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12
The Federal
Bureaucracy and the
Public Policy Process
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. The __________ is a form of organization that delivers goods and services at the
lowest cost through specialization of jobs, close supervision of employees, and
uniform regulations and procedures.
a. administration
b. bureaucracy
c. cabinet
d. civil service
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 358
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
2. What are the four broad types of departments and agencies for which federal
employees work?
a. federal departments, state departments, independent agencies, and independent
regulatory commissions
390
b. departments, cabinets, independent agencies, and independent regulatory
commissions
c. departments, administrations, independent agencies, and independent
regulatory commissions
d. departments, independent stand-alone agencies, independent regulatory
commissions, and government corporations
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 359
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
3. On the issue of global warming, the president has decided not to pursue a
national-level policy, but rather to instruct the Environmental Protection Agency
to study the issue. The knowledge produced by the EPA is an example of
__________.
a. the issue attention cycle
b. a symbolic benefit of public policy
c. a material benefit of public policy
d. incremental policy
Topic: The Public Policy Process
Learning Objective: LO 12.5: Outline the key steps in making public policy, and
assess the different types of policy.
Page Reference: 377 – 378
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Difficult
4. Under the spoils system, who was awarded jobs in the federal bureaucracy?
a. those who did not affiliate with a political party
b. those who previously served in the military
c. those who previously held elected office
d. those who helped candidates win elections
391
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 363 – 364
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
5. __________ are rules created by government agencies that determine how laws
are implemented.
a. Policies
b. Regulations
c. Standards
d. Statutes
Topic: The Job of the Federal Judiciary
Learning Objective: LO 12.2: Analyze the bureaucracy’s implementation
options and its effectiveness.
Page Reference: 365 – 366
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Easy
6. Which law designates the steps that federal agencies must follow in issuing rules
and regulations?
a. the Administrative Procedure Act
b. the Freedom of Information Act
c. the Hatch Act
d. the Pendleton Act
Topic: The Job of the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.2: Analyze the bureaucracy’s implementation
options and its effectiveness.
Page Reference: 366
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
7. The discretionary budget includes spending for __________.
a. Social Security
b. Medicare
392
c. health research
d. disaster relief
Topic: The Job of the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.2: Analyze the bureaucracy’s implementation
options and its effectiveness.
Page Reference: 367
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
8. The largest organizational unit in the federal bureaucracy is a(n) __________.
a. agency
b. bureau
c. corporation
d. department
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 359
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
9. The second-largest and fastest-rising source of federal revenue comes from
__________ taxes.
a. sales
b. payroll
c. corporate income
d. excise
Topic: The Job of the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.2: Analyze the bureaucracy’s implementation
options and its effectiveness.
Page Reference: 366
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
393
10. The __________ was one of the first executive branch departments in the U.S.
government.
a. Department of Agriculture
b. Department of the Interior
c. Commerce Department
d. Treasury Department
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 359
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
11. What type of groups has been created because of Ralph Nader’s citizen’s
movement?
a. Citizens for Responsive Government Groups (CRGGs)
b. Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs)
c. Citizens for Responsible Government Leagues (CRGLs)
d. Public Action Leagues (PALs)
Topic: Citizens and Public Policy
Learning Objective: LO 12.6: Assess ways in which citizens can influence the
public policy process.
Page Reference: 381
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
12. Senior officers of government are appointed by __________ and confirmed by
__________.
a. the president; the Senate
b. the president; the House of Representatives
c. the president; the Supreme Court
d. the Senate; the president
394
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 359
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
13. Presidential appointees in the federal bureaucracy __________.
a. may remain in office until there is a new party majority in Congress
b. generally leave their post at the end of the president’s term in office
c. often remain in office despite political changes
d. serve fixed terms of office lasting two years
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 362
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
14. The __________ is the independent regulatory agency that sets interest rates on
Treasury notes.
a. Federal Reserve Board
b. Federal National Mortgage Association
c. Federal Trade Commission
d. Securities and Exchange Commission
Topic: The Job of the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.2: Analyze the bureaucracy’s implementation
options and its effectiveness.
Page Reference: 367
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
15. The Hatch Act prohibits federal employees from engaging in what activity?
a. exercising administrative discretion
b. running for elected office
395
c. refusing to implement laws passed by Congress
d. ignoring the directives of the president
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 364
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
16. On what basis are people hired to be part of the Senior Executive Service?
a. their party affiliation
b. their length of service in government
c. their experience in international diplomacy
d. their leadership and management skills
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 362 – 363
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
17. The central clearance system serves what purpose?
a. ensuring that the actions of agencies and departments are in line with the
president’s goals
b. aiding Congress in investigating the actions of agencies and departments
c. reigning in uncontrollable spending
d. ensuring that presidential nominees to key positions in the executive branch are
confirmed by the Senate
Topic: Controlling the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.3: Assess presidential and congressional tools for
controlling the federal bureaucracy.
Page Reference: 368 – 369
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
396
Difficulty Level: Moderate
18. How does Congress exercise control over agencies and departments in the federal
bureaucracy?
a. by issuing executive orders
b. by issuing reports through the Office of Management and Budget
c. by nominating appointees to key positions in federal agencies
d. by confirming appointees to key positions in federal agencies
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 359
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
19. Which of the following is an example of a bureaucratic organization?
a. the Department of Defense
b. the U.S. House of Representatives
c. the U.S. Supreme Court
d. the Democratic Party
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 358 – 359
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
20. The process of making public policy is best described as __________.
a. logical
b. unpredictable
c. efficient
d. unreasonable
397
Topic: The Public Policy Process
Learning Objective: LO 12.5: Outline the key steps in making public policy, and
assess the different types of policy.
Page Reference: 379
Skill Level: Analyze It
Difficulty Level: Difficult
21. In the area of veterans’ affairs, what would be the components of an iron triangle?
a. the president, the Defense Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs
b. the Defense Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Senate
Veterans Committee
c. the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Security Agency, the Senate
Veterans Committee
d. the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Senate Veterans Committee, the
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Topic: The Public Policy Process
Learning Objective: LO 12.5: Outline the key steps in making public policy, and
assess the different types of policy.
Page Reference: 377
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Difficult
22. What method was used to create the Department of Homeland Security?
a. An entirely new agency was created.
b. An independent agency was elevated to department-level status.
c. An existing department was broken up.
d. Already-existing agencies were merged into a new organization.
Topic: Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy: Constitutional Origins,
Organizations, and Employees
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Outline the constitutional roots of the federal
bureaucracy, its organizations, and its employees.
Page Reference: 360
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
23. Which of the following is a function of departments and agencies within the
federal bureaucracy?
398
a. issuing executive orders
b. issuing executive agreements
c. implementing public policies
d. reviewing court decisions
Topic: The Job of the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.2: Analyze the bureaucracy’s implementation
options and its effectiveness.
Page Reference: 365
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
24. One purpose of the Administrative Procedure Act is to __________.
a. ensure opportunities for public participation in the rule-making process
b. give federal agencies greater discretion in the rule-making process
c. streamline bureaucratic activities in the rule-making process
d. give the president greater control over the rule-making process
Topic: The Job of the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.2: Analyze the bureaucracy’s implementation
options and its effectiveness.
Page Reference: 366
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
25. How does the president exercise control over agencies and departments in the
federal bureaucracy?
a. by confirming federal appointees
b. by nominating federal appointees
c. by signing executive agreements
d. by creating or abolishing agencies
Topic: Controlling the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.3: Assess presidential and congressional tools for
controlling the federal bureaucracy.
Page Reference: 368
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
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