MPA Master of Public Administration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which budgeting approach requires agencies to justify every expenditure from zero each budget cycle rather than using prior-year baselines?
- Incremental budgeting
- Zero-based budgeting (Correct answer)
- Performance budgeting
- Program budgeting
Correct answer: Zero-based budgeting
Zero-based budgeting starts from a 'zero base' each cycle, requiring full justification of all expenditures rather than accepting prior-year allocations.
Question 2: The 'iron triangle' in U.S. federal policymaking describes the stable relationship among which three actors?
- President, Congress, and judiciary
- Interest groups, congressional committees, and executive agencies (Correct answer)
- Federal, state, and local governments
- OMB, GAO, and CBO
Correct answer: Interest groups, congressional committees, and executive agencies
The iron triangle refers to the mutually reinforcing relationships among interest groups, relevant congressional subcommittees, and executive branch agencies.
Question 3: Under the U.S. Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 'notice-and-comment' rulemaking requires agencies to do which of the following?
- Publish proposed rules and allow public comment before finalizing (Correct answer)
- Obtain congressional approval before issuing any regulation
- Consult with the President's chief of staff before drafting rules
- Submit proposed rules to the Supreme Court for constitutional review
Correct answer: Publish proposed rules and allow public comment before finalizing
The APA's informal rulemaking process (§553) requires agencies to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and accept public comments before issuing a final rule.
Question 4: Equity in public administration most directly refers to which principle?
- Maximizing total government revenue
- Ensuring fair and impartial treatment of all citizens (Correct answer)
- Reducing the size of the public sector workforce
- Prioritizing efficiency over all other values
Correct answer: Ensuring fair and impartial treatment of all citizens
Equity requires that government services and burdens be distributed fairly, without discrimination based on race, income, or other characteristics.
Question 5: Which management theory emphasizes that organizational effectiveness depends on aligning structure with the external environment?
- Scientific management
- Contingency theory (Correct answer)
- Human relations theory
- Classical bureaucracy
Correct answer: Contingency theory
Contingency theory holds that there is no single best way to organize; the optimal structure depends on environmental factors such as technology, market conditions, and uncertainty.
Question 6: A city manager who serves at the pleasure of the city council and implements council policy is characteristic of which form of local government?
- Mayor-council (strong mayor)
- Commission form
- Council-manager form (Correct answer)
- Township trustee form
Correct answer: Council-manager form
In the council-manager form, elected council members set policy while a professional city manager handles day-to-day administration.
Question 7: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) serves primarily as the investigative and audit arm of which branch of the U.S. government?
- Executive branch
- Judicial branch
- Legislative branch (Correct answer)
- Independent regulatory branch
Correct answer: Legislative branch
The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress, conducting audits, investigations, and evaluations of federal programs.
MPA Master of Public Administration 2
Which budgeting approach requires agencies to justify every expenditure from zero each budget cycle rather than using prior-year baselines?