Question 1

When the industry that is being regulated gains control over the agency that is supposed to regulate it, the process is called

Accepted Answer

A)   cooption.
B)   capture.
C)   complacency.
D)   collusion.
E)   pork. B

Question 2

The Endangered Species Act is

Accepted Answer

A)   supported by citizens who believe in wildlife preservation.
B)   cited by some as an example of infringement on the rights of landowners.
C)   an example of the tension between the desire for small government and the desire for benefits large government can provide.
D)   an example of a law with bureaucratic implications.
E)   All of the above are true. E

Question 3

Describe the manner(s) in which Congress attempts to control the bureaucracy.

Accepted Answer

Congress attempts to control the bureaucracy in several ways. One way is through the power of the purse, as Congress has the authority to approve the budget for federal agencies and can use this control to influence their actions. Additionally, Congress can hold hearings and investigations to oversee the activities of the bureaucracy and ensure they are acting in accordance with the law. Congress also has the power to pass legislation that directly affects the operations of federal agencies, and can amend or repeal existing laws to change their authority. Finally, Congress can confirm or reject presidential appointments to key positions within the bureaucracy, giving them indirect control over the leadership of these agencies. Overall, Congress uses a combination of budgetary, oversight, legislative, and appointment powers to attempt to control the actions of the bureaucracy.

Question 4

Which of the following is not one of the four major types of structures within the executive branch?

Accepted Answer

A)   independent regulatory agencies
B)   cabinet departments
C)   privatized bureaucracies
D)   government corporations
E)   independent executive agencies

Question 5

The monopolistic model of bureaucracy states that

Accepted Answer

A)   bureaucracies have no competitors and are therefore inefficient.
B)   decision making should be a rational process.
C)   advancement should be based on merit.
D)   bureaucracies seek expanded budgets and increased size.
E)   bureaucracies should apply similar decisions to similar situations.

Question 6

Discuss the ways in which the political participation and affiliation of federal employees has changed under the spoils system, the Hatch Act, and the 1993 Federal Employees Political Activities Act.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the ways in which the political...

Question 7

In 2008, the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP)

Accepted Answer

A)   was used to create the government-sponsored enterprises, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
B)   provided bailouts to homeowners who were upside down in their home loans.
C)   was the first time the government intervened in a business failure in American history.
D)   provided a bailout to banks, automobile companies, and the AIG insurance company.
E)   helped small businesses expand during the economic downturn.

Question 8

The acquisitive model of bureaucracy holds that

Accepted Answer

A)   decision making should be a rational process.
B)   advancement should be based on merit.
C)   leaders of bureaucracies seek expanded budgets and larger staffs.
D)   bureaucracies should apply similar decisions to similar situations.
E)   bureaucracies should hold hearings before taking action.

Question 9

Parts of government that are directly accountable to the president are called

Accepted Answer

A)   line organizations.
B)   independent regulatory agencies.
C)   Weberian bureaucratic units.
D)   monopolistic bureaucratic units.
E)   government corporations.

Question 10

Which of the following statements are true about federal spending?

Accepted Answer

A)   The Social Security Administration administers Social Security and Medicare benefits.
B)   The U.S. Postal Service employees comprise 50 percent of the federal workforce.
C)   The U.S. Postal Service has been self-supporting for decades.
D)   About 50 percent of all government spending goes to the elderly each year.
E)   Veteran's services make up about 5 percent of annual federal spending.

Question 11

The federal government must release at your request any information it has about you or other subjects due to

Accepted Answer

A)   the Freedom of Information Act.
B)   the Bureaucratic Transparency Act.
C)   the Bureaucratic Freedom Act.
D)   the Informational Transparency Act.
E)   None of the above.

Question 12

Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A)   A release of classified information that may endanger American soldiers is called whistleblowing.
B)   A release of classified information that may endanger American soldiers is called a leak.
C)   A release of information that calls attention to inefficiency or illegal action is called whistleblowing.
D)   The Obama administration has charged fewer people with leaking government secrets than most previous presidencies.
E)   Options B and C are true.

Question 13

Explain both sides of the issue of the privatization of government. Provide examples of ways privatization might make government more efficient and some of the unintended consequences of privatization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain both sides of the issue of...

Question 14

Describe the evolution of the civil service with particular emphasis on legislation that implemented reforms in government employment policies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the evolution of the civil service...

Question 15

Congress's power to levy an income tax

Accepted Answer

A)   only came about in 1913.
B)   was built into the Constitution in 1787.
C)   was granted by the Sixteenth Amendment.
D)   was granted by the Twentieth Amendment.
E)   Both A and C.

Question 16

Which part of the federal government employs most of the government's staff?

Accepted Answer

A)   judiciary
B)   legislative branch
C)   federal courts
D)   executive branch
E)   Internal Revenue Service

Question 17

According to Max Weber, a bureaucracy should be all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)   an apolitical organization.
B)   an organization made up of unspecialized staff to avoid delays in policy implementation.
C)   an organization where decisions are based on logic and analysis.
D)   an organization that makes promotions on the basis of merit, not politics.
E)   an organization that applies similar decisions to similar situations.

Question 18

The spoils system of bureaucratic appointments was first implemented by

Accepted Answer

A)   President John Adams.
B)   President Franklin Roosevelt.
C)   President Bill Clinton.
D)   President Richard Nixon.
E)   President Andrew Jackson.

Question 19

The idea that bureaucracies will try to increase their budgets and expand their power is common in

Accepted Answer

A)   the Weberian view of bureaucracy.
B)   the acquisitive view of bureaucracy.
C)   the monopolistic view of bureaucracy.
D)   the New Deal view of bureaucracy.
E)   All of the above.

Question 20

Congressional control over the bureaucracy

Accepted Answer

A)   can result in congressional hearings.
B)   includes the ability to force bureaucrats to testify before Congress.
C)   includes its power to refuse funding to administrative agencies.
D)   is met with skepticism by many pundits.
E)   All of the above.

Exam 13: The Bureaucracy