Deck 5: Principles and Policies in the Police Organization

Question 1

The principle of ____________ demands that action be taken if and when individuals in the organization exercise their authority improperly or irresponsibly.

A) accountability
B) chain of command
C) hierarchy
D) span of control

Answer 1

A

Question 2

According to the _____________, only decisions that cannot be made at a given level in the organization should be referred upward for resolution.

A) accountability principle
B) authority-level principle
C) chain of command
D) span of control

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The principle of ___________ holds that a person in an organization should have just one immediate boss.

A) accountability
B) chain of command
C) hierarchy
D) unity of command

Answer 3

D

Question 4

A narrower span of control is generally recommended in what circumstance?

A) in smaller organizations
B) in larger organizations
C) at higher levels in the organization where subordinates have a greater degree of authority and responsibility
D) in police organizations in order to maintain control over personnel who lack professional training but who are delegated substantial power and authority

Question 5

Organizational guidelines that derive from the impressions given by the organization's actions, rather than its official documents or statements, are called:

A) originated policy
B) appealed policy
C) implied policy
D) externally-imposed policy

Question 6

Typically, larger organizations are more hierarchical than smaller ones.

Question 7

According to the text, within an organization, the delegation of authority to a person or position should be regarded as permanent.

Question 8

The chain of command is used to verify that an item of evidence has not been alternated or contaminated in any way.

Question 9

According to the text, the optimum span of control for a supervisor is six or seven subordinates.

Question 10

Policies are primarily guides to thinking rather than specific mandates to action.

Question 11

In a properly organized police department, the police chief _________ authority.

A) retains
B) delegates
C) relinquishes
D) seeks

Question 12

Procedures are more specific than policies.

Question 13

Which of the following is not true about rules and regulations?

A) They mandate or prohibit certain actions.
B) They must be fair and reasonable.
C) They must be voted on and agreed upon by the department.
D) They are subject to change.

Question 14

The principle of unity of command insists that the reporting relationship between subordinate and superior be on a one-to-one basis.

Question 15

The size of the department is not an important consideration when grouping like functions.