Mixed Deck — All Government and Civil Service Topics Flashcards
100 cards from real Government and Civil Service practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 20 Mixed Deck — All Government and Civil Service Topics flashcards as text
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) primarily serves which function?
Answer: Provides Congress with audit, evaluation, and investigative services
The GAO is Congress audit and evaluation arm, providing independent assessments of federal programs and expenditures to help Congress make informed decisions.
The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) primarily investigates what type of wrongdoing?
Answer: Prohibited personnel practices and Hatch Act violations
The OSC is an independent agency that investigates and prosecutes prohibited personnel practices such as retaliation against whistleblowers and Hatch Act violations.
How many justices currently serve on the US Supreme Court?
Answer: 9
The Supreme Court consists of nine justices: one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
The Intergovernmental Personnel Act allows for what type of assignment?
Answer: Temporary assignment of personnel between federal, state, and local governments
The Intergovernmental Personnel Act allows for temporary assignment of personnel between federal agencies and state, local, and tribal governments to share expertise.
What does 'program evaluation' mean in the context of government operations?
Answer: A systematic assessment of a government program's design, implementation, and effectiveness
Program evaluation is the systematic collection and analysis of information about a government program's activities, outcomes, and impacts to improve effectiveness and inform decisions.
What is a grant in the context of federal-state relations?
Answer: Federal funds transferred to states or localities for specific purposes
A federal grant is money provided to states, localities, or organizations by the federal government to fund specific activities, often with conditions on how the money is spent.
What body adjudicates federal employee appeals of adverse personnel actions?
Answer: Merit Systems Protection Board
The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) is the independent quasi-judicial agency that hears and decides federal employee appeals of adverse actions.
What is the Senior Executive Service (SES)?
Answer: A cadre of senior government managers who link political appointees to career civil servants
The SES is a corps of approximately 8,000 senior managers and executives positioned between political appointees and the general career workforce.
What does the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) require of employers?
Answer: To provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities
The ADA requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations that allow qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Which article of the US Constitution establishes the Executive Branch?
Answer: Article II
Article II of the Constitution establishes the Executive Branch, defining the President's powers and duties.
What is a final rule in the federal regulatory process?
Answer: A binding regulation published after the notice-and-comment process is completed
A final rule is a regulation that has completed the notice-and-comment process and been published in the Federal Register with its effective date, making it legally binding.
What is the constitutional role of the Speaker of the House?
Answer: Presiding officer of the House
The Speaker of the House serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives and is second in the presidential line of succession after the Vice President.
What does USAJOBS serve as for federal government hiring?
Answer: The official federal government job search and application website
USAJOBS.gov is the official job site of the US federal government where agencies post vacancy announcements and applicants apply for positions.
Federal employees are generally prohibited from accepting gifts worth more than how much from prohibited sources?
Answer: $20 per gift and $50 per year from one source
Under OGE regulations, federal employees generally cannot accept gifts worth more than $20, and no more than $50 annually, from any single prohibited source.
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) governs which aspect of federal government operations?
Answer: Federal government procurement and contracting with private vendors
The FAR is the primary regulation governing how federal agencies purchase goods and services from private contractors, covering solicitation, award, and administration of contracts.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 primarily prohibited discrimination based on which characteristics?
Answer: Race, color, religion, sex, and national origin
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin in employment and public accommodations.
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) governs which type of government body?
Answer: Advisory groups of outside experts that provide advice to federal agencies
FACA regulates the formation and operations of advisory committees composed of non-government individuals who provide advice to federal agencies and the President.
How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidential election?
Answer: 270
A presidential candidate must receive at least 270 out of 538 total electoral votes to win the election.
What distinguishes a cabinet department from an independent agency?
Answer: Cabinet departments are led by secretaries who report to the President; independent agencies operate with more autonomy
Cabinet departments are headed by secretaries who serve at the President pleasure, while independent agencies have commissioners with more insulation from presidential control.
What is the term length for a US House of Representatives member?
Answer: 2 years
Members of the House of Representatives serve 2-year terms, making them the most frequently elected federal officials.