Government and Civil Service Public Administration and Policy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary function of the National Security Council (NSC)?
- To command US military forces abroad
- To coordinate national security and foreign policy among senior government officials (Correct answer)
- To manage the CIA and intelligence community
- To negotiate international treaties on behalf of the US
Correct answer: To coordinate national security and foreign policy among senior government officials
The NSC, chaired by the President, is the principal forum for coordinating national security and foreign policy among the President's senior national security advisors.
Question 2: Which federal law requires government agencies to disclose privacy practices for systems containing personal information?
- FOIA
- The Privacy Act of 1974 (Correct answer)
- HIPAA
- The Electronic Communications Privacy Act
Correct answer: The Privacy Act of 1974
The Privacy Act of 1974 regulates federal agencies' collection, maintenance, use, and dissemination of personally identifiable information about individuals.
Question 3: What is a government shutdown?
- A planned closure of non-essential government operations for maintenance
- A situation where funding lapses force federal agencies to cease non-essential operations (Correct answer)
- A security measure activated during national emergencies
- A temporary suspension of all federal regulations
Correct answer: A situation where funding lapses force federal agencies to cease non-essential operations
A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass appropriations legislation or a continuing resolution, causing federal agencies to halt non-essential operations.
Question 4: The Anti-Deficiency Act prohibits federal agencies from doing what?
- Spending more than Congress appropriated or incurring obligations without an appropriation (Correct answer)
- Hiring employees without OPM approval
- Publishing regulations without OMB clearance
- Conducting audits without IG oversight
Correct answer: Spending more than Congress appropriated or incurring obligations without an appropriation
The Anti-Deficiency Act prohibits federal agencies from spending or obligating funds in excess of their appropriated amounts or before funds are appropriated.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a Presidential Transition?
- To brief the incoming president on classified intelligence
- To transfer executive branch responsibilities and knowledge from one administration to the next (Correct answer)
- To train new members of Congress after an election
- To reorganize federal agencies based on new executive priorities
Correct answer: To transfer executive branch responsibilities and knowledge from one administration to the next
A presidential transition is the formal process of transferring governance and institutional knowledge from an outgoing to an incoming administration between election and inauguration.
Question 6: Which principle in public administration holds that officials must be answerable to the public for their actions?
- Efficiency
- Accountability (Correct answer)
- Neutrality
- Discretion
Correct answer: Accountability
Accountability in public administration means that government officials are responsible to citizens and oversight bodies for their decisions and use of public resources.
Government and Civil Service Public Administration and Policy 2
What is the primary function of the National Security Council (NSC)?