The Executive Branch at Work Topic Test

"A lot of times, when things land at my desk-it's a choice between bad and worse. And as somebody pointed out to me the only things that land on my desk are tough decisions. Because, if they were easy decisions, somebody down the food chain's already made them."

-President Barack Obama, 2009

Which principle of bureaucracy does the quotation demonstrate?

hierarchical authority

In regard to the federal bureauoracy, the President of the United States is at the top of the executive branch hierarchy because

the Constitution makes the President the chief administrator of the Federal Government.

Use the diagram to answer the question.

(Staff and Line Agencies)

Which statement gives one way that line agencies and staff agencies differ?

Line agencies enforce laws passed by the legislative branch.

Read the excerpt from the student text.

"Congress and the President give the line agencies goals to meet, and the staff agencies help the line agencies meet these goals as effectively as possible through advising, budgeting, purchasing, management, and planning. The general public is much more aware of the work of line agencies than it is of that of most of the staff units. It is for a rather obvious reason: it is the line agencies that carry out public policies and, in doing so, deal directly with the public."

Based on this excerpt from the student text, which of the following is a line agency?

the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees the nation's stock markets

The diagram sives infornation about he Executive Ofice of the President and the Presidents Cabinet.

Which of the following BEST completes the missing section of the Venn diagram?

departmental secretaries who consider presidential policies based on their areas of expertise

Use the graph to answer the question.

(Unemployment Rate 2003-2013)

Based on the graph, which statement about the unemployment rate is TRUE?

The recent trend is downward.

Use the graph to answer the question.

(Federal Civilian Employment by Branch)

Which of the following can be reasonably hypothesized from the graph?

The executive branch payroll is the largest in the Federal Government.

Today's Cabinet and the first Cabinet under President Washington Were SIMILAR in that both have/had

a secretary of state.

Under which part of the executive branch would Amtrak be classified?

independent agencies

Use the chart to answer the question.

(Types of Independent Agencies)

Study the chart, which shows the various types of independent agencies. Which of the following could be added to the list of government corporations?

U.S. Postal Service

Use the chart to answer the question.

(Types of Independent Agencies)

Study the chart, which shows the various types of independent agencies. Which of the following could be added to the description of the independent executive agencies?

subject to presidential control

Read the quotation from Senator Collins:

"I've asked employers what would it take to help them add more jobs. No matter the size of their business or the size of their workforce, they tell me that Washington must stop imposing crushing new regulations. Some regulations are just plain silly. ... Other regulations have far more serious consequences. The EPA has proposed a new rule on emissions from boilers that it admits would cost the private sector billions of dollars and thousands of jobs. No wonder employers dread what is coming next out of Washington."

-Senator Susan Collins (R., Maine), Sept 24, 2011

What larger point is Senator Collins making?

Government regulations can harm the economy.

Usa the photograph of Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev to answer the question.

Which topic was MOST LIKELY discussed at a summit between these two leaders?

arms limitations

With the existing colonies or dependencies of any European power we have not interfered and shall not interfere. . Our policy in regard to Europe... remains the same, which is, not to interfere in the internal concerns of any of its powers. ... It is still the true policy of the United States to leave the parties to themselves, in hope that other powers will pursue the same course..."

Which American foreign policy does this quotation from 1823 describe?

isolationism

Which of the following coreotly states a cause-and-effect that occured during World War II?

The need to supply armaments to the Allies transformed the United States into a major military power.

Use the chart to answer the question.

(Some Foreign Policy Responsibilities of the Government)

Which of the following could be added to the list?

protection of American jobs

Use the chart to answer the question.

(Cold War Hot and Cold Spots)

Which statement is TRUE of the chart?

Column A shows examples of "hot" wars the United States fought as part of its policy of containment.

Choose the answer that best completes the web.

(SIGNIFICANCE OF IRAQ)

government in transition

American forsign aid might be used to suppor which of the following foreign policies?

containment

Use the chart to answer the question.

(Regional Security Alliances)

Which of the following is the BEST replacement for B in the chart?

Syria

In 2012, as the United States sought a United Nations resolution supporting the ouster of Syrian President

Bashar al-Assad, the presidents of China and Russia issued a joint statement that is excerpted in the following quotation:

"Both sides firmly oppose any attempt to resolve the Syrian crisis through foreign military interventionas well as promoting forced 'regime change at the United Nations Security Council and other venues.

-Joint statement by Presidents Hu Jintao of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, June 7, 2012

Which of the following would have to happen in order for the U.N. to pass a resolution supporting the ousting of Syrian President Assad?

Both China and Russia would have to be convinced to change their positions.

Read this excerpt from the text.

"In 2003. NATO took command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The United Nations established this multinational force in late 2001 following the American-led war that ousted the Taliban regime. The ISAF was composed of over 130.000 combat and support troops drawn from 48 nations, with American troops supplying almost 70 percent of that force. The NATO coalition assumed the leading role in rebuilding Afghanistan, weakening the Taliban, and training an Afghan security force. By the end of 2011, NATO forces had begun a gradual transfer of authority to the Afghans. Both the U.S. and NATO plan to keep a presence in the country to 2014 and beyond, to support the Afghan government as it continues its struggle against a resilient Taliban."

Based on this excerpt from the text, which is the MOST LIKELY description of NATO's future role in the world?

NATO will continue to play a role in helping to manage crises all over the world.

Read the unswer choices. Choose the answer that correctly completes boxes A and B in the chart.

(Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff)

A: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; B: Chief of Naval Operations

Which branch of the armed forces is America's first line of defense?

Air Force

What quality do the President of the United States and members of Congress share that prompted the Framers to place the nation's armed forces under their control?

They are elected representatives of the people.

Which of the following names is usually given to government agencies that regulate business activities?

corporation

Which of the following is one dury of the White House staff?

preparing the federal budget

Describe a common criticism of bureaucracies. Then offer a counterargument to the criticism.

most common criticiam, or that they from

excessive rules, regulations, and paper work.