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Law Enforcement Organization and Administration Review Questions 1


1. Which administrative acronym represents the functions of management as defined by Luther Gulick?

A. CPM

B. SMART

C. SWOT

D. POSDCORB


Answer: D. This stands for Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting, and Budgeting.



2. Which principle dictates that every employee should be accountable to only one supervisor?

A. Scalar principle

B. Unity of command

C. Span of control

D. Chain of command


Answer: B. This principle ensures clear reporting lines and prevents conflicting orders from multiple superiors.



3. What term describes the number of subordinates that a manager can effectively supervise?

A. Line of authority

B. Span of control

C. Area of responsibility

D. Unity of direction


Answer: B. It defines the limit of the number of subordinates one person can manage to maintain efficiency and safety.



4. In a police agency, which units are directly responsible for achieving the primary goals of the organization?

A. Staff units

B. Line units

C. Administrative units

D. Auxiliary units


Answer: B. These units, such as patrol and investigation, perform the actual field work of law enforcement.



5. What is the process of distributing tasks and authority from a superior to a subordinate?

A. Centralization

B. Commanding

C. Delegation

D. Supervising


Answer: C. This allows managers to assign responsibility and authority to lower-level employees to improve efficiency.



6. Which organizational principle involves a clear hierarchy of authority from top to bottom?

A. Equitable distribution

B. Discretionary authority

C. Scalar principle

D. Functional principle


Answer: C. It establishes a vertical 'ladder' of authority, ensuring every position has a specific rank.



7. Which function in POSDCORB involves the continuous task of making decisions and embodying them in specific orders?

A. Reporting

B. Planning

C. Directing

D. Coordinating


Answer: C, Directing is the active process of leading, instructing, and issuing orders to subordinates.



8. Who is credited with the concept of 'Bureaucracy' as a highly efficient organizational form?

A. Frederick Taylor

B. Henri Fayol

C. Douglas McGregor

D. Max Weber


Answer: D. Weber defined the ideal bureaucracy characterized by hierarchy, rules, and impersonal relationships.



9. What is the primary purpose of 'staff' units in a large law enforcement organization?

A. Making arrests

B. Directing operations

C. Advising line units

D. Conducting patrol


Answer: C, Staff units provide specialized advice, technical support, and research to help line officers perform their duties.



10. The line of authority extending from top management to lower levels is known as:

A. Span of control

B. Unity of command

C. Chain of command

D. Delegation


Answer: C, 

Explanation: The chain of command is the formal line of authority that extends from the highest level of management down through each successive level of the organization. It establishes who reports to whom and clarifies the flow of authority and responsibility.


Memorize or Familiarize


A. Span of control – Refers to the number of employees a manager directly supervises.

B. Unity of command – The principle that each employee should receive orders from only one supervisor.

C. Chain of command – The line of authority extending from top management to lower organizational levels.

D. Delegation – The process of assigning authority and responsibility to subordinates.


Comparative Models in Policing Review Questions 1