requirements for automobiles to improve air quality.

B Prohibiting passengers from bringing weapons in carry-on luggage on airplanes.

14. Which of the following is the best conclusion that can be drawn from the data in the table? (A) Support for the Vietnam War led Congress to hold more hearings to discuss increases in expenditures on the military effort. (B Public concern over the Vietnam War led Congress to hold more hearings to consider using the power of the purse to influence the conduct of the war. C The public reaction to the September 11 terrorist attacks led to many hearings to limit federal expenditures to fight terrorism. (D) The number of hearings have increased in the House of Representatives because members have become more dependent on political action committees.

B Public concern over the Vietnam War led Congress to hold more hearings to consider using the power of the purse to influence the conduct of the war.

Which of the following describes an example of policy development within an iron triangle? A The Attorney General orders the FBI to increase enforcement of federal marijuana laws. B Scientists from the Sierra Club successfully petition the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to declare fruit bats an endangered species C The president asks the Department of Defense to prepare military strategies related to potential conflicts in Asia. D The Supreme Court issues a ruling requiring states to provide attorneys for indigent criminal defendants.

B Scientists from the Sierra Club successfully petition the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to declare fruit bats an endangered species

The broad grants of power to implement legislation given to the bureaucracy by Congress often include powers which are classified as quasi-legislative. Which of the followingrepresents an example of the bureaucracy exercising quasi-legislative powers? A The head of the CIA testifies in front of Congress about ongoing operations in Afghanistan B The EPA imposes regulations on businesses that are designed to limit air pollution. C The Secretary of Agriculture meets with the House Committee on Agriculture to discuss farming subsidies D The Department of Homeland Security drafts a request for additional funding following a devastating hurricane.

B The EPA imposes regulations on businesses that are designed to limit air pollution.

The House Committee on Appropriations has concerns about the extravagant spending taken by the Department of Defense on an expanse of new tanks. Which of the following is the best course of action for the committee to take in investigating this matter? A The committee can send representatives to the factory to monitor the building of the new tanks. B The committee can bring in the Secretary of Defense for a hearing to ask questions on the new tanks. C The committee can authorize the CBO to verify the cost of the new tanks. D The committee can ask the House Government Reform Committee to look into it as only that committee can oversee the executive branch.

B The committee can bring in the Secretary of Defense for a hearing to ask questions on the new tanks.

Which of the following statements characterizes one way the president can independently hold a federal bureaucratic agency accountable for its performance? A The president can limit the amount of money the bureaucratic agency receives to carry out its functions B The president can enlist the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to evaluate the performance of a bureaucratic agency. C The president can unilaterally appoint new leadership to a bureaucratic agency without congressional approval. D The president can impel the judiciary to force a bureaucratic agency to comply with his wishes.

B The president can enlist the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to evaluate the performance of a bureaucratic agency.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a formal check on the power of the bureaucracy? (A) A lobbyist representing the National Rifle Association refusing to meet with employees from the Department of Homeland Security (B) The secretary of defense being called to testify before a congressional committee (C) The White House chief of staff being formally censured by the president for publicly speaking out against the president's policy goals (D) A federal judge being impeached for making legal decisions based on bribes

B The secretary of defense being called to testify before a congressional committee

Which of the following best explains why cabinet secretaries might not aggressively pursue the presidents policy agenda? (A) Cabinet secretaries are unlikely to be members of the president's party. B) Cabinet secretaries may develop strong loyalty to their departments. C) Cabinet secretaries are likely to compete with the president in a subsequent election. D) Under the Hatch Act, cabinet secretaries are prohibited from campaigning on behalf of the president. E) The Freedom of Information Act compels cabinet secretaries to divulge confidential information to the

B) Cabinet secretaries may develop strong loyalty to their departments.

4. 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.

Which of the following describes the president's Cabinet? (A)It consists of career civil servants with decades of experience in government service. (B) Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions. (C) Its members hold office for fixed terms that coincide with the president's. (D) Its members must be selected from among current or former members of Congress. (E) Its members are required to approve presidential policy decisions.

B) Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions.

The role Congress plays in ensuring that executive branch agencies are carrying out their legislated responsibilities is known as (A) judicial review B) legislative oversight C) bicameralism (D) federalism (E) executive privilege

B) legislative oversight

Which of the following is most likely an effect of the trend in the line graph? (A) An increase in accountability of the bureaucracy (B) A decrease in the length of regulatory bills passed by Congress C A decrease in congressional oversight as a mechanism to control the bureaucracy D An increase in the authority of the House of Representatives over the bureaucracy

C A decrease in congressional oversight as a mechanism to control the bureaucracy

Which of the following best describes an exercise of the authority of the Federal Election Commission? A Changing the method of voting for members of the House of Representatives from punchcard ballots to electronic voting machines. B Imposing a fine on an individual who makes a $1 million independent expenditure on behalf of a candidate. C Citing the campaign of a candidate that fails to file timely disclosures of campaign contributions. D Establishing a requirement that voters register at least 30 days prior to an election.

C Citing the campaign of a candidate that fails to file timely disclosures of campaign contributions.

As the political institution that provides the bureaucracy with its authority and the necessary funding to carry out its responsibilities, Congress maintains the power to oversee its activities. Which of the following represents an example of Congress exercising oversight? A Congress passes legislatio y increasing the rule-making authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission. B Congress decreases funding for the Department of Health and Human Services in order to reduce the national deficit. C Congress holds hearings in which the Federal Reserve Chairperson testifies about recent changes in monetary policy. D Congress increases funding to the Department of Defense for ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

C Congress holds hearings in which the Federal Reserve Chairperson testifies about recent changes in monetary policy.

A member of House of Representatives has introduced a bill that would require the Department of State and Secretary of State to report back on current government support for the state of Israel. If the bill is approved by Congress, which of the following is the best course of action for the President to take to ensure that diplomacy has flexibility and is kept under control of the executive while also ensuring that the United States continues to support their ally. in Israel? A Veto the bill and tell Congress to craft a bill to the President's liking. B Create a treaty with Israel to share weapons technology and seek out approval from the Senate to ratify it. C Create a signing statement voicing support for Israel and the independence of the executive to perform diplomacy with the bureaucracy. D Sign the bill into law and follow it up with an executive order authorizing the Department of State to do all that Congress asks of it.

C Create a signing statement voicing support for Israel and the independence of the executive to perform diplomacy with the bureaucracy.

All of the following help to explain the President's difficulty in controlling cabinet-level agencies EXCEPT (A) Agencies often have political support from interest groups B Agency staff often have information and technical expertise that the President and presidential advisers lack C The President can only fire appointees before they have been confirmed by the Senate D Civil servants who remain in their jobs through changes of administration develop loyalties to their agencies (E) Congress is a competitor for influence over the bureaucracy

C The President can only fire appointees before they have been confirmed by the Senate

The Freedom of Information Act of 1966 has been a boon to bureaucratic watchdogs in their effort to monitor the actions of federal agencies. Which of the following statements best summarizes a description of this legislation? A The legislation requires all agencies to file an environmental impact statement outlining how any pureaucratic action might affect the environment, wildlife and natural habitats. B The legislation states that all government agency meetings must be open to the public unless issues such as military information or trade secrets are being discussed C The legislation gives citizens the right to inspect all government records, except those that contain information about military or intelligence activities, trade secrets, or private personnel records. D The legislation mandates that federal agencies keep government files about private citizens confidential.

C The legislation gives citizens the right to inspect all government records, except those that contain information about military or intelligence activities, trade secrets, or private personnel records.

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 Web site healthcare.gov was launched on October 1, 2013, to help citizens purchase health insurance for themselves in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. Within two hours of launch the site crashed. Once it was restored, problems continued, leading to difficulty for users. The following year, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was called to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss the issue. The committee held this hearing as part of which of the following functions? (A) Committee markup (B) Budget testimony C) Oversight (D) Impeachment

C) Oversight

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.

3. 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

A presidential candidate campaigned with the promise to have the federal bureaucracy build a wall on the southern border. Upon election, which of the following actions would be the best course of action for the President to quickly get the federal bureaucracy working on this measure? A The President could speak to Congress at the State of the Union Address and call for immediate appropriation of funds for a wall. B The President can issue an appropriations order to fully fund the wall on the southern border as it was a campaign promise. C A line-item veto could be used by the President to maneuver money from one part of the budget to the funding of a border wall. D An executive order could be signed authorizing Homeland Security to divert funds for border security to research and plan the building of a wall while awaiting further funding.

D An executive order could be signed authorizing Homeland Security to divert funds for border security to research and plan the building of a wall while awaiting further funding.

Which of the following actions of the President may be taken to limit the regulatory power of the Environmental Protection Agency? A Issuing an executive order eliminating the budget of the EPA B Organizing a political party rally to protest EPA regulations on businesses C Organize a class action lawsuit against the EPA on behalf of corporations D Appoint a new head of the EPA that shares similar beliefs on regulations

D Appoint a new head of the EPA that shares similar beliefs on regulations

7. 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.

9. Congress is most likely to exert oversight of the executive bureaucracy in which of the following ways? (A) Directly selecting the head of an executive agency (B) Impeaching the head of an executive agency C Using the Court to block implementation of proposed regulations D Controlling an executive agency's annual budget (E) Changing the term length of heads of independent regulatory commissions

D Controlling an executive agency's annual budget

Which of the following has most significantly contributed to the professionalization of the bureaucracy? A Most bureaucrats are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. B Bureaucrats tend to spend relatively short times in their positions. C Bureaucrats can be easily removed and replaced by those with political power. D Most bureaucrats receive their positions based on qualifications rather than political loyalty.

D Most bureaucrats receive their positions based on qualifications rather than political loyalty.

Which of the following tasks would fall within the authority of the Department of Homeland Security? A Implementing the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. B Providing housing assistance for those who have served in the military. C Implementing regulations to increase highway safety D Patrolling the land and water borders of the United States.

D Patrolling the land and water borders of the United States.

Which of the following best illustrates the discretionary authority of the Department of Education? A Hiring state superintendents of education. B Increasing the minimum number of required days in the school year. C Establishing regulations that prohibit public school students from engaging in controversial political speech. D Reducing the income qualifications for educational grants to attend college.

D Reducing the income qualifications for educational grants to attend college.

As is often the case, overlapping functions of bureaucratic agencies can serve as a constraint on the independence of any single agency. For example, the Customs Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI are all involved in controlling the trafficking of drugs, making the activities of the agencies interdependent. Which of the following groups of agencies share overlapping functions? A The Forestry Service, the Ipternal Revenue Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. B The Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Weather Service. C The Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Office of Nuclear Energy, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. D The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Agency, and the Central Intelligence Agency.

D The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Agency, and the Central Intelligence Agency.

The president and the Defense Department have made it a major priority to increase the size of the fleet to counter new threats in the Pacific. To this end, the administration secured congressional funding for a new class of destroyers. The Armed Services Committee has heard rumors that these new ships undergoing construction have been incurring tremendous cost overruns and that this fact is being concealed. Which of the following strategies would best suit the Armed Services Committee in its oversight role of the military? A The committee should make an assessment solely on data provided by the defense pontractor that is constructing the ships. B The committee should trust a White House evaluation of the situation. C The committee should rely on the expertise of the Pentagon to estimate the depth of the problem. D The committee should launch an independent, Government Accounting Office (GAO) investigation of the defense contractor.

D The committee should launch an independent, Government Accounting Office (GAO) investigation of the defense contractor.

1. 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

15. 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

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 is an accurate statement about committees in Congress? (A) The work of a committee ends when it submits a bill to the full House or Senate for consideration. (B) An individual representative or senator can serve on only one committee and one subcommittee. C) Membership on key committees such as House Rules and Senate Finance is limited to fixed terms. D) Standing committees oversee the bureaucracy's implementation of legislation. E) Committee recommendations tend to have little influence on floor voting.

D) Standing committees oversee the bureaucracy's implementation of legislation.

In the process and structure of public policy making, "iron triangles" refer to the A) bargaining and negotiating process between the President and Congress about the direction of domestic policy (B) dominance of corporate power in setting the national policy agenda for economic expansion (C) interrelationship among federal, state, and local levels of government in the policy process D) networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process (E) group of presidential advisers who formulate the President's foreign policy agenda

D) networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process

All of the following make it difficult for presidents to control the actions of federal agencies EXCEPT A the civil service system (B) issue networks (iron triangles) (C) bureaucratic inertia D) bureaucratic noncompliance E) the appointment of cabinet heads

E the appointment of cabinet heads

2. 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) The size of the previous year's budget

E) The size of the previous year's budget