PAC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield PAC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Cooperative federalism is primarily characterized by which of the following? → Shared responsibilities and collaborative relationships between levels of government
2. A program evaluation finds that outcomes differ significantly across counties implementing the same state policy. This variation most likely reflects: → Inconsistent local implementation capacity and discretion
3. Which type of federal grant gives recipient states the most flexibility in how funds are spent? → Block grants
4. In compliance monitoring, which strategy uses a risk-based approach to target inspection resources toward regulated entities most likely to be non-compliant? → Targeted or risk-based enforcement
5. How can policy analysts avoid conflicts of interest? → By disclosing conflicts and maintaining independence
6. What is the primary purpose of research methodologies in policy analysis? → To provide structured approaches for data collection and analysis
7. A matching grant in intergovernmental relations requires: → States to contribute their own funds proportionally to receive federal funding
8. A policy analyst discovers that a key finding contradicts the sponsoring agency's preferred outcome. The most ethical course of action is to: → Report the finding accurately and flag it clearly in the report
9. What is a key skill for a policy analyst? → Strong analytical, research, and communication skills
10. What is the primary purpose of a logic model in program management? → To visually map inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes of a program
11. Which of the following best describes 'framing' in policy communication? → The way language and emphasis shape how an audience interprets an issue
12. Which of the following is the primary purpose of a formative evaluation? → To improve program design and implementation while it is still running
13. Which regulatory analysis is required for all 'significant' federal rules under Executive Order 12866? → Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA)
14. Which of the following best describes 'program fidelity' in policy implementation? → The degree to which a program is delivered as originally designed
15. A local government wants to reduce plastic bag use. Which policy instrument would be most consistent with a 'nudge' approach? → Charging a small fee for plastic bags to change default consumer behavior
16. In regression analysis, multicollinearity occurs when two or more independent variables are highly correlated. What is the primary problem this causes? → It makes coefficient estimates unstable and difficult to interpret
17. How can effective policy communication increase public engagement? → By fostering trust and transparency, encouraging public support
18. A policy analyst publishes findings that are later cited by a lobbying group in a misleading way. The analyst's ethical responsibility is to: → Publicly clarify the misrepresentation and correct the record
19. The 'iron triangle' in U.S. policymaking refers to the mutually reinforcing relationships among: → Congressional committees, executive agencies, and interest groups
20. Why is transparency important in policy communication? → To ensure public trust and accountability
21. In program management, a 'milestones chart' is primarily used to: → Track the completion of key project deliverables over time
22. Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis is particularly useful for evaluating policies when: → A long series of pre-intervention outcome data points exists
23. Which ethical principle is most directly violated when a policy analyst selectively presents only evidence that supports the client's preferred outcome? → Objectivity
24. The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: → Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people
25. A policy brief differs from a full policy report primarily in that it: → Provides a concise synthesis of findings and recommendations for decision-makers
26. In strategic planning, 'SMART' goals are defined as goals that are: → Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound
27. In the policy cycle, 'agenda setting' refers to: → The process by which issues gain government attention
28. The 'theory of change' in program evaluation is best described as: → A causal map linking program activities to intended outcomes
29. When prioritizing policy options, which criterion asks whether a policy can achieve its goals with a reasonable level of resources? → Technical feasibility
30. Which citation practice is most appropriate when citing government data in a policy report? → Cite the specific dataset, agency, publication year, and table or figure number