Public Affairs 2110

Question 1

Efficiency

Answer 1

the extent to which time, effort, or cost is used well

Question 2

Accountability

Answer 2

the liability and expectation of account-giving

Question 3

Progressive Era

Answer 3

the period of social and political reform that lasted from the 1890s to the 1920s.

Question 4

Politics-Administration Dichotomy

Answer 4

Cannot live with or without each other

Question 5

Administrative discretion

Answer 5

professional expertise and judgment instead of strict rules and regulations

Question 6

Principal-Agent problem

Answer 6

both parties have different interests, and the principal is unsure of the Agent’s agenda

Question 7

Delegation

Answer 7

passing down of authority to carry out specific activities

Question 8

Red tape

Answer 8

rigid conformity to rules that becomes redundant and hinders action and decision-making

Question 9

Public Bureaucracy

Answer 9

Administration done with fixed procedures, usually with unelected officials

Question 10

Hierarchy

Answer 10

• Hierarchy: relating to the organization theory, an arrangement of rankings in an organization

Question 11

Organizational Culture

Answer 11

collective behavior of people who are in an organization

Question 12

Collaborative Networks of Organizations

Answer 12

no hierarchy, just persuade people to work with you, no unity of command

Question 13

Contracting out

Answer 13

outsourcing a job to a private or separate organization

Question 14

Independent Agency

Answer 14

agencies that exist outside of the cabinet. They are part of the executive branch, but not under presidential control

Question 15

Independent Regulatory Commission

Answer 15

agencies designed to regulate a specific industry, such as the FCC’s regulation of communication

Question 16

Government Corporation

Answer 16

legal entity created by the government for commercial purposes

Question 17

Executive Office of the President

Answer 17

the immediate staff of the president

Question 18

Office of Management and Budget

Answer 18

largest office of the cabinet, helps president prepare the budget

Question 19

Neutral Competence

Answer 19

a merit-based bureaucracy, employees are hired and maintained because of their skills

Question 20

Representativeness

Answer 20

fallacies people make when judging probability

Question 21

Downsizing

Answer 21

any efforts to lower spending

Question 22

Reengineering

Answer 22

rethinking how something can be done more efficiently

Question 23

Continuous improvement

Answer 23

ongoing effort to improve products, services, and processes

Question 24

Performance Management

Answer 24

activities that ensure that goals are met efficiently and effectively

Question 25

Civil Service System

Answer 25

provides benefits to US government employees

Question 26

Human Capital

Answer 26

the stock of competencies, knowledge, and creativity within a group that can be used for economic value

Question 27

Collective Bargaining

Answer 27

strength in numbers; if everyone complains as a group, it is more likely to get done

Question 28

Revolving Door Restrictions

Answer 28

restrictions on activities after a government employee leaves government service

Question 29

Broadbanding

Answer 29

a flexible pay system for government employees

Question 30

Grade Creep

Answer 30

when managers give higher ratings to employees than what is deserved for the purpose of a good appearance

Question 31

Senior Executive Service (SES)

Answer 31

a position in US civil service similar to the ranks of General or Admiral in the US Armed Forces

Question 32

Bounded Rationality

Answer 32

the rationality of individuals is limited by the information that the don’t know, cognitive limitations, and limited time

Question 33

Muddling Through

Answer 33

to continue despite difficulties or limitations

Question 34

Fiscal Policy

Answer 34

the use of government taxation and spending to influence the economy

Question 35

Police-patrol vs. Fire-alarm oversight

Answer 35

police control is constant surveillance in order to prevent a problem, fire-alarm is a response to an existing problem

Question 36

Government Accountability Office

Answer 36

the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the US Congress