What was the Volcker Commission? What did it recommend, and what important questions about contemporary public administration did it answer?

What will be an ideal response?


The Volcker Commission, in 1989, answered the questions associated with whether the growing number of political appointees is a good thing for the administrative process: (1) How many political appointees are needed to achieve the objective? and (2) At what point does the number of such appointees become so large as to frustrate the objective? The Volcker Commission said that the growth of political appointees should be “curtailed” and that too many political appointees may “undermine the president’s ability to govern.” Basically due to increased turnover among political appointees, the disruptions and gaps will undermine institutional memory.

Political Science

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The media have largely replaced political parties as the principal link between candidates and voters

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Political Science

Because of NAFTA, an American business owner may be able to save money through which of the following?

a. by setting up a shell corporation in the Cayman Islands to avoid U.S. taxes b. by moving a manufacturing plant from the United States to Mexico, where labor is cheaper c. by purchasing cheap goods from China without paying taxes or tariffs d. by outsourcing customer service jobs to India e. by purchasing government-issued bonds to cover basic business expenses

Political Science

A major assumption that the founders had concerning the Electoral College was that electors would ______.

a. be political party leaders b. further the democratic goal of popular government c. be chosen by the state legislatures d. be leading citizens who could be trusted to exercise good judgment e. represent the average citizen when picking a president

Political Science

The American presidential system is different from most parliamentary systems because

a. of the inability of party leadership to force its elected representatives to vote certain ways. b. the president can get what he wants through Congress easily. c. all adults have the right to vote in the United States. d. civil liberties are always respected in the United States. e. executive power is not separate from legislative power.

Political Science