Final answer:
The characteristic that is NOT true about bureaucrats is that almost half of them get their jobs without a competitive process, as bureaucrats are hired based on a merit system facilitated by the Office of Personnel Management.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is NOT a characteristic of bureaucrats? The correct answer is option d. The question seems to be incomplete, but given the context provided, it is clear that bureaucrats do not acquire their jobs without going through a proper hiring process. In fact, bureaucrats are part of a merit system in which they are hired based on their skills and competence rather than political affiliations or other non-merit factors. This is a fundamental principle designed to ensure that government agencies are staffed with qualified individuals.
It’s important to note that while most bureaucrats are hired after competing for their jobs through a process administered by the Office of Personnel Management, and many do live and work outside of Washington, DC, they must all go through this competitive hiring process. This merit-based approach is meant to instill a level of independence, making bureaucrats responsive not to political changes but to the duties of their roles. Furthermore, the mention that the defense department and the postal service account for the majority of federal bureaucracy jobs (option c) is an accurate statement reflecting the size and scope of these two departments within the broader federal bureaucracy system.