Bureaucracy Test You Knowledge!

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.

• The president can negotiate a treaty that would allow for increased imports of oil.

• The House Committee on Energy and Commerce can hold a hearing on the cost of fuel.

• The Supreme Court can overturn laws that regulate fuel economy.

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

• Congress could raise money through gasoline taxes to address the issues shown in the infographic.

• Congress could request that an iron triangle be formed to ensure that all bureaucratic solutions are heard prior to taking action.

• Congress could remove the members of the cabinet who work on issues related to transportation.

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

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

• Despite many attempts at reform, some members of the federal bureaucracy are still hired through political patronage.

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

• Specialized skills, such as a background in STEM, are less important than a degree in political science for most jobs in the bureaucracy.

• Most members of the federal bureaucracy work near Washington, D.C., or in state capitals.

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

• The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs considers the credentials of a person nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits.

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

• The president signs Executive Order 13777 intended to “lower regulatory burdens on the American people by implementing and enforcing regulatory reform.”

• The Supreme Court denies a writ of certiorari in Freddie H. Mathis v David J. Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which focused on veterans’ disability claims.

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority?

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

• The chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce appointing the chair of the Environment subcommittee

• The House of Representatives establishing the jurisdiction for the Committee on Energy and Commerce

• The president nominating the attorney general of Ohio to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

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?

• Exclusive powers

• Reserved powers

• Delegated discretionary authority

• Enumerated legislative authority

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

• Support for the Vietnam War led Congress to hold more hearings to discuss increases in expenditures on the military effort.

• 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 the war.

• The public reaction to the September 11 terrorist attacks led to many hearings to limit federal expenditures to fight terrorism.

• The number of hearings have increased in the House of Representatives because members have become more dependent on political action committees.

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 remove the secretary of Homeland Security.

• Congress could hold a special joint session to discuss potential solutions.

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

• Congress could pass a constitutional amendment limiting appropriations.

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

• Changing national priorities have caused a drop in spending for the Department of Homeland Security.

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

• Bureaucratic rule making has led to a gradual increase in supplemental appropriations over time.

• Ideological divisions in Congress have led to gradual increases in annual appropriations.