Which term best describes a large, complex organization composed of appointed officials?

• A. Government by proxy
• B. Laissez-faire
• C. Discretionary authority
• D. Bureaucracy

Answer: (D)

The term describes a large, complex organization made up of appointed officials: a bureaucracy. This kind of structure is organized hierarchically, with specialized roles and formal rules that guide how policies are implemented and services are delivered. The key idea is that the personnel are appointed to carry out the day-to-day work of government, translating laws into action and ensuring consistency across programs.

Beyond that, government by proxy refers to outsourcing public functions to private entities, which isn’t the defining feature of a bureaucracy. Laissez-faire describes a philosophy of minimal government intervention, not the organizational form. Discretionary authority is about the power agencies have to interpret and apply laws, a property within a bureaucracy, not the overall description of the organization itself.