Question

federal contracts and small businesses
category\tgoal\t2013 ($b)\t%sb\t2014 ($b)
small business\t23%\t$83.1\t23.4%\t$91.7
small disadvantaged business\t5%\t$30.6\t8.6%\t$34.7
service - disabled veteran - owned small business\t3%\t$12.0\t3.4%\t$13.5
women - owned small business\t5%\t$15.4\t4.3%\t$17.2
source: small business trends, 2019.
note: by law, the federal government must award 23 percent of all u.s. government contracts to small businesses.
21 mark for review
which of the following best explains why congress has used its power to help certain types of businesses obtain federal contracts, as shown in the table?
a congress is attempting to find ways to decrease overall federal expenditures.
b congress is ensuring that the bureaucracy is accountable to groups other than large corporations.
c congress is using block grants to help the states have access to government contracts.
d congress is using its legislative power to reorganize the federal bureaucracy.

Explanation:

The table shows Congress mandated federal contracts for small, disadvantaged, disabled veteran-owned, and women-owned small businesses (with legal requirements like 23% for all small businesses). This policy ensures that groups beyond large corporations can secure government contracts, which matches option B. Options A is incorrect because the values show contract allocations, not decreased spending. Option C is wrong as the table focuses on business contracts, not state block grants. Option D is incorrect because the policy is about contract access, not reorganizing the bureaucracy.

Answer:

B. Congress is ensuring that the bureaucracy is accountable to groups other than large corporations.