CMO Public Policy & Administration 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Dillon's Rule doctrine, a municipality's authority is:
- Broadly interpreted to include any power not expressly prohibited
- Strictly limited to powers expressly granted by state law (Correct answer)
- Coequal with the state legislature
- Derived entirely from the federal government
Correct answer: Strictly limited to powers expressly granted by state law
Dillon's Rule holds that local governments possess only the powers expressly granted by the state, fairly implied, or essential to declared functions.
Question 2: Which concept describes the systematic study of how government programs and policies are actually implemented at the street level?
- Policy formulation
- Agenda setting
- Implementation analysis (Correct answer)
- Regulatory impact assessment
Correct answer: Implementation analysis
Implementation analysis examines how policies translate into practice, including discretion exercised by frontline workers.
Question 3: A city's comprehensive plan is best described as:
- A legally binding zoning map
- A long-range guiding document for land use and community development (Correct answer)
- An annual capital improvement budget
- A state-mandated financial audit
Correct answer: A long-range guiding document for land use and community development
A comprehensive plan is a long-range policy document that guides future land use, transportation, housing, and community development decisions.
Question 4: Which technique do administrators use to prioritize problems and allocate limited resources by mapping the relationship between causes and effects?
- SWOT analysis
- Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram (Correct answer)
- Benchmarking
- Gap analysis
Correct answer: Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram
A fishbone diagram visually maps cause-and-effect relationships to identify root causes of a problem.
Question 5: In public administration, 'representative bureaucracy' means:
- Bureaucrats are elected by constituents
- The demographic composition of the workforce mirrors the public it serves (Correct answer)
- Agencies report directly to elected representatives
- Citizens rotate into administrative roles
Correct answer: The demographic composition of the workforce mirrors the public it serves
Representative bureaucracy theory holds that a public workforce reflecting the broader population's demographics will better serve all citizens.
Question 6: Which federal law mandates that municipalities receiving federal funding must provide equal access to services regardless of national origin, including providing language assistance?
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Correct answer)
- Fair Housing Act
- Voting Rights Act
Correct answer: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in programs receiving federal financial assistance.
Question 7: A municipality establishes a policy that all vendors must be paid within 30 days of invoice receipt. This is an example of:
- Capital budgeting policy
- Debt management policy
- Accounts payable / prompt payment policy (Correct answer)
- Procurement threshold policy
Correct answer: Accounts payable / prompt payment policy
A prompt payment (accounts payable) policy sets the standard time frame within which the government must pay vendors to maintain good vendor relations and avoid penalties.
CMO Public Policy & Administration 3
Under the Dillon's Rule doctrine, a municipality's authority is: