Civil Service Supervisor Principles of Public Administration Flashcards
7 cards from real Civil Service Supervisor Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Civil Service Supervisor Principles of Public Administration flashcards as text
Which principle holds that a public administrator should be answerable for their decisions to both the public and elected officials?
Answer: Accountability
Accountability means administrators must answer for their actions to oversight bodies and the public they serve.
A supervisor notices that a long-standing agency procedure wastes resources but technically follows policy. The best first step is to:
Answer: Document the inefficiency and propose a policy revision through proper channels
Supervisors should seek to improve processes through legitimate channels rather than ignoring policy or doing nothing.
The concept of 'red tape' in public administration most commonly refers to:
Answer: Excessive bureaucratic rules that slow decision-making
Red tape describes burdensome, often unnecessary procedural requirements that hinder efficient government operations.
Which model of public administration emphasizes customer service, results-oriented management, and decentralized decision-making?
Answer: New Public Management
New Public Management (NPM) applies private-sector principles to government to improve efficiency and responsiveness.
When a supervisor delegates authority to a subordinate, who retains ultimate responsibility for the outcome?
Answer: The supervisor
Delegation transfers authority but not accountability — the supervisor remains ultimately responsible for results.
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 was significant because it:
Answer: Replaced the spoils system with merit-based hiring
The Pendleton Act introduced competitive examinations and merit principles to federal employment, reducing patronage hiring.
An agency's organizational culture is BEST described as:
Answer: The shared values, norms, and assumptions that shape employee behavior
Organizational culture encompasses the informal, often unwritten beliefs and practices that guide how employees actually behave.