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Q:
Who or what body has sole authority to ratify treaties with foreign countries?
A.the President of the United States
B.the U.S. House of Representatives with a majority vote
C.the Secretary of State
D.the U.S. Senate with a two-thirds majority vote
E.the U.S. Supreme Court after a majority vote of the Congress
Q:
The power to receive ambassadors, negotiate foreign treaties, and serve as commander-in-chief during the course of a war is the exclusive authority of
A.the President of the United States.
B.Congress.
C.individual state governments that are affected by events.
D.the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
E.the Secretary of Defense.
Q:
The power to raise armies, punish maritime crimes, regulate commerce, and fund wars is the exclusive authority of
A.the President of the United States.
B.Congress.
C.the state governments.
D.the Secretary of State.
E.the Secretary of Defense.
Q:
What is the role of the state governments in foreign relations?
A.The states have equal standing with the federal government.
B.The federal government "consults" the states through the U.S. House of Representatives.
C.The U.S. Constitution assigns sole authority for foreign relations to the federal government, so the states have no official role.
D.Generally states have sovereignty and may enter into agreements with foreign countries.
E.The federal government generally has the authority to deal with foreign governments unless states gain approval from the Supreme Court.
Q:
What term is used to encompass all of a nation's activities that are directed at conducting relations with other countries, including military operations and diplomatic activities?
A.international exchange
B.defense policy
C.foreign policy
D.comprehensive policy
E.state of the union
Q:
Define the two economic system theories of capitalism and socialism. How do they differ? Using these two theories, describe how the United States has tended to differ with some European nations, such as Sweden, in the role of a central government as a provider of social benefits.
Q:
In 1968 Herbert Packer defined two very different models of criminal justice policy making. Identify these two models and describe the differences between them. What is the primary focus of each? Are they mutually exclusive or can they co-exist in the same democracy?
Q:
While most Americans would like for their government to be clear and decisive in its policy making, the reality is that we are a nation of diverse opinions and desires. Yale Professor Charles Lindblom described the American policy making process as the "science of muddling through." Explain what is meant by this statement and give an example to support it.
Q:
Which of the following is a tax-favored plan which provides a large incentive for mutual fund owners?
A.IRA
B.Roth IRA
C.Social Security
D.401(k) plan
E.Keogh plan
Q:
The first nation to adopt social insurance policies was
A.the United States.
B.France.
C.England.
D.Sweden.
E.Germany
Q:
Approximately how long after the creation of social security were Medicare and Medicaid added to the American social welfare system?
A.10 years
B.20 years
C.30 years
D.40 years
E.50 years
Q:
Which country has the smallest percentage of citizens covered by health care plans that are government run or government supported?
A.France
B.Canada
C.England
D.Cuba
E.United States
Q:
___________ began the era where people thought the government could and should be used as a positive influence on society.
A.The Civil War
B.World War I
C.The Great Depression
D.World War II
E.The Civil Rights movement
Q:
The American welfare state began in the
A.1910s.
B.1930s.
C.1950s.
D.1970s.
E.1990s.
Q:
Which of the following is not a requirement of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program?
A.Single mothers with children over five must work within two years of receiving benefits.
B.Single mothers under 18 must work at least 30 hours a week to receive benefits.
C.Unmarried mothers under the age of 18 must live with an adult and attend school.
D.Mothers must provide information on the fathers of their children to get benefits.
E.There is a five-year lifetime limit for aid from block grants.
Q:
President Bill Clinton vowed to
A."end welfare as we know it."
B."end the national healthcare system."
C."end the military career of any gay or lesbian soldiers."
D.expand the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program.
E.privatize Social Security.
Q:
Was the Administration of President George W. Bush successful in the effort to privatize Social Security?
A.Yes, because they were supported by an independent panel of experts.
B.Yes, because they passed three policies for privatizing Social Security.
C.Yes, because they had the "full, complete, and nonnegotiable endorsement" of AARP.
D.No, because they failed to convince the American public to support dramatic changes to the system.
E.No, because the Democrat took control of Congress before the legislation was passed.
Q:
Medicaid was designed to provide healthcare to the
A.aged and ill.
B.poor.
C.working class.
D.bureaucrats.
E.farmers and ranchers.
Q:
Social Security was created in the
A.1790s.
B.1860s.
C.1930s.
D.1960s.
E.1970s.
Q:
Though religious groups in America have tended to purposely remain out of the realm of government policy making, these groups have nonetheless taken active roles throughout U.S. history. Which of the following was NOT one of the historical movements in which religious groups played a role and held influence?
A.abolition of slavery
B.enactment of child labor laws
C.support of widows and poor women
D.enactment of military draft
E.temperance
Q:
What controversial 2002 federal initiative by President George W. Bush required mandatory testing of students to meet basic competencies?
A.the New Deal
B.the Great Society
C.the No Child Left Behind Act
D.the Federal Education Act
E.the creation of the U.S. Department of Education
Q:
Nationally, what percentage of public education is funded by the federal government?
A.less than 1 percent
B.approximately 7 percent
C.15 percent
D.about 50 percent
E.about 75 percent
Q:
What impact did the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) have on the relationship between the federal and state governments in education?
A.The Court infused the federal government into education by contending that national education problems demand national solutions.
B.The Court required that the federal government would be the primary funding source for education.
C.The ruling mandated creation of the U.S. Department of Education.
D.Since the case highlighted that the federal government was ineffective in enforcing desegregation, the role was passed to state governments.
E.The Court required that the two levels of government must cooperate equally in providing educational services.
Q:
Education has traditionally been whose responsibility in the U.S.?
A.Until the second half of the twentieth century, most education was church-centered.
B.City and county governments are primarily responsible for education policy and funding.
C.The federal government determines educational policy but leaves total funding to the state governments.
D.Historically education has been a state and local government responsibility, minimizing the federal role.
E.The federal government has always assumed primary oversight of public education.
Q:
Which of the following is NOT a duty of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?
A.identification and regulation of environmental risks
B.creation of regulations to protect wildlife
C.creation of environmental standards that must be enforced
D.oversight of the National Park Service
E.specialized law enforcement
Q:
Which of the following is NOT one of the environmental initiatives enacted by Congress in the past century?
A.the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
B.the U.S. Forest Service and its acquisition and management of millions of acres
C.the Environmental Protection Agency
D.the Clean Air Act
E.the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Oil Exploration Initiative
Q:
What is the most common criticism about the health care system in the United States?
A.There is a high level of ineffective medical care.
B.A disproportionate number of physicians are concentrated in rural areas at the expense of urban areas.
C.There is too much government intervention.
D.The cost is excessive.
E.Excess of physicians creates too much competition.
Q:
What ratio of Americans currently do not have any type of health insurance at all?
A.nine in ten
B.about half
C.three in ten
D.one in seven
E.less than one in one hundred
Q:
What is a health care arrangement in which pre-paid group arrangements limit costs through flat monthly rates? These arrangements were widely used in the 1980s and 1990s but have increasingly come under stricter legislative control.
A.Aid to Dependent Families
B.pay-as-you-go plans that charge premiums only when used
C.Medicaid
D.state-funded children's care plans
E.health maintenance organizations (HMOs)
Q:
Which of the following is a primary argument by supporters of the current system of American health care in which most patients secure health care insurance on their own?
A.The government cannot be trusted to make medically related decisions.
B.Overall it keeps taxes lower.
C.This system allows more choice in doctors and facilities than citizens in most other parts of the world.
D.Other federal initiatives such as Medicaid are very ineffective.
E.It is the less expensive alternative.
Q:
A system found in some European nations in which full access to health care is provided to citizens at government expense.
A.universal health care
B.health maintenance organization (HMO)
C.government supplement
D.socialist medicine
E.insurance driven
Q:
Social security is one of the topics which legislators from both major political parties are rarely interested in challenging. Why is this?
A.The topic is far too complicated.
B.Most realize that nothing would be done anyway so they are not willing to attempt any solutions.
C.Often referred to as the "third rail," to challenge social security in its current form is often politically fatal.
D.The current system works well.
E.The Social Security Administration is the largest contributor to political campaigns in the United States.
Q:
Which is a widely-used retirement investment plan that is similar to the IRA but differs in that the employer provides the plan to its employees and often matches any contributions?
A.Roth IRA
B.mutual fund
C.stock option
D.401(k)
E.Social Security Plus
Q:
Which of the following would NOT be considered as one of the advantages of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)?
A.Contributions in mutual funds and stocks can be made in consistently smaller deposits.
B.All withdrawals from IRAs are tax free.
C.Money continues to grow tax free.
D.Investment earnings are treated as capital gains by the Internal Revenue Service, and thus the tax rate is lower.
E.Money contributed to the IRA is not initially taxed as income.
Q:
Distrust in the solvency of social security has led the federal government to steer working Americans toward alternatives such as supplemental retirement accounts. How has the federal government encouraged such investment?
A.Laws have been passed that progressively require each generation to fund its own private retirement investment.
B.The government has threatened civil action.
C.In order to encourage private retirement accounts, the federal government has increased the use of individual tax credits and incentives.
D.In order to receive social security, future retirees must have a privately funded account.
E.The government has ignored the issue.
Q:
The administration of President George W. Bush advocated a significant change in the management of the social security trust fund in 2000, and again in 2005. What was his recommendation at both times?
A.that Social Security taxes be doubled to compensate for the baby boom surge of retirees
B.that benefits be reduced by 25 percent beginning in 2010
C.that management of the fund be transferred to a private contracted financial company
D.that Americans should be allowed to privatize their social security by investing in stocks and bonds
E.that the retirement age be lowered to 55 years old
Q:
Which of the following is NOT one of the reasons that the Social Security system is currently experiencing challenges in meeting its financial obligations?
A.Since inception the program has been broadened to include many more recipients.
B.The huge baby boom population is beginning to retire and draw benefits and it is more numerous than the current working population.
C.Americans in general are living longer.
D.Congress has reduced the amount of social security tax that workers now pay into the trust fund.
E.The system lost much income in the high inflation era of the 1970s.
Q:
The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 implemented the most significant reforms of the welfare system in more than 40 years. Which of the following was NOT a result of this legislation?
A.scaling back the food stamps program
B.requiring welfare recipients to work
C.devolving much of the administration duties of the welfare system from the federal government to the state governments
D.having no impact on the actual number of persons receiving assistance
E.limiting the receiving of benefits to a five-year period
Q:
The "war on poverty" created many federal social programs, one of which is the well-known food stamp program. In what year was the food stamp program initiated?
A.1880
B.1910
C.1935
D.1964
E.1993
Q:
What is a federal social program that provides limited health care services to the poor?
A.Medicare
B.Medicaid
C.Salvation Army
D.Aid to Dependent Families
E.Welfare
Q:
What is the federal program that provides health insurance for the elderly in general?
A.Medicare
B.Medicaid
C.Prudential
D.Aid to Dependent Families
E.Social Security
Q:
During which presidential administration did the United States witness its first substantial creation of federal welfare programs as it actively expanded the welfare state to include education, health care, and assistance to the poor?
A.Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal era of the 1930s
B.Lyndon Johnson's Great Society era of 1960s
C.the Carter administration in the late 1970s
D.the Reagan administration in the 1980s
E.the Bush administration beginning in 2001
Q:
As one of the first broad-based social policies, the Social Security Act was enacted
A.shortly after the creation of United States.
B.in the social imbalance following the Civil War.
C.during the economic stresses of the Great Depression of the 1930s.
D.as part of the Johnson administration's Great Society initiatives of the 1960s.
E.during the Clinton administration of the 1990s.
Q:
What is an economic system in which all or most of the means of production are owned by the community as a whole?
A.socialism
B.capitalism
C.communism
D.individualism
E.libertarianism
Q:
What is an economic system in which all or most of the means of production are privately owned under competitive conditions?
A.welfare state
B.police state
C.capitalism
D.socialism
E.communism
Q:
A social system in which the state assumes a considerable degree of responsibility for citizens in matters of health care, employment, education, and retirement income is called
A.a due process system.
B.a police state.
C.socialism.
D.capitalism.
E.a welfare state.
Q:
Often Congress becomes aggressive against certain crimes, such as possession of guns, the "war on drugs," or enacting mandatory minimum sentences. When this occurs, what role does the U.S. Supreme Court play in the process?
A.The Supreme Court has no authority to intervene in legislation enacted by a legitimately elected Congress.
B.The Supreme Court serves in an advisory role to Congress.
C.The Supreme Court may send the issue before the voters if it disagrees with the law.
D.The Supreme Court may invalidate the law by ruling that the law violates the U.S. Constitution or assumes powers that are not given to Congress.
E.The Supreme Court is a figurehead agency that normally rubber-stamps all congressional actions.
Q:
A current controversy involving allegations that police in the United States stop or interrogate minorities at a disproportionate rate is called
A.social engineering.
B.racial profiling.
C.plea bargaining.
D.criminal overcharging.
E.court stacking.
Q:
Realistic observation of the current American criminal justice system indicates that which of the following groups is most likely to experience the due process model when subject to the American criminal justice system?
A.racial minorities
B.juveniles
C.wealthy people
D.elderly people
E.poor Americans
Q:
Of Herbert Packer's two models of the criminal justice system, what does the due process model focus on as its principal goal?
A.control of criminal behavior
B.swift and efficient justice
C.equal focus on protecting the innocent as is expended on convicting the guilty
D.reduction of court dockets
E.abolition of mandatory sentencing
Q:
Which of Herbert Packer's two models of the criminal justice system describes the criminal justice system as a type of "assembly line justice" because it moves cases quickly and efficiently through the system?
A.crime control model
B.due process model
C.innocence model
D.litigation model
E.production system model
Q:
In 1968, Herbert Packer defined two different models of criminal justice policy making. Which of the two models advocates that control of criminal behavior is the most important function of the criminal justice system?
A.crime control model
B.due process model
C.innocence model
D.guilt assumption model
E.Pennsylvania model
Q:
Especially aggressive and strict forms of law enforcement will likely cut down on crime; however, what is another unintended impact of such a policy?
A.Police officers tend to be injured.
B.Police officers begin to act like a military force.
C.The cost to taxpayers is high and law-abiding citizens lose some of their individual freedoms as well.
D.Innocent people are found guilty.
E.Too many people go to prison.
Q:
What is the primary social purpose for the rules and practices of the criminal justice system?
A.to incarcerate criminal offenders and keep the streets safe for innocent citizens
B.to make it difficult to convict a person charged with a crime
C.to strike a careful balance between maintaining public order and protecting individual freedoms
D.to restrict abuse of police power in the name of crime prevention
E.to protect crime victims
Q:
Which of the following would NOT be considered a type of social policy?
A.crime policy
B.health policy
C.military policy
D.social security
E.relationship of religion and public policy.
Q:
Rules, regulations, and policy making pertaining to the quality of life, welfare, and the relations of human beings in the United States is
A.the political realm.
B.the statutory code.
C.humanism.
D.social policy.
E.welfare policy.
Q:
An alternative theory to "muddling through" is the concept of "punctuated equilibrium." In the context of policy making, what is the meaning of this concept?
A.progress that is abruptly halted
B.long periods of stability that are broken up by sudden and abrupt change
C.policy making in the United States that is rigidly guarded as a process that always balances both sides of the debate
D.stability that suddenly goes awry
E.policy making as an intentional and well-planned legislative exercise
Q:
Which of the following is NOT considered a realistic factor in the creation and implementation of social and public policy?
A.timing
B.luck
C.opportunity
D.skill
E.rigid deadlines
Q:
Professor Charles Lindblom in the 1950s described the domestic policy-making process as the "science of muddling through." What was meant by this statement?
A.Officials must often resort to incremental and haphazard breakthroughs when creating policies.
B.Creating confusion can be intentional, and some make it as complicated as possible.
C.Muddling implies confusion, but often what appears to be muddling are intentional tactics designed to stall progress.
D.Legislators rarely do anything intentionally.
E.Muddling implies that something is actually pretty simple, thus creating public policy is not as difficult as some claim.
Q:
President Theodore Roosevelt learned first-hand how social change and lawmaking often moves at a glacial pace during his term from 1901-1909. Roosevelt made several societal policy changes that resulted from battles with Congress. Which of the following is one of Roosevelt's legacies?
A.He modernized the military and was the first administration to deploy troops in foreign countries.
B.He joined forces with large corporations as their advocate to improve worker wages and safety.
C.He created vast reserves of wilderness in national parks and national forests.
D.He implemented the first government regulations to prevent water pollution and preserve water resources.
E.He implemented Medicare and social security benefits as a societal safety net for the elderly.
Q:
What modest changes did the Medicare Prescription and Modernization Act of 2003 implement?
A.provided free prescription coverage to the elderly
B.created a commission to regulate health insurance companies
C.set limits on spiraling prescription drug costs for the elderly
D.abolished private insurance coverage
E.required that insurance companies offer HMO coverage to all Americans
Q:
Discuss the pros and cons of modern education policy. How does No Child Left Behind address critical issues in education? What are its shortcomings?
Q:
Compare and contrast tax-favored investment plans. Which one do you favor? Why?
Q:
Discuss the status of the United States as a welfare state. How has it evolved? What has it accomplished? Where has it failed?
Q:
Social security has quickly become a deeply established benefit in American culture, both politically and socially, since its inception in the 1930s. Politicians from both major parties have great difficultly in modifying social security in any way. Many observers refer to social security as the "third rail." What is meant by this? What are some recent recommendations that have been suggested for changing the social security system?
Q:
One of President Lyndon Johnson's largest initiatives during his 1960s administration was his Great Society program. Many supporters praise this era, while many critics point to the era as the birth of what they see as a welfare state. Describe at least three of the social initiatives that were created and implemented during the Johnson administration that are still in effect today.
Q:
Describe the various efforts to reduce the deficit. How successful have they been? What policies would you propose to achieve great success?
Q:
In light of the recent economic downturn spurred in part by risky mortgages, evaluate the proper role of government in regulating the financial industry.
Q:
Define and discuss deregulation. Why did it become popular? What impact has it had? Considering the effect of deregulation on the radio industry and the airline industry, has deregulation been good public policy? Why or why not?
Q:
The federal government has many techniques and methods for monitoring the health of the American economy. Name at least three of these indicators. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each indicator?
Q:
In the 1980s President Reagan was an advocate of the "trickle-down" theory of economics. In comparison, President Roosevelt in the 1930s depression era advocated the use of Keynesian economic theory. How do the two theories differ and could both be used successfully?
Q:
Describe the impact of entitlements on the budgetary process.
Q:
Describe the differences between a progressive tax, a regressive tax, and a flat tax. Give examples of the individuals or groups that benefit most from each of these taxing formats.
Q:
What is the purpose of the Federal Reserve System? Give an example of a monetary decision or policy made by the Federal Reserve. Who would benefit positively and who negatively from such a decision?
Q:
The legislation passed in 1985 that called for deficit reduction is better known as the
A.Congressional Budget Act.
B.Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act.
C.Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act.
D.Archer-Daniels-Midland Act.
E.Debt Ceiling Act.
Q:
The federal fiscal year runs from
A.January 1 to December 31.
B.May 15 to April 15.
C.August 15 to July 15.
D.October 1 to September 30.
E.September 1 to August 31
Q:
A short-term decline in the economy characterized by sagging investment, falling production, and increasing unemployment is called
A.a recession.
B.a depression.
C.inflation.
D.stagnation.
E.deflation.
Q:
________ theorized that deficit spending by a government could supplement the total demand for goods and services and help maintain high levels of spending, production, and employment.
A.Franklin D. Roosevelt
B.John Maynard Keynes
C.Milton Friedman
D.Adam Smith
E.John Locke
Q:
The program instituted by Franklin D. Roosevelt to overcome the Great Depression was the
A.War on Poverty.
B.Federal Relief Policy.
C.New Deal.
D.Fair Deal.
E.Great Society.
Q:
Policies enacted to combat the Great Depression were implemented in the
A.1870s.
B.1890s.
C.1910s.
D.1930s.
E.1950s.