Under the spoils system, who was awarded jobs in the federal bureaucracy?

those who helped candidates win election

Which of the following is a primary goal of privatizing government functions?

to improve the efficiency of public service delivery

How did the Pendleton Act (1883) reform the system of hiring and firing of most federal employees?

Hiring and firing decisions to be based on merit rather than party loyalty

Which of the following was a consequence of the spoils system?

The federal bureaucracy was staffed with people who often lacked expertise

How do standard operating procedures influence bureaucratic decision making?

They promote uniform application of rules.

Why do Americans tend to think that red tape is more prevalent than it actually is?

They notice the bureaucracy only when it is inefficient

How do command-and-control policies differ from incentive systems?

Command-and-control policies focus on punishing those who violate the law

The heads of independent regulatory commissions are __________.

selected by the president and confirmed by the Senate

Which of the following statements best describes the president’s influence over agency budgets

Proposes agency budgets but depends on the House for appropriation$

Which of the following is most consistent with the incentive system approach to regulatory policy?

reducing subsidies to public schools whose students have excessive absences

What is implementation?

process of translating policy goals and objectives into an ongoing program

Under what circumstance are bureaucrats most likely to exercise discretion?

when an agency is implementing a vague law

Why was the spoils system ultimately replaced by the civil service system?

due to growing concerns about a poorly functioning federal bureaucracy

Who are the three main players in an iron triangle?

bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees

Which of the following is an example of an independent executive agency?

General Services Administration

How do government corporations differ from private companies?

Government corporations cannot sell stock, whereas private companies can.

Which of the following is an example of Max Weber’s merit principle?

hiring bureaucrats based on their ability to do the job

What event served as a catalyst for the creation of the Pendleton Act?

the assassination of James Garfield in 1881

Which of the following is a function of the federal bureaucracy?

implementing laws passed by Congress

Which of the following is a means of enforcing a bureaucratic regulation?

sending inspectors to evaluate compliance

Which of the following is a drawback of privatization of government functions?

Privatization reduces the ability to scrutinize government functions.

What does a government corporation do?

provide services that could be provided by the private sector

Which of the following best describes the policies related to firing federal civil servants?

It is often difficult and time consuming to fire a civil servant.

Why do its proponents argue that deregulation is good public policy?

It makes U.S. products more competitive in the world marketplace.

studbud

Chapter 14: Federal Bureaucracy

40 termsStudBud Administration354 plays

Imported from external platform

Flashcards40 cardsFPractice quizPHost liveL

Questions 40

Answers

1
Under the spoils system, who was awarded jobs in the federal bureaucracy?
those who helped candidates win election
those who scored highest on aptitude tests
those who did not affiliate with a political party
those who previously served in the military
2
Which of the following is a primary goal of privatizing government functions?
to improve the efficiency of public service delivery
to provide services that the private sector cannot
to strengthen government accountability
to expand the size of the federal bureaucracy
3
Based on the chart, which of the following federal bureaucracies employs the most people?
the Department of Homeland Security
the Department of Veterans Affairs
the Department of Defense
the U.S. Postal Service
4
How did the Pendleton Act (1883) reform the system of hiring and firing of most federal employees?
Hiring and firing decisions to be based on merit rather than party loyalty
It continued to allow hiring on the basis of party but made firing easier
It continued to allow hiring on the basis of merit but made firing easier
Hiring and firing decisions to be based on party loyalty rather than merit.
5
Which of the following agencies is most removed from presidential control?
the Federal Reserve Board
the Department of Justice
the Environmental Protection Agency
the Department of Defense
6
Which of the following powers do Congress and the president share over agencies and departments in the bureaucracy?
the power to issue executive orders
the power to influence budgets
the power to hold oversight hearings
the power to sign executive agreements
7
Which of the following was a consequence of the spoils system?
Low turnover in the bureaucracy between presidential administrations.
There was little government corruption.
Lower voter turnout
The federal bureaucracy was staffed with people who often lacked expertise
8
What role is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) taking when it sets limits on air pollution from power plants?
oversight
adjudication
regulation
deliberation
9
How do standard operating procedures influence bureaucratic decision making?
They promote administrative discretion.
They promote close coordination with Congress on implementation decisions.
They promote uniform application of rules.
They promote coordination across agencies on implementation decisions.
10
Why do Americans tend to think that red tape is more prevalent than it actually is?
Americans generally have poor experiences when dealing with bureaucrats.
They notice the bureaucracy only when it is inefficient
Red is a more inflammatory color than black.
Transfer of negative assessments of private bureaucracies to public sphere
11
How do command-and-control policies differ from incentive systems?
Command-and-control policies use marketlike strategies
Command-and-control policies are typically more equitable than incentives
Command-and-control policies focus on punishing those who violate the law
Command-and-control policies are typically more efficient than incentives
12
The heads of independent regulatory commissions are __________.
elected
selected by the president and confirmed by the Senate
part of the President's cabinet
allowed to charge for their services
13
Government tells business how to meet certain goals, makes sure these directions are followed and punishes disobedience
Incentive system
The spoils system
The shoot-first-and-ask-questions-later system
Command-and-control policy
14
Which of the following statements best describes the president’s influence over agency budgets
Proposes agency budgets but depends on the House for appropriation$
Sole authority to determine executive administrative budgets.
The president has no authority in the budgeting process.
Final say over department budgets but no control over idependent agencies
15
Which of the following is a government corporation?
the Food and Drug Administration
the Federal Election Commission
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
U.S. Postal Service
16
Which of the following was system created by the Pendleton Act designed to address?
division of labor within the government
bueaucratic slowdown in the government
executive privilege
the spoils system
17
Which of the following is most consistent with the incentive system approach to regulatory policy?
lowering the drinking age and requiring states to implement the new one
requiring a restaurant to serve sugary soft drinks in smaller cups
reducing subsidies to public schools whose students have excessive absences
lowering taxes for bourbon distilleries in order to boost the state economy
18
Those who believe that regulations on business are too numerous and too complex are most likely to favor the policy of
command-and-control systems
incentive systems
executive orders
deregulation
19
Which of Max Weber’s characteristics of bureaucracy do the categories in the chart reflect?
extensive rules
Inefficency
task specialization
hierarchical structure
20
What is implementation?
the process by which government agencies settle legal disputes
process of translating policy goals and objectives into an ongoing program
set of procedures executive branch agencies must follow when issuing rules
a set of rules enforcing government agreements with private contractors
21
How has privatization of government functions to contractors changed in recent years?
provided services more efficiently at the federal level
decreased at the state level
received greater public support
increased at the federal level
22
Under what circumstance are bureaucrats most likely to exercise discretion?
when an agency is creating environmental regulations
when an agency is implementing a vague law
when an agency is proposing legislation
when an agency is under Congressional investigation
23
Why was the spoils system ultimately replaced by the civil service system?
due to public pressure to shrink the size of the federal bureaucracy
due to a Supreme Court decision ruling the spoils system unconstitutional
due to growing concerns about a poorly functioning federal bureaucracy
Congressional demands for greater control over the federal bureaucracy
24
Who are the three main players in an iron triangle?
bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees
Congress, the president, and the courts
politicians, candidates, and bureaucrats
businesses, interest groups, and political action committees
25
Which of the following grants bureaucracies the authority to issue regulations?
the President
Congress
the General Accounting Office
the Internal Revenue Service
26
Which of the following is an example of an independent executive agency?
the Department of Health and Human Services
the Consumer Product Safety Commission
the U.S. Postal Service
General Services Administration
27
How do government corporations differ from private companies?
Government corporations perform activities that private companies cannot.
Government corporations can borrow money, whereas private companies cannot.
Government corporations need less government oversight
Government corporations cannot sell stock, whereas private companies can.
28
Which of the following is an example of Max Weber’s merit principle?
evaluating political candidates based on personal characteristics
evaluating a policy proposal based on its benefits
evaluating political candidates based on work experience
hiring bureaucrats based on their ability to do the job
29
What event served as a catalyst for the creation of the Pendleton Act?
the election of Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876
the expansion of the federal bureaucracy in the 1880s
the growth of the Republican Party in the 1880s
the assassination of James Garfield in 1881
30
Which of the following is a function of the federal bureaucracy?
issuing executive agreements
implementing laws passed by Congress
issuing executive orders
implementing state statutes
31
Which of the following is a means of enforcing a bureaucratic regulation?
sending inspectors to evaluate compliance
deploying the armed forces to force compliance
sending members of Congress to assess the need for new legislation
charging higher taxes to those not in compliance
32
By whom are Cabinet secretaries chosen and confirmed?
the president; the Supreme Court
the Senate, the President
the president; the House of Representatives
the president; the Senate
33
Which of the following is a likely first step in obtaining a civil service job?
networking with civil service workers
taking a test
helping on a political campaign
donating to campagin coffers
34
What regulates industries using marketlike strategies such as rewards?
iron triangle
incentive system
patronage system
executive order
35
Which of the following is a drawback of privatization of government functions?
Privatized services often cost less to deliver.
The bidding process involves too many rules
Privatization reduces the ability to scrutinize government functions.
Privatized service delivery is often too slow.
36
What does a government corporation do?
break up monopolies and promote free-market principles
generate significant profit for the federal government
provide services that could be provided by the private sector
expand international trade
37
Authority of administrators in the federal bureaucracy to make choices concerning the best way to implement policies?
Adjudication
Division of labor
Executive control
Discretion
38
Which of the following best describes the policies related to firing federal civil servants?
Federal civil servants cannot be fired because they have life tenure.
The president has sole authority to hire and fire federal civil servants
It is often difficult and time consuming to fire a civil servant.
The courts can fire civil servants for legal or political reasons.
39
Why do its proponents argue that deregulation is good public policy?
It makes U.S. products more competitive in the world marketplace.
Deregulation addresses fundamental flaws in the free-market economy.
Workers will be less likely to be injured in workplace accidents
It protects consumers by guarding against inflation and price gouging.
40
Which of the following is a part of the federal bureaucracy?
the Democratic Party
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. House of Representatives
Department of Defense

Chapter 14: Federal Bureaucracy Flashcards | StudBud