Civil Service Supervisor Principles of Public Administration Flashcards
7 cards from real Civil Service Supervisor Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Civil Service Supervisor Principles of Public Administration flashcards as text
A supervisor who consistently allows poor performers to avoid accountability to prevent conflict is exhibiting:
Answer: Avoidance behavior that undermines team performance
Avoiding difficult performance conversations damages team morale and productivity, and is a failure of supervisory responsibility.
The doctrine of 'separation of powers' in U.S. government most directly affects public administrators by:
Answer: Creating checks and balances that limit and distribute administrative authority
Separation of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches shapes how agencies receive authority, funding, and oversight.
When a public agency contracts with a private company to deliver a government service, this is known as:
Answer: Privatization or contracting out
Contracting out (privatization) involves hiring private entities to perform functions previously done by government employees.
A supervisor is asked to implement a policy she personally disagrees with but which is lawful and within agency authority. She should:
Answer: Implement it faithfully while using appropriate channels to advocate for revision
Civil servants are expected to implement lawful directives professionally while pursuing policy disagreements through legitimate means.
In public administration, 'equity' as an administrative value means:
Answer: Government services and burdens are distributed fairly across all population groups
Equity in public administration means ensuring that policies and services address the needs of all groups fairly, especially historically underserved ones.
Which of the following BEST describes 'administrative discretion'?
Answer: The authority of administrators to make judgment calls within the bounds of law and policy
Administrative discretion allows officials to exercise judgment in applying rules to specific situations where laws or policies do not specify every detail.
A new supervisor inherits a team with very low morale after poor management. According to Herzberg's motivation theory, the MOST effective long-term strategy is to:
Answer: Enrich jobs by adding responsibility, recognition, and meaningful work
Herzberg found that true motivation comes from intrinsic factors (achievement, recognition, growth), not just hygiene factors like pay.