Deck 9: Political Control of the Bureaucracy

Question 1

Which president argued that public administration should be shielded from politics?

A) Ronald Reagan
B) Franklin Roosevelt
C) Bill Clinton
D) Woodrow Wilson

Answer 1

Woodrow Wilson

Question 2

Questions about how to minimize fiscal waste, increase expertise, and promote good governance are usually thought of in what sort of terms?

A) administrative
B) political
C) regulatory
D) partisan

Answer 2

administrative

Question 3

In what way were Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt similar when it came to the issues of the bureaucracy?

A) The both argued for shrinking the bureaucracy because it was inherently corrupt.
B) They both held that the bureaucracy should be used as tool to advance a political agenda.
C) They both believed that order needed to be imposed on the expanding bureaucracy.
D) They both maintained that the bureaucracy should be subject to partisan pressures.

Answer 3

They both believed that order needed to be imposed on the expanding bureaucracy.

Question 4

Which statement best captures FDR's beliefs about the presidency as it related to the federal bureaucracy?

A) The president should defer to Congress on bureaucratic questions.
B) The president occupies a special place atop the bureaucracy as chief administrator.
C) The president plays a minimal role in guiding and managing the federal bureaucracy.
D) The president shares control of the federal bureaucracy equally with the legislative branch.

Question 5

How did the report of the Hoover commission affect the federal bureaucracy?

A) It embraced the managerial presidency and lent organizational support to the expanding government.
B) It rejected the notion of presidents as managers and argued for deep reductions in the size and scope of government.
C) It argued against scientific management as a mechanism of bureaucratic control and eliminated its use in government.
D) It reported that the rate of increase of the federal bureaucracy demanded the creation of a plural executive.

Question 6

Which of the following illustrates President Clinton's efforts to build on the efforts of FDR to rationalize the federal bureaucracy?

A) Brownlow Commission
B) Hoover Commission
C) National Performance Review
D) President's Management Agenda

Question 7

Even though it represented the spirit of reforms by his predecessors, George W. Bush's PMA demonstrated a key difference by its focus on __________.

A) reorganizing the executive branch
B) reducing the number of federal employees
C) eliminating the Federal Register
D) streamlining agency evaluations

Question 8

For many Americans, the word bureaucracy implies what?

A) inefficiency
B) partisanship
C) politics
D) resourcefulness

Question 9

When it comes to the actions of bureaucracy, which statement is accurate?

A) Presidents do not necessarily want the bureaucracy to perform its mandated functions efficiently; rather, they want the bureaucracy to perform the functions that matter most to them.
B) Presidents always support the efficient performance of the bureaucracy's mandated functions, even those actions that do not advance their policy preferences.
C) Presidents will always seek to reorganize an agency that is not performing the functions that matter the most to them, and they will always call for an investigation into agencies that underperform in their mandated functions.
D) Presidents have no control over whether an agency is performing its mandated functions efficiently; rather, they rely on their allies in Congress to pressure agency heads to perform the functions that matter most to them.

Question 10

The tendency of bureaucrats not to work as hard as elected officials would like them to is known as __________.

A) politicization
B) discretion
C) slack
D) drift

Question 11

The FDA's decision to delay an advertising label change on sunscreen illustrates the power of __________.

A) the president to manage bureaucratic drift in regulatory policy
B) public opinion to mold the content of regulatory policy decisions
C) Congress to mandate regulatory policy to administrative agencies
D) interest groups to shape and control the outcomes of bureaucratic decisions

Question 12

If as a new president you wanted to politicize the federal bureaucracy, you would appoint __________ to key bureaucratic posts.

A) ideological opponents
B) family members
C) political rivals
D) loyalists

Question 13

When a president appoints loyalist to important positions in the bureaucracy, he or she has engaged in bureaucratic __________.

A) politicization
B) rationalization
C) drift
D) slack

Question 14

Many high-level appointments to the federal bureaucracy are made on the basis of the nominee's __________.

A) education
B) ideology
C) competence
D) experience

Question 15

The tenure of __________ best illustrates the phenomenon bureaucratic politicization.

A) James Watt as Secretary of the Interior
B) Paul O'Neill as Secretary of the Treasury
C) Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense
D) Al Gore as the vice president

Question 16

Politicization of the bureaucracy __________.

A) is a prime component of scientific management
B) is only a factor in the appointment of officials
C) is the primary cause of bureaucratic drift
D) does not always impede bureaucratic initiative

Question 17

What does the appointment of Steven Chu as Secretary of Energy and his subsequent policy efforts demonstrate?

A) Politicization can help advance an agency's mandate and bureaucratic initiative.
B) Politicization exacerbates the problems of agency drift and slack.
C) Politicization efforts by presidents are never scrutinized or challenged by Congress.
D) Politicization can be a cause for the removal of a political appointee.

Question 18

The removal of Paul O'Neill as Treasury Secretary illustrates the effects of politicization because it shows that __________ is a key factor in top bureaucratic appointments.

A) expertise
B) loyalty
C) likeability
D) competence

Question 19

What did Secretaries of the Interior James Watt and Gale Norton have in common?

A) They were both more interested in advancing the interests of the agency than they were in advancing those of the president.
B) They both favored reducing the amount of development that could occur on federal land.
C) They both endorsed strong environmental positions that led to their being fired.
D) They were both more interested in developing federal lands than they were in protecting them.

Question 20

What motivates most attempts to reform the bureaucracy?

A) accountability
B) efficiency
C) politics
D) polarization

Question 21

Partisan appointees make up roughly what percentage of total federal civilian workforce?

A) 1 percent
B) 10 percent
C) 20 percent
D) 25 percent

Question 22

Which job classification is likely to have the greatest pay and responsibilities?

A) PAS personnel
B) SES personnel
C) Schedule A personnel
D) hourly wage employees

Question 23

What is suggested by historical trends in bureaucratic politicization?

A) Presidents have reduced the number of political appointments they are making.
B) Presidents make varying numbers of political appointments at different times.
C) Presidents have steadily increased their efforts to politicize the bureaucracy.
D) Presidents have actively politicized foreign policy agencies but not domestic agencies.

Question 24

What might cause a president to shy away from opportunities to politicize the bureaucracy?

A) The public strongly supports his or her policies.
B) The country is experiencing divided government.
C) The agency does not support his or her agenda.
D) The costs of administrative errors are particularly high.

Question 25

What does the data regarding political contributions to Obama by ambassadors suggest?

A) Major donors generally receive ambassadorships in countries with the highest standards of living.
B) The best ambassadorial positions are reserved for career foreign service officers.
C) There is no clear relationship between political donations and ambassadorial appointments.
D) Presidents privilege knowledge, skills, and training over political loyalty when making foreign service appointments.

Question 26

What is the goal of centralization of the bureaucracy by presidents?

A) to reduce corruption
B) to increase executive control
C) to minimize partisanship
D) to strengthen oversight

Question 27

When presidents engage in centralization efforts, where does power shift?

A) to the White House staff
B) to the congressional party leadership
C) to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
D) to the Congressional Budget Office

Question 28

The growth of presidential staffs illustrates increasing __________.

A) political polarization
B) citizen expectations
C) media deference
D) constitutional requirements

Question 29

Who is organizationally closest to the president?

A) schedule A staff
B) policy czars
C) the cabinet
D) the White House staff

Question 30

The White House Office is __________.

A) a twentieth-century invention
B) required by the Constitution
C) controlled by Congress
D) part of the CBO

Question 31

Special policy advisors to the president who coordinate and centralize the activities of the various executive branch offices are known as __________.

A) cabinet secretaries
B) policy czars
C) bureau chiefs
D) department heads

Question 32

What does the trend in the number of policy czars per administration from Wilson to Obama illustrate?

A) a rising scrutiny of policy czars by the American media
B) a reluctance to use policy czars by American presidents
C) a rejection of policy czars by American citizens
D) a growing acceptance of policy czars in American culture

Question 33

Why did Obama appoint Steven Rattner as policy czar to respond to the auto industry crisis?

A) He was lobbied by the auto industry to do so.
B) He was required to by Congress.
C) He wanted to demonstrate his seriousness.
D) He did not want to address the problem personally.

Question 34

What does the response to the 9/11 terror attacks demonstrate?

A) In addressing the domestic effects of terrorism, presidents often receive very little good advice or insight from policy czars.
B) In dealing with the national security policy, presidents are often forced to rely heavily on the guidance of Congress.
C) In managing the federal bureaucracy, presidents are often forced to choose between bad options.
D) In coordinating a major government response, presidents are often expected to let state agencies set the agenda for action.

Question 35

Which statement best characterizes the relationship between presidents and the bureaucracy?

A) Presidents can have a large influence on the politics of bureaucratic restructuring, but only as long as it occurs during a period of unified government.
B) Presidents can only reorganize the federal bureaucracy at the senior level and have little influence on the overall political orientation of the bureaucracy.
C) Presidents are not required to accept the existing bureaucracy as a given and thus can actively participate in the politics of bureaucratic restructuring.
D) Presidents have no authority to make changes to the existing bureaucratic structure unless they have been specifically delegated the power to do so by the legislative branch.

Question 36

What best explains a president's decision to eliminate an agency?

A) It served a core electoral constituency.
B) It was led by a policy czar.
C) It was a government corporation.
D) It was created by a president of an opposing party.

Question 37

When presidents are unable to eliminate or restructure objectionable agencies, what can they do?

A) They can impound the monies used to fund those agencies but, in doing so, will risk a distracting political battle with Congress.
B) They can create new agencies to their liking but, in doing so, will increase the level of inefficiency associated with bureaucracy.
C) They can require a congressional reorganization by Congress but, in doing so, will force a shutdown of basic government functions for a period of time.
D) They can use the power of the bully pulpit to put political pressure on Congress to fire the heads of difficult agencies but, in doing so, will risk political blowback from the action.

Question 38

What factors explain why different types of agencies survive for different lengths of time?

A) whether the agency is located in the Executive Office of the President and whether the heads serve for a fixed term
B) whether the agency was the creation of an executive order and whether it falls under the jurisdiction of the White House Office
C) whether the agency has met the standards of the National Performance Review and whether it was created by the Administrative Procedures Act
D) whether the agency is located in the Office of the First Spouse and whether its mandate deals with political issues

Question 39

Durable knowledge about the protocols and personnel within an administrative unit is known as __________.

A) recess appointments
B) bureaucratic drift
C) institutional memory
D) agency slack

Question 40

What is a consequence of politicization of the bureaucracy?

A) It can degrade the operation of affected agencies, as political appointees are always controversial and tend to both foster tension within agencies and draw negative media attention.
B) It can infuse the affected agencies with new energy, as political appointees help to minimize the tensions that exist between the executive branch and Congress, thereby creating greater opportunities for cooperation in meeting policy goals.
C) It can increase the efficiency of agency operations because the expert policy knowledge held by most political appointees enhances the trust of their subordinates and contributes to lasting policy change.
D) It can degrade the operation of affected agencies, as the relatively short tenures of political appointees can compromise their ability to learn the culture of their agency and can erode institutional memory.

Question 41

The tenure of Michael Brown during George W. Bush's administration demonstrated how politicization of the bureaucracy can __________.

A) adversely affect an agency's performance
B) improve an agency's institutional memory
C) lead to the use of recess appointments
D) contribute to improved agency efficiency

Question 42

__________ was the controversial head of FEMA whose performance during Hurricane Katrina led to his resignation.

A) James Watt
B) Gale Norton
C) Michael Brown
D) Steven Chu

Question 43

Which of the following can impede presidential efforts to politicize the bureaucracy?

A) lack of institutional memory
B) Senate confirmation process
C) requirements of executive privilege
D) Executive Reorganization Act

Question 44

__________ appointments happen when Congress is not in session.

A) PAS-level
B) Ex ante
C) Executive
D) Recess

Question 45

What was the Supreme Court's decision in National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning?

A) Obama's appointments were unconstitutional because Congress has the power to decide when it is in session.
B) Obama's use of executive privilege was unconstitutional, but his appointments would be allowed to stand.
C) Since Obama's reliance on national security directives in this situation was unconstitutional, his appointments were also unconstitutional.
D) Obama misused executive proclamations in this situation, but his appointments would be allowed to stand.

Question 46

What is a consequence of presidents employing centralization, politicization, and bureaucratic restructuring?

A) They unintentionally create a system in which accountability is diffuse and often the president is the last to know what is going on.
B) They eliminate any possibility of corruption and increase the ability of the bureaucracy to implement policy.
C) They eliminate the patronage system and ensure that all members of the federal bureaucracy are highly qualified.
D) They reduce the number of political battles that occur in the federal bureaucracy while limiting presidential control.

Question 47

What ability of political appointees was demonstrated by the obscure geological formation called Teapot Dome?

A) to effectively implement policy
B) to increase institutional memory
C) to cause problems for presidents
D) to enhance agency efficiency

Question 48

What was unique about Albert Fall in the aftermath of the Teapot Dome scandal?

A) He was the first former cabinet member sentenced to jail for his official conduct in office.
B) He was the first cabinet member to be falsely accused of administrative corruption.
C) He was the first cabinet member in U.S. history to use his office for corrupt ends.
D) He was the first former cabinet member to run for higher office in the aftermath of a scandal.

Question 49

Under whose presidency did the Teapot Dome scandal occur?

A) Calvin Coolidge
B) Lyndon Johnson
C) Warren Harding
D) George W. Bush

Question 50

What was the relationship of Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall to the president?

A) cousin
B) personal friend
C) vice president
D) brother

Question 51

Describe the history of administrative reform in the United States. How have specific presidents worked to reform the bureaucracy? Provide specific examples.

Question 52

Assess the statement that "bureaucracy is political in nature," and evaluate the impact of politics on the ongoing efforts toward bureaucratic reform. Use examples to support your position.

Question 53

What is politicization? As a new president, under what circumstances would you try to politicize and how would you do so? Use examples where relevant to support your statements.

Question 54

What mechanisms do presidents have at their disposal for restructuring the federal bureaucracy to increase their political control? How have these been used in the last century? Provide examples.

Question 55

What costs and limitations are associated with presidents' efforts to reform the bureaucracy? Provide examples.