CMM Public Administration & Governance 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A newly elected council majority votes to reorganize all city departments. The city manager's appropriate role is to:
- Refuse the reorganization as disruptive to operations
- Implement the reorganization while advising the council on operational implications (Correct answer)
- Resign in protest if reorganization differs from the manager's plan
- Delay implementation until after the next election cycle
Correct answer: Implement the reorganization while advising the council on operational implications
The manager serves the council's policy direction and must implement their decisions while providing professional advice on operational and administrative consequences.
Question 2: The concept of 'representative bureaucracy' in public administration argues that government agencies function more effectively when:
- All employees hold advanced degrees in public administration
- The workforce demographics reflect the diversity of the community served (Correct answer)
- Agencies operate independently from elected oversight
- Staff turnover is minimized through lifetime employment guarantees
Correct answer: The workforce demographics reflect the diversity of the community served
Representative bureaucracy theory holds that a workforce reflecting community diversity improves responsiveness and legitimacy in public service delivery.
Question 3: Which document typically outlines the specific powers, duties, and organizational structure of each city department?
- The city charter
- Municipal code or administrative code (Correct answer)
- The annual budget ordinance
- The comprehensive land use plan
Correct answer: Municipal code or administrative code
A municipal administrative or city code typically contains departmental ordinances specifying authorities, duties, and organizational structure.
Question 4: Home rule authority in states that grant it primarily allows municipalities to:
- Levy taxes at rates exceeding state limits without approval
- Enact local ordinances on matters of local concern without specific state authorization (Correct answer)
- Nullify conflicting state laws within city boundaries
- Establish independent court systems separate from the state judiciary
Correct answer: Enact local ordinances on matters of local concern without specific state authorization
Home rule grants municipalities broad self-governance authority on local matters without needing express state legislative authorization for each action.
Question 5: When applying New Public Management (NPM) principles, a city manager would most likely:
- Expand the number of administrative layers and oversight boards
- Use performance metrics and market-based mechanisms to improve service efficiency (Correct answer)
- Eliminate public-private partnerships to maintain government control
- Restrict citizen involvement in service design decisions
Correct answer: Use performance metrics and market-based mechanisms to improve service efficiency
NPM emphasizes performance measurement, competition, and private-sector management techniques to make government more efficient and results-oriented.
Question 6: A city manager who practices 'proactive management' regarding a looming budget shortfall would most appropriately:
- Wait for the council to identify the problem and request a plan
- Anticipate the shortfall, analyze options, and present solutions to the council before a crisis (Correct answer)
- Implement spending cuts unilaterally without council notification
- Borrow funds to defer the problem to future administrations
Correct answer: Anticipate the shortfall, analyze options, and present solutions to the council before a crisis
Proactive management means anticipating problems and bringing well-developed solutions to policymakers before issues become crises.
Question 7: Which term describes a formal grant of authority from a higher level of government to a lower level to perform a specific governmental function?
- Preemption
- Delegation (Correct answer)
- Devolution
- Annexation
Correct answer: Delegation
Delegation transfers authority to perform specific functions to a lower governmental entity, while retaining overall oversight at the higher level.
CMM Public Administration & Governance 4
A newly elected council majority votes to reorganize all city departments.
The city manager's appropriate role is to: