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American Federal Government Chapter 14
General Test Questions & Answers
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Amtrak is an example of a(n)
government corporation
 
An iron triangle consists ofthe executive branch, congressional committees and subcommittees and
interest groups of agency clientele.
 
Congress expects the federal bureaucracy to
engage in rule-making and implementation of the laws it passes
 
Congress passed the Budget and Accounting Act in 1921. This law put the primary legislative power of budgeting in the hands of
the White House
 
Federal employees are hired on the basis of open and competitive exams. Therefore, this system is a ______ system.
merit
 
Fiscal policy is most closely associated with
taxing and spending policies.
 
How many government agencies were terminated during the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush?
0
 
In which of the following areas does the reform legislation passed represent the most significant devolution of federal
government social programs in many decades?
welfare reform
 
Operating agencies, or "bureau-level agencies," like the Forest Service and the Food Safety and Inspection Service,
are managed directly by
undersecretaries
 
President ________________ launched the National Performance Review as part of his promise to reinvent government,
making it more efficient, accountable, and effective
Clinton
 
The 2008 "Commission on Wartime Contracting" created by Congress was intended to
investigate contracting abuse
 
The Civil Service Act of 1883 instituted a system based upon
merit.
 
The Department of Homeland Security is primarily tasked with
protecting domestic national security.
 
The Federal Reserve has authority over
interest rates
 
The Government Accountability Office provides oversight powers for
Congress.
 
The ratio of federal employment to the total workforce in the United States has _____ in the last 30 years.
decreased slightly
 
The root language of the term bureaucracy literally refers to
rule by offices and desks
 
What is congressional oversight? an effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other
techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies.
 
What is devolution?
delegating the implementation of programs to state and local governments
 
What is rulemaking in the bureaucracy, as defined by the authors?
interpreting a statute where there is no clear guidance.
 
Which of the following has characterized the Obama Administration's managerial approach to federal agencies?
greater emphasis on scientific expertise
 
Which of the following statements about regulatory agencies is accurate?
The primary mission of regulatory agencies is to place limits or other obligations on the conduct of individuals or companies
in the private sector
 
Why was the Defense Department's creation of the U.S. Northern Command such an unprecedented move?
It breached a line between domestic law enforcement and foreign military operations
 
Laws made by acts of Congress or state legislature are called
statutory laws
 
The Supreme Court has
original and appellate jurisdiction.
 
Judicial Review is a term that refers to the power the Supreme Court has to
invalidate a law or action on Constitutional grounds.
 
Supreme Court Justices often decide to take a case for what they call
compelling reasons
 
Twelve of the thirteen federal appellate courts cover specific geographic regions, which are called
circuits.
 
When four Supreme Court Justices agree to request a record of the case from a lower court, the court issues a
writ of certiorari.
 
Which of the following statements correctly describes U.S. district courts?
They are the only federal courts where cases are decided by a jury
they are the chief trial courts of the federal court system.
 
Statutory laws are created by this branch of government.
legislative
 
Federal courts address which two types of laws?
federal statutory law and administrative law
 
Which of the following federal court levels does not have original jurisdiction?
courts of appeals
 
Administrative law is a type of law that.
is set by government agencies.
 
Term referring to the President acting as an emperor... taking actions without consulting Congress
Imperial Presidency
 
A directive, rule or regulation that has the effect of the law
executive order
 
Origination that hires most employees (the ones not already appointed by the President) based on civil service exams
Office of Personal Management
 
A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states
treaty
 
Term referring to an unwelcome person (way President can show displeasure with a country)
person non grata
 
The President's cancellation of certain lines within a spending bill... overruled by the Supreme Court in 1988
line item veto
 
Leniency or mercy that is granted by the President
clemency
 
To postpone the execution of a sentence
reprieve
 
To give legal forgiveness of a crime
pardon
 
The power to reduce the length of a sentence or fine
commutation
 
A blanket pardon offered to a group of violators
amnesty
 
A pact between the president and another head of state
executive agreement
 
Used when the President does nothing with a bill after congress has adjourned and the bill dies
pocket Veto
 
Article II of the Constitution
defines the limits of the presidential powers
 
What is not a reason why presidential power has grown?
the Constitution has been amended to grant the President more power
 
The President's power to execute the law covers
all federal laws, whether or not the President agrees with them
 
In times of national emergency
the powers of the presidency are strengthened
 
How can the Supreme Court check the growth of the presidential power
it can rule the actions by the President are unconstitutional
 
Accusations that the nation has an imperial presidency have been made because some Presidents
have taken strong action without consulting Congress
 
The difference between a treaty and an executive agreement is that
the President needs Senate approval for a treaty but not for an executive agreement
 
Receiving the diplomatic representatives of another country signifies
that the United States accepts the other country as an equal member of the family of nations
 
What is the typical sequence of events in the appointment process
nomination, senate committee hearings, senate debate, confirmation/rejection
 
The President has the power to appoint most top-ranking officers of the federal government with the approval of
The Senate
 
The Supreme Court has ruled that executive privilege
may be claimed in matters involving national security
 
Why has presidential power grown over the past 200 years?
the federal government now plays a larger role in many areas
 
The President's power to grant pardons may be used
only in cases involving federal offenses
 
The Presidential veto is a powerful tool because
a two-thirds vote in both houses is needed to override it
 
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter forgave the crimes of the Vietnam War draft evaders. What is this power called?
amnesty
 
Which federal workers does the President appoint?
top-ranking officers like ambassadors, Cabinet members, and federal judges
 
What does it mean when the President asks a foreign nation to remove its ambassador from the United States
The United States does not like the conduct of the other nation
 
The unwritten rule of senatorial courtesy places limits on which presidential power
the appointment power
 
Which of the following best summarizes the President's removal power?
The President may remove most of the federal workers whom he/she has appointed
 
The War Powers Resolution was passed in order to
check the President's war powers
 
Which process is used to select more than half of federal civilian workers
Civil Service examination
 
How can Congress prevent the President from becoming too powerful?
it can enact laws limiting presidential power
 
Which member of the President's administration helps negotiate treaties with other countries
Secretary of State
 
What Supreme Court case recognized executive privilege
United States vs. Nixon
 
President Koutnik, by enforcing, administering and carrying out all federal laws, is using her... (power)
Executive Power
 
By making a treaty with Aruba, President Koutnik is using her... (power)
Diplomatic Power
 
When President Koutnik nominates Mrs. Schildknecht to be the ambassador to France, or nominates
Dr. Fletcher a Supreme Court Justice, she is using her... (power)
Appointment Power
 
When president Koutnik passes an executive order, she is using her... (power)
Ordinance Power
 
When President Koutnik sends troops to Syria, she is using her... (power)
Military Power
 
When President Koutnik vetoes a bill by congress, she is using her... (power)
Legislative Power
 
President Koutnik, in recommending legislation and sending messages to Capitol Hill, is using her... (power)
Legislative Power
 
When President Koutnik grants a pardon to Mrs. Wietmarschen and gives clemency to Ms. Schute for the charge of
abuse with mathematics, she is using her... (power)
Judicial Power
 
If President Koutnik gives Iranian President Hassan Rouhani the title "person non grata" she is using her... (power)
Power of Recognition
 
When President Koutnik fires Bennett VanOudenallen, her Secretary of State, for poor performance, she is using her... (power)
Removal Power
 
When President Koutnik nominates Benjamin Hunt to be a US marshall stationed in the Southern District of Ohio, she is using her... (power)
Appointment Power
 
The War Powers Resolution Act was passed in 1973, and is meant to place close limits on the President's war making powers.
Please wrote out the three points to this act.
Must notify Congress within 48 hours of sending troops somewhere; must end combat within 60 days; Congress can end
combat at any time
 
List 3 examples of an undeclared war
Vietnam, Iraq, Korea, Persian Gulf, Kosovo
 
When the President Recommends legislation, he sends messages to Capitol Hill. List the three types of messages
the President sends to Capitol Hill every year
State of the Union; Economic Report, Budget Message
 
When the President receives bills from Congress, he has 4 options as to what he can do. List and describe
·         Sign and approve - bill becomes law
·         Veto it - can be overruled by 2/3 congress vote
·         Do nothing with it - if congress is in session it becomes law after 10 says
·         Pocket Veto - if congress isn't in session, or the session ends and the President does nothing with the bill,
·         it goes away and cant become law.
 
When the President makes a recess appointment, when will the appointed position's term expire?
at the end of the congressional term
 
What does the fact that new nations generally want to be recognized by the United States suggest about their beliefs?
they think the US is powerful & our recognition will bring acceptance by other nations
 
 
Which of the following are most likely to persuade the Supreme Court justices to review a case?
if the legal issue it raises is being handled inconsistently by the lower courts
if the U.S. gov is a party involved
 
The supreme court receives most of its cases though which jurisdiction?
appellate
 
According to the doctrine of judicial restraint, judges should
generally defer to the policy decisions made by elected officials
 
The U.S Supreme Court hears cases that relate to treaties
cross state or national boundaries
 
Who or what serves as the last or highest source for legal disputes in the U.S.?
the Supreme Court
 
The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court. Which entity is empowered by the Constitution to establish the lower federal courts?
Congress
 
According to the doctrine of judicial restraint, judges should
generally defer to the policy decisions made by elected officials.
 
The only type of federal court that features two sides presenting a case to a jury for a verdict is
a district court.
 
___ is the threat or actual use of force or punishment to secure compliance with a policy.
Coercion
 
Which is an example of coercion in American history?
President Lincoln and Congress raising armies to fight in the Civil War
 
Paul Ryan has argued that ___ are required as the population of senior citizens grows.
substantial changes to Medicare
 
In 2010, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act, which transformed the way health care would
be paid for in the United States. In 2009, Americans ___ were the largest group of uninsured people under the age of 65.
ages 26 to 34
 
A budget deficit occurs when expenditures exceed
revenues.
 
Most of todayʹs federal debt was run up by government borrowing during
the 1980s.
 
Approximately what percentage of the annual federal budget pays interest on the national debt?
9
 
Which of the following is NOT currently one of the major sources of federal revenue?
excise taxes
 
In Pollock v. Farmerʹs Loan and Trust Co. (1895), the United States Supreme Court ruled that
the income tax was unconstitutional.
 
The Sixteenth Amendment, ratified in 1913,
explicitly permitted Congress to levy an income tax.
 
A(n) ________ is a policy document allocating taxes and expenditures, or a series of goals with price tags attached.
budget
 
A budget is
a policy document allocating burdens (taxes) and benefits (expenditures).
 
Congress was officially given the power to levy an income tax through the
Sixteenth Amendment.
 
The federal governmentʹs budget is mainly
a policy statement that allocates burdens and benefits by attaching price tags to policy goals.
 
According to Aaron Wildavsky, budgeting is a process most concerned with
translating financial resources into human purposes.
 
Which of the following is NOT the responsibility of the Internal Revenue Service?
establishing the annual tax rates that Americans of different incomes must pay
 
Income taxes
provide the largest source of federal revenue.
 
In order of decreasing amounts, the sources of federal revenue include
individual income tax, social insurance receipts, borrowing and corporate income tax.
 
Corporations today pay
income taxes which account for much less federal revenue than individual income taxes.
 
The income tax is generally progressive, meaning that
those with more income pay higher rates of tax on their income.
 
Social Security taxes are
paid for by employees and employers.
 
________ are not unwilling victims of big government and its big taxes in a democracy, they are at least its co-conspirators.
Citizens
 
Research has found that the public sector expands principally
in response to changes in economic and social conditions that affect the publicʹs preferences for government activity.
 
Economists Allen Meltzer and Scott Richard argue that the cost of government grows because?
people in a democracy use the government to secure benefits.
 
The Department of Treasury maintains a government-wide system of accounts and prepares the federal government’s consolidated financial statements.
True
 
Accounting standards for the federal government and its agencies are established by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board.
True
 
Accounting standards for the federal government and its agencies are established by the  Government Accountability Office.
False
 
The Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board was formed by the Secretary of the Treasury, Director of OMB, and Comptroller General.  
True
 
Federal agencies must include a Managements’ Discussion and Analysis in their financial report.
True
 
The Statement of Net Cost of a federal agency is prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.
True
 
Federal agencies must include a Statement of Cash Flows in their annual report.
False
 
The difference between assets and liabilities of a federal agency is comprised of Fund Balance and may be classified as Non-spendable,
Committed, Restricted, Assigned and Unassigned.
False
 
The net position of a federal agency is comprised of Cumulative Results of Operations and Unexpended Appropriations.
True
 
The Statement of Changes in Net Position of a federal agency should articulate with net position on the agency’s Balance Sheet.
True
 
11. The Statement of Budgetary Resources for a federal agency is prepared on the accrual basis.
False
 
12. The Statement of Custodial Activity is not required of every federal agency but is prepared by the SEC, IRS and Customs.  
 True
 
The Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Position for the consolidated report of  the federal government is prepared
on the modified accrual basis of accounting.
False
 
14. The budgetary authority process for a federal agency begins with the Treasury
Department issuing a warrant granting the agency the authority to withdraw funds.
False
 
Apportionments are issued by the OMB and establish the amount of an appropriation that will be available each quarter.
True
 
Allotments are made at the agency level and assign portions of the appropriation to  subunits or programs.
 True
 
The proprietary accounts of a federal agency reflect the status of an appropriation.
 False
 
The proprietary accounts of a federal agency are used to prepare the accrual basis  financial statements of the
federal government and its agencies.
True
 
The Account Fund Balance with Treasury is classified as an asset on a federal agency’s balance sheet.
True
 
The account Obligations – Undelivered Orders is credited when goods and services are received.
False
 
Typically, budgetary authority that is not obligated by a federal agency before the end of the fiscal year rolls over and
is available for the following fiscal year. 
False
    
Which of the following statements appearing in the federal government’s consolidated  financial report are prepared
on the accrual basis of accounting? 
Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Position
 
Which of the following steps in the budgetary authority process occurs when the Office of Management and Budget
establishes the quarterly amount available to a federal agency for spending? 
Apportionment
 
Which of the following steps in the federal government’s budgetary authority process is  most similar to the recording
of encumbrances by state and local governments?  
Obligation
 
Assume the OMB apportions ¼  of an appropriation to a federal agency for the first  quarter of the fiscal year. 
The journal entries at the agency level to record this event will  include:  
a debit to the account Unapportioned Authority
 
Assume the director of a federal agency allots a portion of the agency’s apportionment to subunits within the agency. 
The journal entries at the agency level to record this event will include:  
a debit to the account Apportionments
 
Assume a federal agency places orders for contracted services supporting a federal  program. 
The journal entries at the agency level to record this event will include:  
a debit to the account Allotments
 
Assume a federal agency places orders for contracted services supporting a federal program.
The journal entries at the agency level to record this event will include:  
a debit to the account Allotments
a credit to the account Obligations – Undelivered Orders
 
Assume a federal agency receives supplies that had been previously ordered that will be used to support a federal program. 
The journal entries at the agency level to record this event  will include:  
a credit to a liability account such as Accounts Payable
 
Assume an outstanding account payable of a federal agency is paid. The journal entries at the agency level to record this event will include:  
a debit to the account Accounts Payable
 
Assume a federal agency has $ 150,000 of unobligated budgetary authority at the end of the fiscal year that must be returned to Treasury.  The journal entry at the agency level to record this event in the proprietary accounts will include:  
a debit to the account Unexpended Appropriations
a credit to the account Fund Balance with Treasury