For external review, the reviewer must be:

For external review, the reviewer must be:

• A. A person or body outside the agency that made the decision
• B. The current executive head of the agency
• C. A member of the public who lobbies the agency
• D. An internal auditor

Answer: (A)

External review relies on impartiality. The reviewer needs to be someone outside the agency that made the decision so they can assess the decision without internal influence or bias. That independence is what gives external review its fairness and credibility. Because of that, the reviewer must be a person or body outside the agency. Internal options—the current executive head or an internal auditor—operate within the agency and can’t provide the same level of impartiality. A member of the public who lobbies the agency might advocate a position, but lobbying doesn’t guarantee independence or objective judgment.

External review relies on impartiality. The reviewer needs to be someone outside the agency that made the decision so they can assess the decision without internal influence or bias. That independence is what gives external review its fairness and credibility.

Because of that, the reviewer must be a person or body outside the agency. Internal options—the current executive head or an internal auditor—operate within the agency and can’t provide the same level of impartiality. A member of the public who lobbies the agency might advocate a position, but lobbying doesn’t guarantee independence or objective judgment.