Understanding the Federal Bureaucracy

Which legislation introduced merit-based hiring for government jobs?

• A) The Civil Service Reform Act

• B) The Pendleton Civil Service Act

• C) The Federal Labor Relations Act

• D) The Executive Office Act.

Approximately how many people work within the federal bureaucracy?

• A) 500,000

• B) 1.2 million

• C) 2.7 million

• D) 4 million.

What role do bureaucrats play in the federal bureaucracy?

• A) They oversee the legislative process

• B) They carry out specific tasks and implement legislation and executive orders

• C) They manage the judicial system

• D) They control the military operations.

What is the civil service?

• A) A military organization

• B) The armed forces of the government

• C) A group of civilians carrying out federal government work

• D) A political party's campaign team.

Who appoints or nominates top administrators within the federal bureaucracy?

• A) The Senate

• B) The House of Representatives

• C) The President

• D) The Supreme Court.

Which agency manages the administrative functions of the civil service?

• A) The Office of Personnel Management

• B) The Federal Labor Relations Authority

• C) The United States Merit Systems Protection Board

• D) The Civil Service Commission.

What historical system of job placement in government led to criticism and corruption?

• A) The Merit System

• B) The Civil Service Commission

• C) The Spoils System

• D) The Pendleton Act.

What is the purpose of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978?

• A) To abolish the civil service system

• B) To establish new government agencies

• C) To expand civil service management and protect civil-service employees

• D) To increase political influence within the bureaucracy.

What are the three types of independent agencies within the federal bureaucracy?

• A) Executive, Legislative, Judicial

• B) Federal, State, Local

• C) Independent executive agencies, independent regulatory commissions, and government corporations

• D) Civil, Military, Judicial.

What defines a bureaucracy?

• A) A group of elected officials in government

• B) An organization with a formal structure, division of labor, and operating procedures

• C) A system of military hierarchy

• D) A network of independent businesses.