CMC Public Administration 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which management theory emphasizes that there is no single best way to organize and that the optimal approach depends on the environment?
- Scientific management
- Contingency theory (Correct answer)
- Human relations theory
- Bureaucratic theory
Correct answer: Contingency theory
Contingency theory holds that the best management approach depends on internal and external situational factors.
Question 2: A municipality's 'general fund' is BEST described as:
- A reserve account for emergencies only
- The primary operating fund for day-to-day services (Correct answer)
- A fund restricted for capital projects
- An account for grant-funded programs only
Correct answer: The primary operating fund for day-to-day services
The general fund accounts for the primary governmental functions and day-to-day operating expenditures of a municipality.
Question 3: Which document formally authorizes a municipality to exist and defines its basic powers?
- Municipal code
- City charter (Correct answer)
- Administrative code
- Comprehensive plan
Correct answer: City charter
The city charter is the foundational legal document that establishes the municipality and defines its governmental powers and structure.
Question 4: The concept of 'administrative discretion' refers to:
- Keeping all agency decisions confidential
- The authority of officials to make judgment calls within legal bounds (Correct answer)
- Delegating all decisions to elected officials
- Refusing to act without explicit legislative instruction
Correct answer: The authority of officials to make judgment calls within legal bounds
Administrative discretion is the latitude granted to public administrators to make decisions within the boundaries set by law and policy.
Question 5: When a city council adopts a resolution, it is typically used to:
- Amend the city charter
- Express official positions or authorize specific one-time actions (Correct answer)
- Establish permanent regulations with penalties
- Override a mayoral veto
Correct answer: Express official positions or authorize specific one-time actions
Resolutions express the council's official position, recognize individuals, or authorize specific non-legislative actions, unlike ordinances that create permanent law.
Question 6: Which performance measurement concept compares actual outputs to planned outputs?
- Efficiency
- Effectiveness (Correct answer)
- Economy
- Equity
Correct answer: Effectiveness
Effectiveness measures the degree to which a program achieves its intended goals by comparing actual results to planned targets.
Question 7: In public sector human resources, a 'position classification plan' is designed to:
- Evaluate employee performance annually
- Group jobs with similar duties and qualifications into common classes (Correct answer)
- Determine pension contribution rates
- Track disciplinary actions across departments
Correct answer: Group jobs with similar duties and qualifications into common classes
A position classification plan organizes positions into categories based on comparable duties, responsibilities, and required qualifications.
CMC Public Administration 3
Which management theory emphasizes that there is no single best way to organize and that the optimal approach depends on the environment?