PLC2602 Exam Answers 2023

PLC2602 Exam Answers 2023 Questions asked: QUESTION 1 Indicate whether the following statement is True or False? The executive is mostly the initiator of policy proposals. This is because members of the executive are elected on the basis of a policy plan. a. True b. False QUESTION 2 Select the correct option. Which one of the following regime types is not associated with executive decrees? a. Fascist regime b. Neoliberal regime c. Communist regime d. Totalitarian regime CONFIDENTIAL Page 5 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 [TURN OVER] QUESTION 3 Select the most correct option. Public administration is the study of ______ . a. maintenance of law and order. b. absence of regulatory functions of the government. c. politico-administrative dynamics of the state. d. public policy implementation. QUESTION 4 Which one of the following options is not an example of policy impact? a. Symbolic b. Direct or tangible c. Institutional QUESTION 5 Select the correct option. Who defined public policies as those policies developed by governmental bodies and officials? a. David Easton b. James Anderson c. Thomas Dye d. Kenneth Prewitt CONFIDENTIAL Page 6 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 [TURN OVER] QESTION 6 Complete the sentence by identifying the correct missing word. Administrative accountability is established in government organisations by the ______ . a. executive. b. judiciary. c. legislature. d. All of the above. QUESTION 7 Select the correct option. Which theory assumes that policy-making is concerned with maximising utility, where utility is understood as a common good or a general interest that benefits the greatest number of interested and affected parties? a. Public choice theory b. Rational choice theory c. Economic theory of democracy d. Pluralism QUESTION 8 Indicate whether the following statement is True or False. Anderson argues that it is more likely that the attitudes of the elite affect public policy independently of public opinion. Elite preferences are also more likely to be in accordance with public policy preferences than with the public opinion of the population. a. True b. False CONFIDENTIAL Page 7 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 [TURN OVER] Question 9 Identify the one option that correctly fills in the missing words. You must choose between “a”, “b”, “c” or “d”: Government or public policy output merely measures government activity. It is therefore confined to (i) _____ or factually based assessments in which (ii) _____ considerations are paramount. On the other hand, if the impact of a policy is determined, (iii) _____ considerations are more important and (iv) _____ based judgements are necessary. a. (i) empirically (ii) qualitative (iii) quantitative (iv) normatively b. (i) normatively (ii) quantitative (iii) qualitative (iv) empirically c. (i) empirically (ii) quantitative (iii) qualitative (iv) normatively d. (i) normatively (ii) quantitative (iii) quantitative (iv) empirically Question 10 Complete the sentence by identifying the correct missing option. When a relevant government minister holds a news conference to announce the government’s intent to introduce a new policy, it is known as _____________ . a. decision-making. b. policy change. c. policy implementation. d. policy evaluation. CONFIDENTIAL Page 8 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 [TURN OVER] Question 11 Indicate which policy evaluation problem does the case study below represent? An official from the Department of Agriculture conducts a visit to several community agriculture projects in North-West Province to assess the availability of farm equipment and fertiliser. It was found that although there was adequate seed for the coming planting season, these community projects were experiencing a shortage of reliable tractors and other farming equipment. Following this site visit the Department of Agriculture was instructed by the government to allocate funds for the purchase of new farming equipment and the Department subsequently received reports that the chronic shortage of equipment had been remedied. Upon further investigation, however, representatives of the Department discovered that the United Nations had donated 500 new tractors and other pieces of farming equipment to these communities. The officials learned that more than 60% of the communities’ needs had been satisfied from this foreign source and government intervention had only a limited impact on addressing the needs of these communities. This is an example of __________ . a. diffuse policy impacts. b. official resistance. c. uncertainty over policy goals. d. causality. Question 12 Select the correct option. In the process of preparing legislation, the earliest stage of the process would usually be the publication of a __________ . a. draft bill. b. green paper. c. discussion document. d. white paper. CONFIDENTIAL Page 9 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 [TURN OVER] Question 13 Identify the game theory which best represents the following case study. Two countries, Country A and Country B, are at war. Country A has invaded its much weaker neighbour Country B with the goal of destroying its weak infrastructure and occupying its territory. In its desperation, Country B turns to its powerful ally Country C for assistance. Country C responds by supplying sophisticated weapons to its ally Country B. However since both Country A and Country C have equally powerful militaries the danger now arises that any direct confrontation between Country A and Country C on the territory of their weaker neighbour Country B could rapidly escalate into a direct war between Country A and Country C. Since both Country A and Country C are nuclear powers, such a conflict would destroy all three countries. This danger has increased because Country A has threatened to use nuclear weapons against its two opponents if its invasion of Country B fails and Country C has threatened to use nuclear weapons against Country A to defend Country B if Country A does not agree to end its invasion and withdraw its invading army. The dilemma is that neither of the two great powers knows if the other side is serious about using nuclear weapons to achieve their strategic goals. Therefore any miscalculation on the battlefield could result in a disastrous nuclear conflict. This is an example of _______________ . a. Chicken. b. Prisoner’s Dilemma. c. Battle of the sexes. d. Battle of Avranches. Question 14 Select the correct option. During which part of the policy cycle does the government explore potential policy responses? a. Policy evaluation b. Policy implementation c. Decision-making d. Policy formulation CONFIDENTIAL Page 10 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 [TURN OVER] Question 15 Select the correct option. Which one of the following options is one of the features of bureaucracy conceived by Max Weber? a. Authority b. Hierarchy c. Publicness d. Civil society e. All of the above Question 16 Which one of the following statements is not correct? During the policy design stage, the policy analyst must keep the following requirements in mind: a. Do not let subjectivity overrule objectivity. b. Be able to move from concept to reality. c. Ensure that alternatives are mutually exclusive. d. Do not contrast preferred policy with obviously unattractive ones. e. Formulate as many policy alternatives as possible. CONFIDENTIAL Page 11 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 [TURN OVER] Question 17 Select the correct option. Which of the following theories stipulates that citizens are self-interested actors whose decisions fulfil their own needs and wants? a. Economic theory of democracy b. Management theory c. Pluralism theory d. Rational choice theory Question 18 Select the correct option. Which one of the following indicators are used to measure policies and programmes? a. Efficacy indicators b. Sustainability indicators c. Impact indicators d. Process indicators e. All of the above Question 19 Indicate whether this statement is True or False. Legislation is the enactment of a particular aspect of government’s policy in order to grant it an authoritative status so that it can be enforced. a. True b. False CONFIDENTIAL Page 12 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 [TURN OVER] Question 20 Select the correct option. Which of the following theories of public policy is related to the free market in the sense that it values competition and unimpaired initiative? Indicate the correct option. a. Rational choice theory b. Neostatism c. Public choice theory d. Pluralism e. None of the above SECTION A SUBTOTAL [60] CONFIDENTIAL Page 13 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 [TURN OVER] SECTION B: SHORT DISCUSSION QUESTIONS PLEASE ANSWER ANY TWO OF THE FOLLOWING THREE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION SECTION B COUNTS 40 MARKS EACH ANSWER SHOULD BE ABOUT TWO (2) PAGES IN LENGTH Carefully estimate the time that you have to answer each of these questions. QUESTION 1 There are numerous possible dilemmas that must be dealt with in policy-making. One of these dilemmas is how should the public and the private domains be demarcated? In your own words, discuss the following: • To what extent may the state interfere in the private lives of individuals and why is this determined by the way in which power and/or authority are exercised in a state? • What role does the public sector play in providing goods and services and which three criteria does Lane identify to help determine what goods and services should be provided by the private sector and what should be provided by the public sector. [20] QUESTION 2. In your own words, discuss and compare the following approaches to policy analysis: • Corporatism • Pluralism [20] CONFIDENTIAL Page 14 of 14 PLC2602 MAY/JUNE 2023 QUESTION 3 In the public policy-making process, the origin of a policy is the existence of a need. In your own words: • Discuss the identification of policy-relevant problems as well as the role that public opinion plays in this process. Briefly illustrate your answer with an example of your own (i.e. an example not provided in your study guide). [20] SECTION B SUBTOTAL [40] TOTAL MARKS [100]