The Presidency And Bureaucracy! Trivia Questions Quiz

1. A citizen would best express his or her concern about airport safety in which of the following ways?

Filing a complaint with the National Transportation Safety Board

Voting for a new secretary of the Department of Transportation

Abstaining from voting in the next congressional election

Writing a letter to the Supreme Court

Hiring someone to inspect aircraft manufacturing plants

Filing a complaint with the National Transportation Safety Board is the best way for a citizen to express their concern about airport safety. The National Transportation Safety Board is responsible for investigating accidents and incidents related to transportation, including aviation. By filing a complaint with them, the citizen can bring their concerns to the attention of the appropriate authority and potentially initiate an investigation or action to address the safety issues at the airport. This method allows for direct communication with the relevant agency responsible for overseeing airport safety.

Explanation

Filing a complaint with the National Transportation Safety Board is the best way for a citizen to express their concern about airport safety. The National Transportation Safety Board is responsible for investigating accidents and incidents related to transportation, including aviation. By filing a complaint with them, the citizen can bring their concerns to the attention of the appropriate authority and potentially initiate an investigation or action to address the safety issues at the airport. This method allows for direct communication with the relevant agency responsible for overseeing airport safety.

2. Which of the following best describes the role of the bureaucracy?

To implement policies

To maintain order

To promote the general welfare

To secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity

To ensure domestic tranquility

The role of the bureaucracy is to implement policies. Bureaucracy refers to the administrative system and officials that are responsible for carrying out and enforcing laws and regulations. They play a crucial role in translating policies into action by developing and implementing specific plans, rules, and procedures. This involves executing government programs, managing resources, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of various government agencies. By implementing policies, the bureaucracy helps ensure that laws and regulations are enforced and that government initiatives are effectively carried out.

Explanation

The role of the bureaucracy is to implement policies. Bureaucracy refers to the administrative system and officials that are responsible for carrying out and enforcing laws and regulations. They play a crucial role in translating policies into action by developing and implementing specific plans, rules, and procedures. This involves executing government programs, managing resources, and overseeing the day-to-day operations of various government agencies. By implementing policies, the bureaucracy helps ensure that laws and regulations are enforced and that government initiatives are effectively carried out.

3. The president exercises his influence over the federal bureaucracy in which of the following ways?

By hiring interest groups to influence certain agencies

By appointing administrators sympathetic to the president's policy agenda

By creating new Cabinet-level agencies

By frequently removing administrators from office

By having federal judges disband ineffective agencies

The president exercises his influence over the federal bureaucracy by appointing administrators sympathetic to his policy agenda. This allows the president to have individuals in key positions who will support and implement his policies. By appointing administrators who share the same goals and priorities, the president can ensure that his agenda is advanced within the federal bureaucracy. This can have a significant impact on the implementation and enforcement of policies and regulations.

Explanation

The president exercises his influence over the federal bureaucracy by appointing administrators sympathetic to his policy agenda. This allows the president to have individuals in key positions who will support and implement his policies. By appointing administrators who share the same goals and priorities, the president can ensure that his agenda is advanced within the federal bureaucracy. This can have a significant impact on the implementation and enforcement of policies and regulations.

4. Most federal bureaucrats are hired in which of the following ways?

They are awarded positions by the political party in power

They take an examination to prove their qualifications

They are appointed to a position by the president

They work in the legislative branch and then move to the bureaucracy

They get their positions in exchange for campaign contributions

Federal bureaucrats are hired through a competitive examination process to ensure that they possess the necessary qualifications for the job. This helps to ensure merit-based hiring and prevents political bias or favoritism in the hiring process. By taking an examination, candidates are able to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities, allowing for a fair and objective selection of candidates for federal bureaucratic positions.

Explanation

Federal bureaucrats are hired through a competitive examination process to ensure that they possess the necessary qualifications for the job. This helps to ensure merit-based hiring and prevents political bias or favoritism in the hiring process. By taking an examination, candidates are able to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities, allowing for a fair and objective selection of candidates for federal bureaucratic positions.

5. Which of the following statements accurately describes the size of the federal bureaucracy?

Homeland Security is the largest department in the bureaucracy

The State department is the largest department in the bureaucracy

The size of the federal bureaucracy has remained relatively stable in recent years

The size of the federal bureaucracy has doubled since the 9/11 terrorist attacks

The percentage of the workforce employed by the federal government has increased slightly in recent years

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Explanation

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6. Which of the following is most likely effect of administrative discretion?

Administrative discretion is a major contributor to skyrocketing implementation costs

Laws are implemented in ways that are consistent with bureaucrats' personal preferences

High job turnover results from poorly crafted public poliices

Fewer bureaucrats gain necessary job skills because administrative discretion encourages laziness

Administrative discretion results in poorly crafted public policies

Administrative discretion refers to the authority given to bureaucrats to make decisions and use their own judgment in implementing laws and policies. The correct answer suggests that administrative discretion can lead to laws being implemented in ways that align with the personal preferences of the bureaucrats. This means that bureaucrats may interpret and apply laws based on their own biases or preferences, which can result in inconsistent or unfair implementation.

Explanation

Administrative discretion refers to the authority given to bureaucrats to make decisions and use their own judgment in implementing laws and policies. The correct answer suggests that administrative discretion can lead to laws being implemented in ways that align with the personal preferences of the bureaucrats. This means that bureaucrats may interpret and apply laws based on their own biases or preferences, which can result in inconsistent or unfair implementation.

7. Each bureaucratic agency is created initially by

The bureaucracy itself

The President

Congress

Constitutional provision

Order of a federal court

Bureaucratic agencies are created initially by Congress. This is because Congress has the power to pass legislation and create laws, including the creation of new agencies. Congress can establish these agencies to address specific issues or areas of concern, and they can also provide the agencies with the necessary authority and funding to carry out their responsibilities. The President and the bureaucracy itself may have a role in implementing and overseeing these agencies, but the initial creation and establishment of the agencies is within the purview of Congress.

Explanation

Bureaucratic agencies are created initially by Congress. This is because Congress has the power to pass legislation and create laws, including the creation of new agencies. Congress can establish these agencies to address specific issues or areas of concern, and they can also provide the agencies with the necessary authority and funding to carry out their responsibilities. The President and the bureaucracy itself may have a role in implementing and overseeing these agencies, but the initial creation and establishment of the agencies is within the purview of Congress.

8. Which of the following is a government corporation?

The department of the interior

The food and drug administration

The bureau of engraving

General motors

Amtrak

Amtrak is a government corporation because it is a federally funded passenger railroad service in the United States. It was created by the U.S. Congress in 1970 to provide intercity rail service and is partially funded by the government. As a government corporation, Amtrak operates independently but is subject to government oversight and regulation. It is responsible for providing transportation services to the public and promoting rail travel in the country.

Explanation

Amtrak is a government corporation because it is a federally funded passenger railroad service in the United States. It was created by the U.S. Congress in 1970 to provide intercity rail service and is partially funded by the government. As a government corporation, Amtrak operates independently but is subject to government oversight and regulation. It is responsible for providing transportation services to the public and promoting rail travel in the country.

9. The Department of Homeland Security was created to address which of the following concerns?

The free-rider problem

Administrative discretion

The proliferaton of constituency service and casework

Fragmentation of responsibility among various bureaucracies

Standard operating procedures

The Department of Homeland Security was created to address the concern of fragmentation of responsibility among various bureaucracies. This means that different government agencies were previously responsible for different aspects of homeland security, leading to a lack of coordination and communication. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security aimed to centralize and streamline these responsibilities, ensuring better cooperation and effectiveness in protecting the nation from threats.

Explanation

The Department of Homeland Security was created to address the concern of fragmentation of responsibility among various bureaucracies. This means that different government agencies were previously responsible for different aspects of homeland security, leading to a lack of coordination and communication. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security aimed to centralize and streamline these responsibilities, ensuring better cooperation and effectiveness in protecting the nation from threats.

10. Which of the following reasons accurately describe why it may be difficult for the bureaucracy to implement laws passed Congress? I. Laws are often written in terms of broad policy goals II. Laws are often unclear about the details of a policy III. Congress frequently fails to give the bureaucracy enough money to effectively implement policies IV. Bureaucracies often lack the necessary authority to meet their responsibilities

I and II only

II and IV only

I, II, and IV only

II, III and IV only

I, II, III and IV

The bureaucracy may find it difficult to implement laws passed by Congress for several reasons. Firstly, laws are often written in terms of broad policy goals, which can make it challenging for the bureaucracy to interpret and translate them into specific actions. Secondly, laws are often unclear about the details of a policy, leaving room for interpretation and potential confusion. Thirdly, Congress may fail to allocate sufficient funding to the bureaucracy, hindering their ability to effectively implement policies. Lastly, bureaucracies may also lack the necessary authority to meet their responsibilities, further complicating the implementation process. Therefore, all of the reasons mentioned in options I, II, III, and IV accurately describe the difficulties the bureaucracy may face in implementing laws passed by Congress.

Explanation

The bureaucracy may find it difficult to implement laws passed by Congress for several reasons. Firstly, laws are often written in terms of broad policy goals, which can make it challenging for the bureaucracy to interpret and translate them into specific actions. Secondly, laws are often unclear about the details of a policy, leaving room for interpretation and potential confusion. Thirdly, Congress may fail to allocate sufficient funding to the bureaucracy, hindering their ability to effectively implement policies. Lastly, bureaucracies may also lack the necessary authority to meet their responsibilities, further complicating the implementation process. Therefore, all of the reasons mentioned in options I, II, III, and IV accurately describe the difficulties the bureaucracy may face in implementing laws passed by Congress.