Chpt. 15 The Bureaucracy

1. A postal clerk asks a customer if her package contains anything flammable. The customer responds that she is mailing a bottle of nail polish to her elderly aunt, who lives across town. The postal service employee allows the package to be mailed. The clerk's decision is an example of

Discretionary authority

Standard operating procedures

Standard deviation

Abuse of power

Complexity and red tape

Street-level bureaucrats have discretionary authority when rules are not spelled out clearly.

Explanation

Street-level bureaucrats have discretionary authority when rules are not spelled out clearly.

2. From the standpoint of a federal agency, what is the advantage of an iron triangle?

It gives the agency allies in Congress, as well as in the private sector.

It allows federal agencies to recieve funding directly from interest groups.

It provides agency heads with access to the media, so they can publicize their programs.

It gives the federal agency a direct link to the White House staff.

It preventss Congress from using oversight hearings as a means of cutting agency budget.

Iron triangles consist of a federal agency, interest groups, and a congressional committee or subcommittee involved in a specific policy area. Iron triangles are important links between the agency, Congress, and the private sector.

Explanation

Iron triangles consist of a federal agency, interest groups, and a congressional committee or subcommittee involved in a specific policy area. Iron triangles are important links between the agency, Congress, and the private sector.

3. Who exercises control over the bureaucracy?

There is very little control over the bureaucracy because agencies make regulations that have the force of the law.

The executive branch controls the bureaucracy bt appointing all federal employees.

Congress controls the bureaucracy because it has the power to fire agency heads after the oversight hearings and for cause.

The judicial branch controls the bureaucracy by reviewing regulations to make sure they are constitutional before they go into effect.

Both congress and the executive branch have controls over the bureaucracy.

Both Congress and the executive branch have controls over the bureaucracy. The executive appoints agency heads and proposes agency budgets. Congress must approve budget proposals and can hold oversight hearings.

Explanation

Both Congress and the executive branch have controls over the bureaucracy. The executive appoints agency heads and proposes agency budgets. Congress must approve budget proposals and can hold oversight hearings.

4. How has the appointment of federal officials changed over time?

It has become more political because more government jobs have been created and are filled through patronage.

It is based now solely on merit; all federal government employees must take civil service exam.

There is no set procedure for filling jobs in the bureaucracy; each agency has its own rules.

Top-level jobs in the bureaucracy are filled by political appointment. However, most federal jobs are based upon a competitive exam or the applicant's ability to meet specific criteria.

Explanation

Top-level jobs in the bureaucracy are filled by political appointment. However, most federal jobs are based upon a competitive exam or the applicant's ability to meet specific criteria.

5. The Pentagon paid $91 for screws that cost 3 cents at a hardware store. This is an example of which problem inherent in bureaucracies?

Red tape

Imperialism

Duplication

Waste

Cinflict among agencies

Althought the problem is often exxagerated, waste is one criticism of the bureaucracy.

Explanation

Althought the problem is often exxagerated, waste is one criticism of the bureaucracy.

6. Which of the following has been a criticism of the process for firing a bureaucrat?

It is too political, and bureaucrats are often terminated for expressing their political beliefs.

It is too difficult to fire bureaucrats because the process is elaborate and time-consuming.

Many good people do not enter the bureaucracy because most federal bureaucrats are fired when a new president takes office.

The process for terminating an employee differs from agency to agency, making the firing process too inconsistent.

The process for firing a bureaucrat is elaborate and time consuming, often taking more than a year.

Explanation

The process for firing a bureaucrat is elaborate and time consuming, often taking more than a year.

7. How can Congress chek the activities of the bureaucracy?
I. through appropriations
II. by appointing new agency heads
III. through oversight hearings
IV. through annual authorization legislation

I and II

I, II, and III

I, III, and IV

II, III, and IV

I and III

Congress can check the bureaucracy by appropriating funds and holding oversight hearings. An authorization bill is required to establish an agency. Some authorizations are subject to annual review.

Explanation

Congress can check the bureaucracy by appropriating funds and holding oversight hearings. An authorization bill is required to establish an agency. Some authorizations are subject to annual review.

8. In general what is the opinion of the American public regarding the bureaucracy?

People have negative experiences with individual bureaucrats and feel negatively about the goverernment as a whole.

People have positive experiences with individual bureaucrats and feel positively about the goverernment as a whole

In general, people have good experiences with street-level bureaucrats, but they have a less favorable attitude about the bureaucracy as a whole.

Explanation

In general, people have good experiences with street-level bureaucrats, but they have a less favorable attitude about the bureaucracy as a whole.

9. The Department of Homeland Security was established to coordinate policies among the Federal Bueau of Investigation, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Central Intelligience Agency, as well as other federal agencies. What is the most serious problem that the creation of this department attempted to resolve?

Red tape

Imperialism

Duplication

Waste

Conflict and lack of coordination among agencies

Although the Department of Homeland Security was established to reduce a number of problems, the most serious was cinflict and a lack of coordination among agencies.

Explanation

Although the Department of Homeland Security was established to reduce a number of problems, the most serious was cinflict and a lack of coordination among agencies.

10. How does the bureaucracy compare with the rest of the government in employing women and minorities?

Women and minorities mirror the population as a whole at all levels of the bureaucracy.

There are more women and minorities in congress than in the bureaucracy.

There are more women and minorities in the bureaucracy, but they are clustered in lower level jobs.

The bureaucracy is overwhelmingly white and male.

There are more women and minorities in the bureaucracy than in other branches of government. However, thay are clustered in lower paying, lower level jobs.

Explanation

There are more women and minorities in the bureaucracy than in other branches of government. However, thay are clustered in lower paying, lower level jobs.