AP US Government and Politics: Chapter 7

Which of the following explains how the bureaucracy can address a problem shown in the infographic?

The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume.

Which of the following possible actions illustrates a way Congress interacts with the bureaucracy to address the problem shown in the infographic?

Congress could have members of the Department of Transportation testify before a committee to discuss the issue and potential solutions.

An advantage that bureaucrats in federal government have over the President in the policymaking process is that bureaucrats

usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the President lacks

Which of the following is the best predictor of the Department of Education's annual budget?

The size of the previous year's budget

A fundamental source of power for the federal bureaucracy lies in its

ability to set specific guidelines after receiving a general mandate from Congress

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will spend money appropriated by Congress to maintain wildlife refuges. This action is an example of

bureaucratic implementation of law

Which of the following is an example of bureaucratic rule making?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) writing a regulation to support a clean water bill

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of bureaucratic rule making?

The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand.

Cabinet departments differ from independent regulatory agencies in which of the following ways?

The President can dismiss cabinet officers, but not commissioners of independent regulatory agencies.

Cabinet members often do not have a dominant influence on presidential decision-making because

presidential goals often conflict with the institutional goals of individual cabinet-level agencies

Which of the following best explains why cabinet secretaries might not aggressively pursue the president's policy agenda?

Cabinet secretaries may develop strong loyalty to their departments.

Which of the following pairs accurately identifies the methods used by Congress and the president to hold the bureaucracy accountable to other branches?

Congress: holding a committee hearing

President: appointing a cabinet

Congressional oversight refers to the power of Congress to

exercise some control over executive agencies

Which of the following is an example of congressional oversight?

Holding hearings for review of an executive agency's activities

One of the formal tools used by Congress for oversight of the bureaucracy is

authorization of spending

Congress is most likely to exert oversight of the executive bureaucracy in which of the following ways?

Controlling an executive agency's annual budget

Which of the following is true of independent regulatory agencies?

They tend to be freer from presidential control than are cabinet departments.

All of the following make it difficult for presidents to control the actions of federal agencies EXCEPT

the appointment of cabinet heads

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority?

Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards

All of the following help to explain the President's difficulty in controlling cabinet-level agencies EXCEPT

The President can only fire appointees before they have been confirmed by the Senate

Which of the following is likely to occur as a result of new legislation regarding automobile safety?

The Department of Transportation will be given discretionary authority to create auto regulations.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are examples of

independent agencies

The mission of the Department of Transportation is to ensure the safety and efficiency of the transportation system. The Department of Transportation has accepted public comments regarding the safety of automated vehicles in the United States in order to establish standards and guidelines for this new technology. Which of the following concepts is most related to the scenario?

Delegated discretionary authority

Which of the following is an example of the executive branch implementing a public policy passed by Congress?

The Department of Health and Human Services determines eligibility requirements for government assistance.

Which of the following is the best conclusion that can be drawn from the data in the table?

Public concern over the Vietnam War led Congress to hold more hearings to consider using the power of the purse to influence the conduct of war.

When independent regulatory agencies make rules, enforce those rules, and adjudicate disputes arising under those rules, they risk violating the constitutional concept of

separation of powers

In general, independent regulatory commissions are created primarily for the purpose of

regulating certain industries to protect the public interest

Which of the following best describes the president's Cabinet?

Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions.

Lobbyists from the Airlines for America, an advocacy group that represents commercial airlines, work with members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and officials from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to discuss a new policy that addresses issues of airline safety. This scenario best illustrates

an iron triangle

In the process and structure of public policymaking, "iron triangles" refer to the

networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process

Rules and regulations created by an agency such as the Federal Communications Commission are called

administrative law

The role Congress plays in ensuring that executive branch agencies are carrying out their legislated responsibilities is known as

legislative oversight

Which of the following explains how Congress would most likely respond if it were concerned about the slight increase in spending over time, as indicated by the bar chart?

Congress could vote to reduce spending on the Department of Homeland Security in the next year's budget.

Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on the pattern shown in the bar chart?

Special circumstances in 2005 and 2018 led Congress to approve supplemental appropriations.

The Web site healthcare.gov was launched October 1, 2013, to help citizens purchase health insurance for themselves in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. Within two hours of launch the site crashed. Once it was restored, problems continued, leading to difficulty for users. The following year, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was called to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss the issue. The committee held this hearing as part of which of the following functions?

Oversight

All of the following are true about the relationship between regulatory agencies and the industries they regulate EXCEPT:

Agencies usually make decisions without consulting the regulated industry.

A policy that sets emission standards for automobiles is an example of

regulatory policy

Which of the following is true of the relationship between Congress and executive agencies?

Because the agencies have bureaucratic expertise, Congress delegates "rule-making authority" to them.

Which of the following is responsible for the preparation of executive spending proposal submitted to Congress?

Office of Management and Budget

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a formal check on the power of the bureaucracy?

The secretary of defense being called to testify before a congressional committee.

Which of the following is an accurate statement about committees in Congress?

Standing committees oversee the bureaucracy's implementation of legislation.

Which of the following statements best relates to the information shown in the infographic?

Like most businesses, the federal government has to seek out well-qualified and diverse job candidates.

Which factor has historically produced the most dramatic expansions in the size of the federal bureaucracy?

responses to economic, social, and military crises

In her position with the federal government, Diksha routinely advises the president on legal matters. In this capacity, Diksha is fulfilling one of her primary duties as:

the Attorney General.

Which executive branch department is responsible for maintaining America's relationship with foreign nations?

the Department of State

Which duty is NOT a responsibility of the Department of the Interior?

supervising federal prisons

Overseeing air commerce and the operation of America's pipelines are examples of the type of work performed by which government agency?

Department of Transportation

When hurricanes flood the low-lying coastal areas of the United States, to which government agency can citizens turn for assistance?

Department of Homeland Security

How did the political patronage system, as practiced during Andrew Jackson's administration, lay the foundation for the modern federal bureaucracy?

It frustrated many people, which led Congress to pass the Pendleton Act under which the merit-based system originated.

The Pendleton Act, also known as the Civil Service Reform Act, was passed in 1883 to:

address concerns about the corruption of the spoils system.

Which phrase BEST defines the federal civil service?

merit-based bureaucracy

Which scenario is an example of the merit-based system of hiring and promotion?

Sally works in the Department of Health and Human Services where she just received a promotion based on her performance on a competitive test.

Which example of presidential authority as it relates to the federal bureaucracy is correct?

He or she is responsible for appointment members of the Senior Executive Service.

Which statement regarding the role of Congress as it relates to the federal bureaucracy is TRUE?

It is responsible for funding cabinet-level departments.

A defining characteristic of executive political appointees is that they:

do not typically remain in office after the president who appointed them leaves office.

Which statement is correct regarding members of the Senior Executive Service?

Most are drawn from the lower ranks of the federal bureaucracy.

Evelin is employed within the federal bureaucracy. Her position places her near the bottom of the bureaucratic power structure. She enjoys strong job security and will likely maintain her position far longer than any single president. Evelin is a(an):

career civil servant

Which statement regarding an iron triangle is NOT accurate?

Iron triangles are designed to address a specific policy problem.

Which statement BEST describes the role of interest within an iron triangle?

They provide electoral support to members of Congress.

What is the role of bureaucratic agencies in an iron triangle?

They implement laws as desired by Congress.

Which statement BEST defines an issue network?

webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates

Which statement is accurate about the policymaking process?

Defining the problem is considered the most significant part of the process.

Why is the implementation of a new policy typically not a straightforward process?

It is introduced into a body of existing policies, sometimes with competing demands.

Dalia is a police officer. In this capacity, what role does she serve within the bureaucracy?

She is a front-line bureaucrat.

The power of bureaucrats to exercise partial authority over how a policy is implemented is known as:

discretion.

The process of addressing the critical details of a law is known as:

regulation.

It is the duty of which commission to enforce reporting requirements by publicly held companies?

the Securities and Exchange Commission

Bristol is a federal employee whose job is to oversee public funding of presidential campaigns. For which agency does Bristol work?

the Federal Election Commission

As a bureaucrat Hayato is often called upon to determine which individuals or groups may be covered under a particular program. What bureaucratic responsibility is Hayato exercising in this capacity?

adjudication

Which is an example of the regulations set forth by the Hatch Act?

Federal employees were forbidden from running in political campaigns.

Thomas, a federal employee, regularly participates in political campaigns. His actions are allowed under the:

Federal Employees Political Activities Act.

Which group is NOT typically part of the policy evaluation process?

local courts

Which two bodies have the authority to terminate a federal policy?

Congress and the Supreme Court

As someone who aspires to work on Wall Street, Xavier, who works for the Securities and Exchange Commission, is sometimes tempted to "look the other way" when certain SEC regulations are violated. This problematic situation is known as:

agency capture

Which statement is correct about control of the federal bureaucracy?

All three branches of government exercise some measure of control over the federal bureaucracy.

Which is NOT a way the president can shape bureaucratic priorities?

through the discretionary process

Irenka is employed by the federal government. Part of her job is to confirm presidential nominees for various executive-level cabinet positions. What is Irenka's job?

Senator

If Congress believes that a particular bureaucratic agency is misappropriating congressionally allocated funds, what means does it have at its disposal to address that concern?

oversight

How can the federal judiciary impact bureaucratic behavior?

Judicial decisions can constrain the scope of accepted bureaucratic action.

Which statement is correct regarding the perception of the bureaucracy among most Americans?

Most Americans are not well informed about the federal bureaucracy.