Question 1

What are "street-level" bureaucrats?

Accepted Answer

E

Question 2

Bureaucracies respond to many different types of problems.Regardless of their disparate purposes,they are all intended to create ____________________.

Accepted Answer

Bureaucracies are created to provide public goods, which are goods or services that benefit society as a whole. This includes things like education, infrastructure, public safety, and national defense. The other options either do not align with the purpose of bureaucracies or are not applicable to the question.

Question 3

Which is the general term for the agencies and offices devoted to carrying out the tasks of government consistent with the law?

Accepted Answer

The term that best describes the agencies and offices devoted to carrying out the tasks of government consistent with the law is the government bureaucracy. This includes both cabinet departments and independent agencies, as well as any other organization responsible for executing government policies and programs. The government bureaucracy is a key part of the executive branch of government, which is responsible for enforcing the laws passed by the legislative branch.

Question 4

Upon whose orders do federal bureaucrats act?

Accepted Answer

Federal bureaucrats act upon the orders of Congress, the president, and courts. This is known as the separation of powers in the federal government, with each branch having its own responsibilities and checks on the other branches. Bureaucrats are appointed by the president and approved by the Senate to carry out the policies and laws passed by Congress, and their actions are subject to review by the courts.

Question 5

As the Orange County Soil and Water Commissioner,Greg performs several duties.He reviews reports on water quality,oversees funds for soil testing,and works with the local Parks Department to protect the watershed surrounding the local reservoir.Greg became the Soil and Water Commissioner after running a successful campaign to show voters that he has the expertise needed to carry out these tasks,including a background in environmental science.Is Greg a bureaucrat?

Accepted Answer

Greg was elected to the position of Soil and Water Commissioner rather than appointed, which means he is not a bureaucrat.

Question 6

Amtrak,a company that provides passenger railway service,has been struggling financially and would like to stop service on its least profitable routes.Amtrak is usually relatively independent;it sets ticket fares and schedules,decides how to invest in new equipment,and is expected to generate enough revenue to cover expenses.However,the U.S.Congress stops them from cutting unprofitable service routes because,as a/an ____________________,part of Amtrak's purpose is to serve the entire country,even little-used rural passenger routes.

Accepted Answer

Amtrak is a government corporation, which means it is a business that is owned by the government but operates separately from it. As a government corporation, Amtrak is expected to serve the public interest, even if that means operating unprofitable routes to provide service to rural areas. Therefore, Congress has the authority to prevent Amtrak from cutting these routes.

Question 7

Which is a federally owned corporation that generates revenue by providing a public service and is operated much like a private business with extensive autonomy from the president or Congress?

Accepted Answer

Government corporations are federally owned entities that generate revenue by providing a public service. They operate with more autonomy from the president or Congress, similar to private businesses, distinguishing them from other government bodies like agencies or bureaucracies.

Question 8

The three settings for bureaucratic agencies within the executive branch are ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The three settings for bureaucratic agencies within the executive branch are within a department, as an independent agency, or as a government corporation. Option A is not correct as government bureaucracy is not a separate setting but can be included within the other three settings. Option B is incorrect as a government bureaucracy is not a separate setting. Option D is incorrect as executive offices of the president are not considered bureaucratic agencies. Option E is incorrect as a government agency is too broad and not specific enough.

Question 9

Which is an individual unit of the government responsible for carrying out tasks delegated to it by Congress or the president in accordance with the law?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which is an individual unit of the...

Question 10

The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a new regulation that would require all car owners to install new emissions reduction equipment after two years of ownership.Before they can make this regulation into a law they must make all records about the development of the regulation public and solicit public comments because of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The Administrative Procedures Act requires federal agencies to follow specific procedures before making new regulations, including making all records related to the development of the regulation public and soliciting public comments. The other acts listed do not pertain to these specific procedures.

Question 11

The Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with regulating the conduct of business corporations.To give the EPA more autonomy it is structured so that the president is limited in his or her ability to remove those leading the agencies.This level of oversight is typical of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The limited ability of the president to remove agency leadership indicates that the EPA is an independent agency, which typically has more autonomy than agencies created as part of a cabinet department or as government corporations. Police-patrol and fire-alarm oversight refer to different styles of regulatory oversight and are not directly related to agency structure.

Question 12

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)often helps organize the disaster response efforts of various federal,state,and local agencies.These efforts are indicative of the ways that federal bureaucracies can address ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The coordination of disaster response efforts by multiple federal, state, and local agencies is an example of a coordination problem that federal bureaucracies, such as FEMA, can help overcome. Coordination problems occur when individuals or organizations need to coordinate their actions in order to achieve a common goal, but face obstacles in doing so, such as differing priorities or lack of communication.

Question 13

The president is creating a new agency tasked with restoring funding for music education in primary schools.Because this initiative has received a lot of publicity and will reflect on her administration in the upcoming election,the president wants to make sure those running the agency do not have too much independence.She therefore creates the initiative within the Department of Education and requires the initiative leaders to report to the Secretary of Education.This is an example of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The fact that the initiative is created within the Department of Education and requires the leaders to report to the Secretary of Education indicates that it is an agency created as part of a cabinet department. This represents a level of control and oversight over the initiative, suggesting that it is not an independent agency. Choices A and B refer to different types of oversight, but do not suitably describe the situation presented. Choices D and E are not applicable in this case because the agency is created within an existing department, rather than as a separate entity.

Question 14

When Congress and the executive branch are controlled by the same party,laws tend to be more ____________________ because Congress trusts the executive branch to implement the laws more faithfully under ____________________ than ____________________ government.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When Congress and the executive branch are...

Question 15

Which of the following is operated most like a private corporation?

Accepted Answer

A government corporation is the closest to a private corporation because it operates like a business, generates its own revenue, and is given autonomy from direct government control. It operates on a self-sustaining basis with minimal interference from the government. Other entities listed are subject to more bureaucracy and government oversight.

Question 16

High-level federal bureaucrats,such as cabinet secretaries,are typically ____________________.

Accepted Answer

High-level federal bureaucrats, such as cabinet secretaries, are typically presidential appointees. This means that they are appointed directly by the President of the United States and do not have to go through the U.S. Civil Service Commission or be selected under the merit system. While some lower-level federal bureaucrats may be congressional appointees, high-level positions are typically reserved for presidential appointees.

Question 17

What type of law is made within the executive-branch bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The type of law made within the executive-branch bureaucracy is administrative law. This refers to the set of laws, rules, and regulations created by government agencies and departments to carry out their delegated responsibilities. Administrative laws are enforceable by the agency that created them, and violations can result in penalties or other sanctions.

Question 18

Do "street-level" bureaucrats make policy decisions?

Accepted Answer

Street-level bureaucrats are the government officials who interact directly with citizens in the implementation of policies or services. While they do not make overarching policy decisions, their individual judgment calls and discretion in interpreting policies can shape the implementation of policies, creating policy standards and routines.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the U.S.Constitution and the bureaucracy?

Accepted Answer

The bureaucracy predates the U.S. Constitution, as early agencies and positions were established by the Continental Congress before the Constitution was adopted.

Question 20

Which is an agency run outside of the cabinet departments and run with greater independence from presidential influence?

Accepted Answer

An independent agency is run outside of the cabinet departments and has greater independence from presidential influence. Independent agencies have a specific mission and can be created by Congress or the president. Examples include the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Reserve, and NASA.

Quiz 7: the Bureaucracy