MPA Ethics and Accountability in Public Administration 2

Question 1

What does 'transparency' mean in the context of public administration ethics?

Accepted Answer

Openness about government decision-making processes, reasoning, and information so citizens can hold officials accountable

Answer

Transparency means government operates openly, sharing information about its decisions, spending, and processes so that citizens and oversight bodies can scrutinize and hold it accountable.

Question 2

The Inspector General (IG) offices in U.S. federal agencies are primarily responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Conducting independent audits and investigations to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse within the agency

Answer

IGs are independent watchdogs within agencies who conduct audits and investigations, report findings to both agency heads and Congress, and have no program management responsibilities.

Question 3

What is 'administrative ethics' primarily concerned with?

Accepted Answer

The values, norms, and standards of conduct that guide the behavior of public administrators in their official roles

Answer

Administrative ethics deals with the principles and standards — integrity, fairness, accountability, and public interest — that should guide the decisions and conduct of government officials.

Question 4

Which corruption control mechanism requires public officials to publicly disclose their financial holdings and interests?

Accepted Answer

Financial disclosure requirements

Answer

Financial disclosure requirements mandate that public officials report their assets, income, and financial interests so that potential conflicts of interest can be identified and scrutinized by the public and oversight bodies.

Question 5

What is the 'revolving door' problem in public administration ethics?

Accepted Answer

The movement of individuals between government regulatory roles and private industry positions they once regulated, raising conflict-of-interest concerns

Answer

The revolving door refers to officials moving between government regulatory roles and the industries they regulated (or lobbying those agencies), creating potential conflicts of interest and the risk that regulatory decisions favor future employers.

MPA - Master of Public Administration Practice Test

MPA - Master of Public Administration Practice Test

MPA Ethics and Accountability in Public Administration 2