Public Policy & Administration Flashcards
7 cards from real CMO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Public Policy & Administration flashcards as text
Which intergovernmental fiscal mechanism allows a higher-level government to transfer funds to a lower-level government for a specific, defined purpose?
Answer: Categorical grant
Categorical grants provide funds for narrowly defined purposes with detailed requirements, unlike block grants which offer broader discretion.
What is the primary role of a city manager in a council-manager form of government?
Answer: Serving as the chief administrative officer appointed by and responsible to the council
In a council-manager government, the city manager is a professional administrator hired by the council to handle day-to-day operations.
Which policy analysis tool compares the monetary costs of a program against the monetary value of its benefits to determine net social value?
Answer: Cost-benefit analysis
Cost-benefit analysis converts both costs and benefits into monetary terms to determine whether a policy produces a net positive social value.
A municipality adopts a policy requiring all new city buildings to meet LEED Silver certification. This is an example of which type of policy instrument?
Answer: Regulatory standard / mandate
Mandating LEED Silver certification for city buildings is a regulatory standard that compels a specific minimum environmental performance level.
The Iron Triangle in federal policy-making refers to the stable relationship among:
Answer: Legislative committees, executive agencies, and interest groups
The iron triangle describes the mutually reinforcing relationships among congressional subcommittees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that shape policy in a given area.
Which term describes the unwritten informal rules, shared values, and accepted practices that shape how a government organization actually operates?
Answer: Organizational culture
Organizational culture encompasses the informal norms, shared assumptions, and values that guide employee behavior beyond formal rules.
A city is updating its strategic plan and uses data on population trends, economic forecasts, and infrastructure condition to inform priorities. This process is best described as:
Answer: Environmental scanning
Environmental scanning involves systematically gathering and analyzing external and internal data to inform strategic planning decisions.