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a. The agency in charge of setting safety standards for oil and gas drilling also
issued permits to the oil industry, which created a conflict of interest.
b. British Petroleum was contributing large amounts of money to the campaign of
the congressional representatives in charge of setting safety standards for oil and
gas drilling, which created a conflict of interest.
c. The political appointee who headed the agency in charge of issuing permits
held stock in the oil and gas industry and used his influence to push the
department in charge of safety standards to look the other way.
d. A member of the oil industry served on the independent regulatory commission
that set safety standards for oil and gas drilling, which created a conflict of
interest.
Answer: a
Test Bank Item Title: TB_Q12.0.52
Topic: Introduction
Learning Objective: Introduction
Page Reference: 356 – 357
Skill Level: Analyze It
Difficulty Level: Difficult
53. Which of the following public policy approaches might result from a view that
hard work does not necessarily pay off?
a. support for privatization of Social Security
b. an increase in the interest on student loans
c. an expansion of job training programs
d. reductions in the food stamp program
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: 374
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Difficult
54. Why was the Senior Executive Service created?
a. to give the president flexibility and mobility in managing government
b. to give Congress greater control over agency budgets
c. to make federal bureaucrats more accountable to voters
d. to reduce the influence of interest groups on agency decision-making
410
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: Analyze It
Difficulty Level: Difficult
55. Which of the following is a widely recognized flaw in the federal bureaucracy?
a. duplication and overlap among programs
b. the small size of the executive branch
c. the high degree of turnover in government jobs
d. the lack of transparency in rule-making
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
56. How does an iron triangle work in creating change in public policy?
a. Members of Congress protect their constituencies and interest groups;
constituencies reelect the congressional representatives and give money to interest
groups; and interest groups support members of Congress and their
constituencies.
b. Interest groups provide funds to members of Congress and their constituencies,
who in turn pressure the president to push through policies the interest groups
want, at which point constituencies will give their economic support to interest
groups.
c. Members of Congress protect agencies and interest groups; agencies give
special services to interest groups and congressional representatives’
constituencies; and interest groups support members of Congress and agencies.
d. Agencies supply services to the public and, in return, the public supports
agency activities, which puts pressure on Congress to pass laws in favor of the
agencies.
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.
411
Page Reference: 377
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
57. Iron triangles have been replaced by issue networks for which of the following
reasons?
a. The increase in corporate-sponsored interest groups made one corner of the iron
triangle too powerful.
b. Because interest groups no longer have the kinds of influence they once had,
public opinion as gleaned through polls has taken their place.
c. Issue networks consist of large numbers of individuals who are specialized in
different fields and can provide Congress with needed information that the
members of the iron triangle could not.
d. Increasing numbers of small, highly specialized groups have made one corner
of the iron triangle harder to fill with a steady occupant.
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: Analyze It
Difficulty Level: Difficult
58. Why do some scholars consider issue networks as a form of elitism?
a. because they are small, well financed, and influential in shaping policy
b. because they focus on technical issues that the public cannot understand
c. because they require their members to have advanced educational degrees
d. because they focus on issues of concern to wealthy people
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: Analyze It
Difficulty Level: Difficult
59. When would Congress be most likely to allow a federal agency significant
discretion in rule-making?
a. following a congressional election
412
b. following a presidential election
c. following the passage of a law that required multiple compromises
d. following the passage of a law supported by both political parties
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: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Difficult
60. What is an advantage of incremental policy over punctuating policy?
a. Incremental policies are easier to create.
b. Incremental policies tend to involve greater participation of citizens.
c. Incremental policies distribute benefits more broadly.
d. Incremental policies typically require less government spending.
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: 376
Skill Level: Analyze It
Difficulty Level: Difficult
True-False Questions
61. When the Obama administration entered office in 2009, it reversed direction on
many of the Bush administration’s policies on issues such as global warming.
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: 372
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
413
62. Ralph Nader’s book Unsafe at Any Speed documented the failure of the
bureaucracy to detect the 2009 Christmas Day bombing plot and increased citizen
involvement in government oversight.
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
63. The Constitution designates the White House chief of staff as the federal
government’s administrator in chief.
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
64. The president and Congress share oversight of the federal bureaucracy.
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: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
65. Since World War II, corporate income taxes have fallen steadily.
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
414
Difficulty Level: Easy
66. Each independent stand-alone agency in the executive branch is headed by a
cabinet secretary.
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: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
67. Uncontrollable spending increased from 1962 to 2012.
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
68. The term bureaucrat is a complimentary term used to describe a career
government employee.
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: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
69. Bureaucrats often have considerable discretion in the implementation of federal
laws.
Topic: The Job of the Federal Bureaucracy
415
Learning Objective: LO 12.1: Analyze the bureaucracy’s implementation
options and its effectiveness.
Page Reference: 365
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
70. Because the bureaucracy is so complex and full of red tape, citizens do not have
much recourse when they are dissatisfied with public policy other than voting to
change their representatives.
Topic: Controlling the Federal Bureaucracy; Citizens and Public Policy
Learning Objective: LO 12.3: Assess presidential and congressional tools for
controlling the federal bureaucracy; LO 12.6: Assess ways in which citizens can
influence the public policy process.
Page Reference: 370,381 – 382
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
71. Regulations are usually created by Congress.
Topic: The Job of the Federal Bureaucracy
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: Moderate
72. The policy process does not vary greatly throughout the world other than in the
level of influence citizens have on it.
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: 373
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
73. Both Congress and the president are involved in appointing individuals to key
positions in the federal bureaucracy.
416
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
74. The Environmental Protection Agency, an independent stand-alone agency, is
subject to less congressional and presidential oversight than the U.S. Department
of Agriculture.
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: Apply What You Know
Difficulty Level: Difficult
75. Government corporations are allowed to make money through the sale of goods
and services.
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: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
76. Under the Constitution, the __________ is responsible for faithfully executing the
laws on behalf of the president, Congress, and the judiciary.
417
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
77. According to the __________ Act, federal agencies must solicit comments from
all parties affected by proposed regulations before issuing new rules and
regulations.
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
78. Under __________, jobs in the federal bureaucracy are awarded on the basis of
skills and expertise.
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
79. __________ often uses the Government Accountability Office to investigate the
policies and performance of agencies and departments in the federal bureaucracy.
Topic: Controlling the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.3: Assess presidential and congressional tools for
controlling the federal bureaucracy.
Page Reference: 369
Skill Level: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
418
80. The Framers gave __________ the power to create new departments and
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: Remember the Facts
Difficulty Level: Easy
81. After a president nominates an individual to be a cabinet secretary, that
appointment must confirmed by __________.
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
82. When Congress reads agency reports, monitors budgets, and routinely pays
attention to the ways agencies are running, it is engaging in __________
oversight.
Topic: Controlling the Federal Bureaucracy
Learning Objective: LO 12.3: Assess presidential and congressional tools for
controlling the federal bureaucracy.
Page Reference: 369
Skill Level: Understand the Concepts
Difficulty Level: Moderate
83. When the U.S. Department of Transportation stipulates how many hours truck
drivers can be on the road per week, the department is creating a(n) __________.
Topic: The Job of the Federal Bureaucracy
419
