About this quiz
Policy meaning, cycle, models, types and actors.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 50 multiple-choice questions (Subject: Governance Systems · For: Section Officer, Nayab Subba · Level: Medium). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 50 questions with answers and explanations
'Public policy is whatever governments choose to do or not to do' was said by:
- A) David Easton
- B) Max Weber
- C) Woodrow Wilson
- D) Thomas R. Dye ✔
Why: Dye's definition is the most quoted.
Policy as the 'authoritative allocation of values' was described by:
- A) David Easton ✔
- B) Thomas Dye
- C) Harold Lasswell
- D) F. W. Taylor
Why: Easton defined politics/policy this way.
The founder of the 'policy sciences' approach is:
- A) Henri Fayol
- B) Harold Lasswell ✔
- C) Peter Drucker
- D) Elton Mayo
Why: Harold Lasswell founded the policy sciences approach in the 1950s, calling for multidisciplinary, problem-solving study of public policy.
The incremental model of policy making is associated with:
- A) Herbert Simon
- B) Max Weber
- C) Charles Lindblom ✔
- D) Luther Gulick
Why: Charles Lindblom gave the incremental model. He said policy makers usually make small changes to existing policies instead of starting fresh, which he called "muddling through".
'The Science of Muddling Through' was written by:
- A) Thomas Dye
- B) Lasswell
- C) Easton
- D) Charles Lindblom ✔
Why: Charles Lindblom wrote "The Science of Muddling Through" in 1959. It argues that real policy is made step by step through small, practical changes.
The first stage of the policy cycle is:
- A) Agenda setting ✔
- B) Implementation
- C) Evaluation
- D) Termination
Why: A problem must first reach the agenda.
Preparing options and proposals to solve a problem is:
- A) Policy evaluation
- B) Policy formulation ✔
- C) Policy termination
- D) Agenda setting
Why: Policy formulation is the stage where options and proposals are prepared to solve a problem that is already on the agenda.
Formal approval of a policy by the proper authority is:
- A) Implementation
- B) Evaluation
- C) Adoption (legitimation) ✔
- D) Feedback
Why: Adoption gives the policy legal authority.
Carrying out a policy through ministries and offices is:
- A) Formulation
- B) Agenda setting
- C) Adoption
- D) Implementation ✔
Why: Implementation puts policy into action.
Measuring whether a policy achieved its goals is:
- A) Policy evaluation ✔
- B) Policy formulation
- C) Agenda setting
- D) Lobbying
Why: Policy evaluation measures whether a policy achieved its goals and at what cost. Its findings are used to improve, continue or end the policy.
Choosing the best option after studying all alternatives is the:
- A) Incremental model
- B) Rational model ✔
- C) Elite model
- D) Group model
Why: The rational model aims for maximum benefit.
Making small changes to existing policies is the:
- A) Rational model
- B) Elite model
- C) Incremental model ✔
- D) Systems model
Why: Incrementalism changes policy step by step.
The model saying a small ruling class shapes policy is the:
- A) Group model
- B) Rational model
- C) Systems model
- D) Elite model ✔
Why: Elite theory focuses on the powerful few.
The model saying policy results from competition among interest groups is the:
- A) Group model ✔
- B) Elite model
- C) Rational model
- D) Institutional model
Why: Group theory sees policy as group equilibrium.
Inputs, conversion and outputs with feedback describe the:
- A) Elite model
- B) Systems model ✔
- C) Public choice model
- D) Incremental model
Why: David Easton's systems model sees policy as outputs of the political system. Demands and support go in, the system converts them, and feedback links results back to inputs.
The model that treats politicians as self-interested actors is the:
- A) Systems model
- B) Group model
- C) Public choice model ✔
- D) Rational model
Why: Public choice applies economics to politics.
Subsidies to farmers are an example of which type of policy?
- A) Regulatory
- B) Constituent
- C) Redistributive
- D) Distributive ✔
Why: Distributive policy gives benefits to groups.
Progressive income tax and social security are examples of:
- A) Redistributive policy ✔
- B) Distributive policy
- C) Regulatory policy
- D) Constituent policy
Why: They shift resources between groups.
Traffic rules and pollution standards are examples of:
- A) Distributive policy
- B) Regulatory policy ✔
- C) Redistributive policy
- D) Constituent policy
Why: Regulatory policies control behaviour through rules and standards, such as traffic rules and pollution limits. Distributive policies give out benefits.
Creating a new ministry is an example of:
- A) Regulatory policy
- B) Distributive policy
- C) Constituent policy ✔
- D) Redistributive policy
Why: Constituent policies shape government structure.
The typology of distributive, redistributive and regulatory policies was given by:
- A) Thomas Dye
- B) David Easton
- C) Peter Drucker
- D) Theodore Lowi ✔
Why: Lowi classified policies this way.
In Nepal, government policies are approved by the:
- A) Council of Ministers ✔
- B) Supreme Court
- C) Election Commission
- D) President alone
Why: In Nepal, government policies are approved by the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet), which holds executive power under Article 75.
In Nepal, laws are passed by the:
- A) Council of Ministers alone
- B) Federal Parliament ✔
- C) National Planning Commission
- D) Supreme Court
Why: Laws in Nepal are passed by the Federal Parliament (House of Representatives and National Assembly) and become law after the President's authentication.
The body that guides development policy and periodic plans in Nepal is the:
- A) Public Service Commission
- B) CIAA
- C) National Planning Commission ✔
- D) Election Commission
Why: The National Planning Commission, chaired by the Prime Minister, guides development policy and prepares Nepal's periodic plans.
The government's annual Policies and Programmes are presented in Parliament by the:
- A) Prime Minister
- B) Speaker
- C) Chief Justice
- D) President ✔
Why: The President presents them each year.
The federal budget of Nepal is presented on:
- A) Jestha 15 ✔
- B) Shrawan 1
- C) Ashadh 31
- D) Baisakh 1
Why: The Constitution fixes Jestha 15.
Assessing the costs and benefits of a new regulation before adopting it is:
- A) Audit
- B) Regulatory Impact Assessment ✔
- C) Census
- D) Inventory
Why: Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) studies the likely costs and benefits of a new rule before it is adopted, to avoid poor or costly regulation.
Comparing total costs and total benefits of a policy is:
- A) SWOT only
- B) Census
- C) Cost-benefit analysis ✔
- D) Inventory
Why: Cost-benefit analysis compares all costs and benefits of a policy in money terms. A policy is worth doing if benefits are greater than costs.
People or groups affected by a policy are called:
- A) Shareholders only
- B) Auditors
- C) Contractors
- D) Stakeholders ✔
Why: Stakeholders have an interest in the policy.
Taxes and subsidies are which kind of policy instrument?
- A) Economic instruments ✔
- B) Information tools
- C) Constituent tools
- D) Military tools
Why: Taxes and subsidies are economic instruments. They change people's incentives, for example a tax on tobacco discourages smoking.
Awareness campaigns are which kind of policy instrument?
- A) Regulatory tools
- B) Information tools ✔
- C) Economic tools
- D) Coercive tools
Why: They work by informing people.
A policy that does not reach its goals because of weak execution suffers from:
- A) Agenda setting
- B) Legitimacy
- C) Implementation gap ✔
- D) Over-evaluation
Why: The gap between plan and result.
Evidence-based policy means policy is based on:
- A) Guesswork
- B) Rumours
- C) Personal interest only
- D) Data and research ✔
Why: It relies on reliable evidence.
Public participation in policy making helps to:
- A) Increase ownership and legitimacy ✔
- B) Delay everything
- C) Reduce transparency
- D) Remove accountability
Why: Public participation gives people a say in policy. This increases their ownership of the policy and its legitimacy, so it is easier to implement.
Feedback in the policy process mainly helps to:
- A) End all policies
- B) Improve or change the policy ✔
- C) Avoid evaluation
- D) Hide results
Why: Feedback tells policy makers how a policy is working in practice, so they can improve or change it.
Bounded rationality in decision-making was proposed by:
- A) Charles Lindblom
- B) Max Weber
- C) Herbert Simon ✔
- D) Henri Fayol
Why: Simon said decision makers have limited information.
'Satisficing' (choosing a good-enough option) is associated with:
- A) Thomas Dye
- B) Woodrow Wilson
- C) Harold Lasswell
- D) Herbert Simon ✔
Why: Herbert Simon introduced satisficing: because of bounded rationality, decision makers choose an option that is good enough rather than the perfect one.
A policy that has ended or been removed is at the stage of:
- A) Termination ✔
- B) Formulation
- C) Adoption
- D) Agenda setting
Why: Termination is the last stage of the policy cycle, when a policy is ended because it has met its goal, failed or is no longer needed.
Which of these is a public problem likely to reach the policy agenda?
- A) A family's dinner menu
- B) Air pollution in cities ✔
- C) A private hobby
- D) A personal diary
Why: Public problems affect many people.
Policy implementation in Nepal is mainly carried out by:
- A) Only courts
- B) Only political parties
- C) Ministries, departments and local offices ✔
- D) Only NGOs
Why: Policies in Nepal are implemented mainly by the bureaucracy: ministries, departments and their district and local offices.
Policy analysis mainly helps decision makers to:
- A) Avoid all decisions
- B) Hide information
- C) Win elections only
- D) Compare options and predict effects ✔
Why: Policy analysis compares options and predicts their effects, so that decision makers can choose the best course of action with evidence.
Policies to stabilise prices and money supply are:
- A) Monetary policy ✔
- B) Foreign policy
- C) Education policy
- D) Health policy
Why: Monetary policy is run by the central bank.
Government decisions on taxes and spending form:
- A) Monetary policy
- B) Fiscal policy ✔
- C) Foreign policy
- D) Trade union policy
Why: Fiscal policy uses the budget.
In Nepal, monetary policy is announced by:
- A) Ministry of Finance
- B) NPC
- C) Nepal Rastra Bank ✔
- D) Parliament
Why: NRB issues the annual monetary policy.
A pilot programme before full implementation is useful because it:
- A) Avoids all evaluation
- B) Is always cheaper than doing nothing
- C) Removes stakeholders
- D) Tests the policy on a small scale ✔
Why: A pilot programme tests a policy on a small scale first. Problems found early can be fixed before money is spent on full implementation.
Policy coherence means:
- A) Different policies support rather than contradict each other ✔
- B) Policies never change
- C) Only one ministry makes policy
- D) No coordination
Why: Policy coherence means different policies support each other instead of working against each other, for example health and agriculture policies on food safety.
Lobbying is an attempt by groups to:
- A) Implement court orders
- B) Influence policy makers ✔
- C) Audit accounts
- D) Count votes
Why: Interest groups lobby for their goals.
A white paper usually presents:
- A) A court verdict
- B) A bank statement
- C) Government facts and proposed policy direction ✔
- D) An exam result
Why: White papers inform public debate.
The policy stage that decides which problems get government attention is:
- A) Evaluation
- B) Implementation
- C) Termination
- D) Agenda setting ✔
Why: Agenda setting is the first stage, where some problems get government attention and others do not.
Policy legitimacy mainly comes from:
- A) Approval through proper legal processes ✔
- B) Secret decisions
- C) Personal preference
- D) Media rumours
Why: A policy gets legitimacy when it is approved through proper legal processes by the authorised body, so people accept it as binding.