Social Policy (Ch 13)

36. What important noncontributory program was abolished by Congress in 1996? a. food stamps b. Medicaid c. Aid to Families with Dependent Children d. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families e. Social Security

Aid to Families with Dependent Children

17. What do public opinion polls reveal about welfare policies? a. They receive widespread support as long as they are means tested. b. Americans view welfare beneficiaries as "undeserving." c. Their popularity is low but has been steadily climbing since the 1970s. d. The public support for welfare politics goes up when they are administered by the states. e. Conservatives tend to favor them, while liberals oppose them.

Americans view welfare beneficiaries as "undeserving"

10. Which statement is the key argument of John Maynard Keynes? a. Government can pull an economy out of a recession by stimulating demand and creating a cycle of increased production and jobs. b. Government regulations during economic depressions must be lifted because they destroy the already slim profit margin. c. The economy of size shows that monopolies are the most efficient way to distribute goods throughout a national marketplace. d. A well functioning economy need never experience an economic downturn. e. Government can rectify a falling economy by regulating the money supply.

Government can pull an economy out of a recession by stimulating demand and creating a cycle of increased production and jobs

4. ________ are government grants of cash or other valuable commodities, such as land, that are used to promote activities desired by government leaders. a. Contracts b. Tax credits c. Business development funds d. Categorical grants e. Subsidies

Subsidies

*26. Which program was designed to help augment the benefits to the aged, blind, and disabled? a. Medicaid b. Medicare c. food stamps d. Supplemental Security Income e. Social Security

Supplemental Security Income

8. ________ were the centerpiece of George W. Bush's economic policy. a. Protective tariffs b. Tax cuts c. Antiglobalization measures d. Agriculture subsidies e. Categorical grants

Tax cuts

69. ________ are programs where the government provides a tax deduction for spending on health insurance and other benefits by both employers and employees. a. Noncompulsory benefits b. Tax expenditures c. Direct services d. Earned income tax credits e. Supplemental Security incomes

Tax expenditures

61. Since the welfare reforms of 1996, what is the primary reason for receiving federal cash assistance if one is nonworking and able bodied? a. The recipient is caring for children. b. The recipient is going to school or in a job training program. c. The recipient has been means tested. d. The recipient has been considered deserving. e. The recipient is actively looking for a job.

The recipient is caring for children

42. Which of the following can be concluded from the results of the 1996 welfare reforms? a. The reforms have done little to eliminate welfare dependency. b. The reforms have reduced the number of people on welfare but have done little to reduce poverty. c. The reforms have led to a reduction in overall poverty. d. The reforms have led to an increase in the number of welfare recipients. e. The reforms did not change anything.

The reforms have reduced the number of people on welfare but have done little to reduce poverty

15. Why have politicians always favored using subsidies to promote certain economic activities? a. They can be treated as benefits that can be spread widely in response to many demands. b. They are generally cheaper than other forms of government support. c. Recipients are always required to pay back the subsidies. d. Congress does not have to pass legislation in order to provide subsidies. e. They are paid for through international tariffs rather than personal income taxes.

They can be treated as benefits that can be spread widely in response to many demands

20. What was the primary problem with private charities before the development of the welfare state? a. They would make subjective decisions on who was deserving of aid. b. They were unable to get the necessary government licenses to operate legally. c. They disrupted the constitutional separation of church and state. d. They often kept donations for their own private use. e. There were too many of them.

They would make subjective decisions on who was deserving of aid

*19. Social Security is a good example of ________. a. outdoor relief b. indoor relief c. a contributory program d. a noncontributory program e. a means tested program

a contributory program

*32. Medicare is a ________ program; Medicaid is a ________ program. a. noncontributory; contributory b. contributory; noncontributory c. contributory; contributory d. noncontributory; noncontributory e. existing; now defunct

contributory; noncontributory

70. Which of the following programs most benefits the working poor? a. earned income tax credits b. Medicaid c. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families d. subsidized student loans e. Social Security

earned income tax credits

43. The idea that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to achieve their goals is called ________. a. in kind benefit b. equality of opportunity c. outdoor relief d. the contributory system e. equality of results

equality of opportunity

*48. The G.I. Bill of Rights of 1944 and the National Defense Education Act of 1958 were examples of the a. federal government's attempt to recruit more soldiers to the armed forces prior to World War II. b. federal government's attempt to improve national security during the Cold War. c. federal government's approach to education policy during the 1940s and 1950s. d. numerous amendments made to the Constitution in order to protect the rights of veterans of foreign wars. e. kinds of proposals made by Ronald Reagan when he ran for president in 1980.

federal government's approach to education policy during the 1940s and 1950s.

*3. The power to raise or lower the tax rate is part of ________. a. fiscal policy b. monetary policy c. the contracting power d. discretionary spending policy e. budgetary policy

fiscal policy

52. In 2007 and 2008, the government faced a housing crisis caused by a. sharp rises in house prices. b. foreclosures. c. a scarcity of affordable housing. d. shortages in the timber industry. e. an incredible drop in the stock market.

foreclosures

*64. Which of the following is the strongest factor in predicting which groups in society receive the most benefits from government's social policies? a. groups that make up the largest percentage of the population b. groups that are the most politically powerful c. groups that have the largest membership d. groups that are made up of people who cannot help themselves, like children or the elderly e. groups that provide the most to government through their tax dollars

groups that are most politically powerful

39. The main change in welfare policies since 1996 is ________. a. increased use of noncash assistance b. increased benefits c. decreased use of means testing d. decreased use of job training programs e. increased use of direct cash assistance

increased use of noncash assistance

23. The periodic adjustment of benefits or wages that takes into account the increased cost of living is called ________. a. means testing b. indexing d. economic tabulating c. graphing e. inflation

indexing

14. The best way for Federal Reserve Board officials to help boost a stagnant economy is to a. raise interest rates so that banks can earn more money on the loans they provide to individuals and businesses. b. lower interest rates so that banks can provide more loans at cheaper rates to individuals and businesses. c. take money out of circulation so that the dollar becomes more valuable. d. raise the reserve requirement, restricting the amount of cash and negotiable securities banks must have on hand. e. lower tariffs so that corporations can trade more freely with foreign countries.

lower interest rates so that banks can provide more loans at cheaper rates to individuals and businesses

30. Part of the reason welfare programs became so unpopular was that a. many Americans came to believe that welfare recipients did not want to work. b. the benefits provided by the program were too small to actually help recipients improve their lives. c. the programs were completely taken over by the federal government rather than having input from state and local governments. d. the programs were completely taken over by state and local governments rather than having input from the federal government. e. federal judges frequently ruled them to be unconstitutional.

many Americans came to believe that welfare recipients did not want to work

24. A(n) ________ benefit is one where potential recipients must document their genuine need. a. indexed b. contributory c. means tested d. in kind e. progressive

means tested

*55. The goals of American social policy are a. popular and receive wide support. b. often controversial. c. determined not by popular opinion but by the Constitution. d. often changed drastically from administration to administration. e. similar to those of social programs of other countries.

often controversial

9. Public policy can be embodied in all of the following forms EXCEPT a(n) ________. a. law b. administrative rule c. order d. regulation e. petition

petition

5. A way to reduce the disparities in wealth between the rich and poor is called a(n) ________. a. entitlement program b. tariff c. regressive tax policy d. policy of redistribution e. loophole

policy of redistribution

49. The central thrust of federal housing policy has been to a. promote home ownership. b. reduce homelessness. c. provide low cost rental units for the poor. d. provide uniform housing safety standards. e. provide equitable housing for minorities.

promote home ownership

1. An officially expressed purpose or goal backed by a sanction is a ________. a. public policy b. regulation c. rule d. bill e. reward

public policy

45. Charter schools are best described as a. the first schools built in any local district. b. schools that a district uses as the median by which to judge test scores. c. private schools that are funded with tax vouchers. d. public schools that are free to design special curricula. e. private schools run by large corporations.

public schools that are free to design special curricula

35. A cost of living adjustment is based on the a. financing approved by Congress during each session. b. rate of inflation. c. relationship between the level of the federal deficit compared to the nation's gross national product. d. changing needs of each recipient. e. unemployment rate.

rate of inflation

*18. The goals of social policy a. reflect changing views about which risks should be borne by the individual or shared by society. b. have been consistent since the early twentieth century. c. are determined by the political party that controls the White House. d. are clearly laid out in the Constitution. e. are consistent across the different states of the United States.

reflect changing views about which risks should be borne by the individual or shared by society

67. Which of the following groups are more than twice as likely as other Americans to be below the poverty line? a. African Americans b. children c. the elderly d. Latino Americans e. single mothers

single mothers

60. What is the shadow welfare state? a. the welfare that is distributed by local governments and special districts b. social benefits that are distributed by private employers who are being subsidized by the government c. the welfare payments that the government is committed to paying in the future d. private charities that have filled the gap left by reductions in government spending e. the welfare distributed by private charities and religious organizations

social benefits that are distributed by private employers who are being subsidized by the government

41. The welfare reforms of 1996 did all of the following EXCEPT a. place time limitations on how long a recipient could receive benefits. b. grant block grants to the states to fund the programs. c. restrict most legal immigrants from receiving benefits. d. take the federal government out of welfare policy, granting all authority to the states. e. give the states much more discretion in designing their cash assistance programs to needy families.

take the federal government out of welfare policy, granting all authority to states

*34. When did the American welfare state begin? a. the 1890s b. the 1920s c. the 1930s d. the 1960s e. the 1980s

the 1930s

7. When did Keynesian economic ideas lead to a revolution in thinking about the role of the government in the economy? a. the 1890s b. the 1930s c. the 1960s d. the 1980s e. the 1990s

the 1930s

*2. What event marked the major historical turning point in the relationship between the government and the marketplace? a. the Civil War b. the Depression of 1896 c. the Great Depression d. World War II e. the implementation of Reaganomics

the Great Depression

*44. What event brought federal attention to elementary school education? a. the fear that the Soviets were winning the Cold War through better technology b. low levels of literacy in America's inner cities c. the return of veterans at the end of World War II d. the Great Depression e. the fear that the Japanese were outperforming American students in math and science

the fear that the Soviets were winning the Cold War through better technology

*56. Which of the following groups receives the most benefits from government's social policies? a. the middle class b. the working poor c. children d. racial and ethnic minorities e. the nonworking poor

the middle class

13. What is a key power of the Fed? a. The power to change tax rates. b. The power to lower the budget deficit. c. The power to lower the total national debt. d. The power to expand and contract the amount of credit available in the United States. e. both b and c

the power to expand and contract the amount of credit available in the United States

46. The "individual mandate" of the Affordable Care Act refers to a. the requirement that Medicare cover all individuals living in the United States by 2014. b. a tax credit given to all people who are unemployed and do not have health insurance coverage. c. the requirement that uninsured individuals purchase health insurance. d. the requirement that health insurance companies accept all applicants, regardless of preexisting conditions. e. a system of health care where the government owns and operates all medical facilities.

the requirement that uninsured individuals purchase health insurance

59. Which of the following is the best example of the shadow welfare state? a. soup kitchens supported by local churches b. food stamps c. workplace medical insurance d. cost of living adjustments e. Medicaid

workplace medical insurance

*21. Social Security was established in ________. a. 1897 b. 1929 c. 1930 d. 1935 e. 1965

1935

37. Medicare was established in ________. a. 1888 b. 1933 c. 1942 d. 1965 e. 1994

1965

66. About ________ percent of America's children live in poverty. a. 6 b. 13 c. 22 d. 40 e. 56

22

68. Between 1959 and 2012, the percentage of elderly Americans living in poverty went from about ________ percent to ________ percent. a. 50; 35 b. 35; 10 c. 65; 25 d. 30; 45 e. 40; 30

35; 10

58. AARP has a membership of approximately ________ members. a. 10,000 b. 750,000 c. 1 million d. 9 million e. 40 million

40 million

12. Which of the following statements is true? a. Democrats support higher levels of public spending than Republicans. b. Republicans' support for tax cuts creates a political dilemma for Democrats. c. Democrats support raising taxes on the wealthy. d. Republicans believe that government spending is wasteful and puts a drag on the economy. e. all of the above

all of the above

71. The "feminization of poverty" is a. based on the reality that women are more likely to be poor than men. b. particularly acute for single mothers. c. both a and b d. now a moot point in the United States. e. a phenomenon that started in the early twenty first century.

both a and b

11. Which of the following statements is true? a. A majority of Americans believe that taxes are fairly low. b. Republicans in recent decades have supported tax cuts. c. A majority of Americans think that taxes are too high. d. both b and c e. Democrats in recent decades have supported cuts in social spending.

both b and c

25. The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program is administered a. by the federal government. b. by the states, with uniform benefit levels set by the federal government. c. by the states, with benefit levels varying between states. d. through private agencies with governmental contracts. e. by the federal government, with benefit levels varying between states.

by the states, with benefit levels varying between states

*57. Which of the following groups receives the least benefits from government's social policies? a. the middle class b. children c. the elderly d. the wealthy e. minorities

children

16. Which of the following was important in caring for the poor during the nineteenth century? a. the military b. the federal government c. churches and religious organizations d. the United Nations e. state governments

churches and religious organizations

*27. Which of the following is an in-kind benefit? a. Social Security b. cost of living adjustments c. Medicaid d. Veterans benefits payments e. Supplemental Security income

Medicaid

31. Which of the following is a program of forced savings? a. Medicaid b. Medicare c. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families d. food stamps e. Aid to Families with Dependent Children

Medicare

62. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT? a. Women are more likely to be poor than men. b. African Americans have experienced twice as much unemployment as other Americans. c. The poverty rates for African Americans and Latino Americans are more than double that of non Latino white Americans. d. Minorities are less likely to have access to the shadow welfare state. e. Men are more likely to be poor than women.

Men are more likely to be more poorer than women

51. The U.S. Public Health Service was founded in ________. a. 1798 b. 1866 c. 1936 d. 1942 e. 1968

1798

28. President ________ vowed "to end welfare as we know it." a. Richard Nixon b. Ronald Reagan c. George H. W. Bush d. George W. Bush e. Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

63. Why is it difficult to lobby for the interests of poor children? a. There are no longer enough poor children to make a difference. b. Children cannot vote. c. There are no interest groups devoted to poor children. d. American political values tend to discount the needs of youth. e. Most poor children live in foreign countries.

Children cannot vote

*22. Which of the following statements about Social Security is FALSE? a. Social Security was established in 1935. b. It is a program based on forced savings. c. Contributors receive benefits in strict proportion to their contributions. d. Social Security redistributes wealth from younger workers to older retirees. e. It is a fairly popular program among U.S. citizens.

Contributors receive benefits in strict proportion to their contributions

65. Which of the following LEAST explains why the elderly receive a large share of social benefits? a. The elderly make up a large proportion of the population. b. The elderly are perceived as deserving benefits from the government. c. The elderly have developed strong interest groups and lobbying techniques. d. Most members of Congress are themselves elderly or soon will be. e. The elderly tend to vote more than younger people.

Most members of Congress are themselves elderly or soon will be

53. How did deregulation of the mortgage industry in 1999 help produce the housing crisis of 2007 and 2008? a. It drove housing prices down by preventing too many qualified people from obtaining the mortgages needed to purchase homes. b. It allowed many new mortgage companies to form, offering "predatory" loans that people could not afford to repay. c. It made foreclosures almost impossible under the law and allowed many people to stop paying their mortgages with no monetary penalties. d. It eliminated most mortgage companies and forced potential homeowners to pay cash for their homes. e. It increased property taxes to the point that many homeowners were forced to sell their homes.

It allowed many new mortgage companies to form, offering "predatory" loans that people could not afford to repay

54. Which of the following statements about the No Child Left Behind Act is FALSE? a. It was the signature education act of George W. Bush. b. It increased the role of the federal government in education policy. c. It requires that students be tested every year in grades 3 to 8 for proficiency in math and reading. d. It creates a standard national test for all students. e. Many states considered it an unfunded mandate.

It creates a standard national test for all students

*29. How did the Great Depression change American attitudes about welfare? a. It showed that the government could efficiently distribute public assistance. b. It demonstrated that the government could choose between the deserving and undeserving poor in a more objective manner than private charities. c. It revealed that poverty could be caused by a flawed economic system, not just by personal irresponsibility. d. It revealed that local governments were too corrupt to be trusted with welfare policies. e. It showed that government was not as capable in taking care of the poor as private charities.

It revealed that poverty could be caused by a flawed economic system, not by personal irresponsibility

6. During the New Deal, ________ theory that a government could boost employment by stimulating demand became quite influential. a. Adam Smith's b. Milton Friedman's c. Friedrich Hayek's d. John Maynard Keynes's e. David Stockman's

John Maynard Keynes's

38. Which of the following statements about noncontributory programs is FALSE? a. Eligibility for these programs is determined through means testing. b. These programs may provide public housing, food stamps, and school lunches. c. The existence of these programs dates back to the Civil War. d. These programs underwent drastic reform in the 1990s. e. These programs are relatively unpopular when compared to contributory programs.

The existence of these programs date back to the Civil War

*33. Which of the following statements about noncontributory programs, such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families and Medicaid, is most accurate? a. The federal government provides all of the funding for these programs, and, as a result, citizens in each state receive exactly the same level of benefits. b. The federal government does not provide any funding for these programs, but state governments have all agreed to provide exactly the same level of benefits to citizens across the country. c. The federal government provides only some of the funding for these programs, and, as a result, citizens in each state receive exactly the same level of benefits. d. The federal government provides only some of the funding for these programs, and, as a result, citizens receive very different levels of benefits in different states. e. The federal government does not provide any funding for these programs, and, as a result, citizens receive very different levels of benefits in different states.

The federal government provides only some of the funding for these programs, and, as a result, citizens receive very different levels of benefit in different states

50. Which of the following was a key part of President Obama's overhaul of No Child Left Behind? a. a proposal that states could apply for waivers that would exempt them from some of the requirements of No Child Left Behind b. a proposal to change the criteria for allocating $14 billion in federal assistance to schools from a system of competitive grants to a per pupil formula c. mandating a single nationwide standardized test to be taken by all students d. providing an unprecedented amount of federal funding for school vouchers, allowing parents more freedom in choosing where their children attend school e. setting national standards for textbooks at all levels of schooling below college

a proposal that states could apply for waivers that would exempt them from some of the requirements of the No Child Left Behind

47. Which of the following was NOT included in the congressional plans for health care reform? a. the creation of new state based insurance exchanges b. a provision requiring uninsured individuals to purchase health insurance c. insurance regulation that prohibits insurers from denying benefits for a variety of reasons such as preexisting conditions d. an expansion of the public programs Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program e. a public option allowing individuals to acquire medical coverage directly from the government

a public option allowing individuals to acquire medical coverage directly from the government

40. There are considerable disparities in benefits from state to state in noncontributory programs because a. many state constitutions prohibit state governments from accepting money from the federal government for noncontributory programs. b. state governments are given grants in aid from the federal government to establish and operate their own programs rather than having one uniform national program. c. the federal government specifies different levels of assistance to each state based on means testing and indexing. d. some states do not have any citizens who need the benefits provided by noncontributory programs. e. some states choose to only employ contributory programs.

state governments are given grants in aid from the federal government to establish and operate their own programs rather than having one uniform national program