0000ffmm..iinndddd ii 55//2299//0088 44::0077::3333 PPMM An ARCO Book ARCO is a registered trademark of Peterson’s. About Peterson’s, a Nelnet company Peterson’s (www.petersons.com) is a leading provider of education information and advice, with books and online resources focusing on education search, test preparation, and fi nancial aid. Its Web site offers searchable databases and interactive tools for contacting educational institutions, online practice tests and instruction, and planning tools for securing fi nancial aid. Peterson’s serves 110 million education consumers annually. For more information, contact Peterson’s, 2000 Lenox Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648; 800-338-3282; or fi nd us on the World Wide Web at: www.petersons.com/about. © 2005 Peterson’s, a Nelnet company Previous editions published as Law Enforcement Exams © 1992, 2002 Editor: Joe Krasowski; Production Editor: L.A. Wagner; Manufacturing Manager: Ray Golazewski; Composition Manager: Melissa Ignatowski ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution, or information storage and retrieval systems—without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission to use material from this text or product, complete the Permission Request Form at http://www.petersons.com/permissions. ISSN: International Standard Serial Number information available upon request. ISBN: 0-7689-1549-X Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 07 06 05 Fifth Edition 0000ffmm..iinndddd iiii 55//2299//0088 44::0077::3344 PPMM Contents ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Before You Begin.........................................................................vii How This Book Is Organized ...................................................................vii Special Study Features ............................................................................vii You’re Well on Your Way to Success ..................................................... viii Top 10 Ways to Raise Your Score .............................................................ix PART I: FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT BASICS 1 All About Federal Law Enforcement ....................................3 Structure of the Federal Government.......................................................4 How to Land a Federal Job......................................................................10 Preparing for the Exam ...........................................................................33 Test Format..............................................................................................35 Summing It Up.........................................................................................39 PART II: WHERE THE JOBS ARE 2 Executive Branch.................................................................43 Department of Agriculture ......................................................................44 Department of Defense ............................................................................47 Department of Energy .............................................................................49 Department of Health and Human Services...........................................51 Department of the Interior ......................................................................54 Department of Justice..............................................................................60 Department of State.................................................................................70 Department of the Treasury....................................................................72 Department of Veterans Affairs ..............................................................77 Summing It Up.........................................................................................80 3 Legislative and Judicial Branches .....................................81 U.S. Capitol Police....................................................................................81 U.S. Supreme Court Police ......................................................................82 Summing It Up.........................................................................................84 iii iv Contents ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 4 Independent Agencies.......................................................85 ○ ○ Central Intelligence Agency.....................................................................85 ○ ○ Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.................................................88 ○ Federal Communications Commission....................................................89 ○ ○ Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation..................................................90 ○ Federal Election Commission..................................................................91 ○ ○ Federal Protective Service.......................................................................92 ○ ○ Federal Reserve Board.............................................................................93 ○ Postal Inspection Service.........................................................................95 ○ ○ Summing It Up.........................................................................................99 ○ ○ 5 Department of Homeland Security ..................................101 ○ ○ Protecting Against a New Enemy..........................................................101 ○ ○ Federal Emergency Management Agency.............................................102 ○ ○ Transportation Security Administration...............................................105 ○ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services..........................................106 ○ ○ U.S. Coast Guard....................................................................................108 ○ U.S. Customs and Border Protection.....................................................109 ○ ○ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.......................................115 ○ ○ U.S. Secret Service.................................................................................121 ○ Summing It Up.......................................................................................123 ○ ○ ○ PART III: PRACTICE TEST ○ ○ ○ Practice Test ..............................................................................129 ○ ○ ○ Answer Key and Explanations ..............................................................165 ○ ○ ○ APPENDIXES ○ ○ ○ A Federal Law Enforcement Training Facilities...................185 ○ ○ ○ B Federal Agency Contacts.................................................199 ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ www.petersons.com/arco ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Petersons.com/publishing Check out our Web site at www.petersons.com/publishing to see if there is any new information regarding the test and any revisions or corrections to the content of this book. We’ve made sure the information in this book is accurate and up-to-date; however, the test format or content may have changed since the time of publication. OTHER RECOMMENDED TITLES ARCO 24 Hours to the Law Enforcement Exams ARCO Federal Jobs in Law Enforcement ARCO Federal Jobs: The Ultimate Guide ARCO Special Agent/Deputy U.S. Marshal Before You Begin ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ HOW THIS BOOK IS ORGANIZED So you want a career in federal law enforcement. A career in federal law enforcement offers an opportunity to serve your community and to help others. It offers diversity, excitement, and, in most cases, some personal danger. It also offers career security and growth opportunities. Which law enforcement position is for you? Different positions have different requirements for education, expe- rience, medical history, and physical fitness. There are great variations in working conditions, time commitments, travel and relocation requirements, and the work itself. ARCO Master the Federal Law Enforcement Exams provides you with the necessary ammunition to help you put your best foot forward, including: “Top 10 Ways to Raise Your Score” gives you a preview of some of the test- taking strategies you’ll learn in the book. Part I provides basic information about a career in federal law enforcement. You’ll learn how the federal government is organized, how to land a federal job, how to write a top-notch application, and how to prepare for the written exam. Part II profiles the most popular federal law enforcement positions available with the three main branches of government and independent agencies, as well as positions with the Department of Homeland Security. Part III contains a full-length practice test with detailed answer explanations designed to prepare you for the specific exam you will be required to take. The Appendixes provide information about the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center as well as a listing of important employment resources. SPECIAL STUDY FEATURES ARCO Master the Federal Law Enforcement Exams is designed to be as user- friendly as it is complete. To this end, it includes several features to make your preparation much more efficient. vii viii Before You Begin ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Overview ○ ○ ○ Each chapter begins with a bulleted overview listing the topics that will be covered in ○ the chapter. This will allow you to quickly target the areas in which you are most ○ ○ interested. ○ ○ ○ ○ Summing It Up ○ ○ ○ Each chapter ends with a point-by-point summary that captures the most important ○ ○ points contained in the chapter. They are a convenient way to review key points. ○ ○ ○ As you work your way through the book, keep your eye on the margins to find bonus ○ ○ information and advice. Information can be found in the following forms: ○ ○ ○ ○ Note ○ ○ ○ Notes highlight critical information about a career in federal law enforcement, the ○ application process, and the written exam. ○ ○ ○ ○ Tip ○ ○ ○ Tips provide valuable advice for effectively handling the federal law enforcement job- ○ ○ search process. ○ ○ ○ ○ Alert! ○ ○ ○ Alerts do just what they say—alert you to common pitfalls or misconceptions. ○ ○ ○ ○ YOU’RE WELL ON YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS ○ ○ ○ You have made a decision to pursue a career in federal law enforcement. ARCO Master ○ ○ the Federal Law Enforcement Exams will help you select the agencies to which you are ○ ○ most suited and will also guide you in finding, applying for, and landing the job of your ○ dreams. Good Luck! ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ www.petersons.com/arco ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Top 10 Ways to Raise Your Score There are concepts you can learn, techniques you can follow, and tricks you can use that will give you the biggest bang for your buck when taking the federal law enforcement exam. Here’s our Top 10 list. 1. Get to the test center early. Make sure you give yourself plenty of extra time to get there, park your car, if necessary, and even grab a cup of coffee before the test. 2. Listen to the test monitors and follow their instructions carefully. 3. Mark only ONE answer for each question, even if you think that more than one answer is correct. You must choose only one. If you mark more than one answer, the scoring machine will consider you wrong. 4. If you change your mind, erase completely. Leave no doubt as to which answer you mean. 5. If your exam permits you to use scratch paper or the margins of the test booklet for figuring, don’t forget to mark the answer on the answer sheet. Only the answer sheet is scored. 6. Check often to be sure that the question number matches the answer space, that you have not skipped a space by mistake. 7. If the scoring is “rights only,” that is, one point for each correct answer and no subtraction for wrong answers, then by all means you should guess. Read the question and all of the answer choices carefully. Eliminate those answer choices that you are certain are wrong. Then guess from among the remaining choices. You cannot gain a point if you leave the answer space blank; you may gain a point with an educated guess or even with a lucky guess. In fact, it is foolish to leave any spaces blank on a test that counts “rights only.” 8. Stay alert. Be careful not to mark a wrong answer just because you were not concentrating. 9. Do not panic. If you cannot finish any part before time is up, do not worry. If you are accurate, you can do well even without finishing. It is even possible to earn a scaled score of 100 without entirely finishing an exam part if you are very accurate. At any rate, do not let your performance on any one part affect your performance on any other part. 10. Check and recheck, time permitting. If you finish any part before time is up, use the remaining time to check that each question is answered in the right space and that there is only one answer for each question. Return to the difficult questions and rethink them. ix