U.S Government: Foreign and Domestic Policy Test

What countries has the US boycotted exports from?

-Cuba -Iran

List 4 World Organizations

-IRC (International Red Cross) -World Bank -IMF (International Monetary Fund) -UN (United Nations)

Why can't Maryland (or any other state) make a treaty with Japan?

-Separation of Powers gives this power to the federal government only

What type of foreign policy tool is NATO?

-a military alliance to prevent any attacks of member nations (tool of collective security)

When did NATO form and why?

-after WWII to help protect Western Europe with U.S. assistance

What are the other tools of foreign policy?

-alliances, foreign aid or sanctions

How does Congress affect foreign policy? What is their biggest role?

-by approving or denying appointments and by appropriating money. -biggest role is declaring war

How can a state protect the public's health?

-by banning certain foods, smoking in public building, emissions on cars to reduce air pollution\

How could the Maryland Dept of Transportation reduce traffic congestion?

-by creating HOV lanes, creating programs to allow employees to work from home, and building and maintaining public transportation

How has NAFTA been negative?

-by moving some US jobs and companies into Mexico for less expensive costs and created a trade deficit

How has NAFTA been positive?

-by reducing or eliminating tariffs and increasing trade between member nations

How can the IMF (International Monetary Fund) help struggling countries?

-by regulating currency rates to help stabilize their economy

The state government would be most likely to become involved in the decision about where to locate a landfill if developers tried to put the landfill on a site that...?

-created conflicts among the citizens of the town

What is Medicaid?

-health insurance for the poor

Why does the Constitution give the president control over foreign policy and not Congrees?

-if 535 people decide, there may be conflicting ideas of what to do - the President (1 person) can make decisions quickly

More immigrants have been able to enter the US after 1990...?

-if they are highly educated and/or have special skills

What would be an economic benefit of new homes being built in a rural area?

-increased tax base

What was an effect of the Immigration Act of 1990?

-it generally increased the number of immigrants allowed into the country

Which of these government policies was established specifically to address the problem of air pollution?

-mandating reduction of emissions from automobiles

What might happen to the social security system in the next decade?

-outgoing payments will increase faster than incoming payroll taxes

Why was Social Security and Medicare created?

-provide economic stability for older people

Affirmative Action is designed to do what?

-provide equal opportunities to minorities and woman to make up for the past

What was one of the main powers the Constitution reserved for the states?

-public education

Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, and food stamps help...?

-support people in the U.S. only

What was the policy of containment?

-the United States' attempts to stop the spread of communism

What is isolationism?

-the belief that the US should keep foreign involvement to a minimum

What is the selective service?

-the requirement of all men age 18-25 must register for a potential draft -can also be used for financial aid and government jobs -failure to register can result in jail time and/or a fine of $5000

What do Medicaid, food stamps and Social Security have in common?

-they provide support for people in the United States

What is the benefit of the US providing aid to other countries?

-to discourage revolution and wars in hopes of encouraging a democratic government

Why did the US and 143 other nations sign a treaty banning the development of biological weapons?

-to prevent the misuse of biological weapons by nations at war

What is the goal of the UN?

-to prevent war and work towards world peace through diplomacy (talking, etc.)

What is an economic sanction?

-to stop trading with another country to encourage a change in the government's policies and weaken their economy

EPA programs ordered but not paid for by federal legislators are called...?

-unfunded mandates

What would be a benefit of Title IX?

-with a higher education, women would be qualified for better higher paying jobs

The policy implemented of offset years of discrimination is known as?

Affirmative Action

This overruled the separate but equal doctrine in public schools. (court case)

Brown v Board of Education

What court case overturned separate but equal in public schools?

Brown v Board of Education (BOE)

Agency Impacts: *Rise in car prices, Cleaner drinking water, Laws regarding* Which regulatory agency is best described in the agency impact statements?

Environmental Protection Agency

What group would most likely oppose using public lands for mining?

Environmentalist

Medicaid is a federal government program that is administered by the states; the states and the U.S. government split the costs. This is an example of which principle of government?

Federalism

Which organization provides aid to prisoners of war and victims of natural disasters?

IRC (International Red Cross)

What is the largest single source of income for state and federal governments?

Income Tax (same as Personal Income Tax)

Developers want to build new houses. Environmentalists are concerned that endangered species will be hurt by the construction. What domestic policy issue is being debated in this situation?

Land Use

Which program provides health insurance for the poor?

Medicaid

As the average age of the nations' population increases, more attention will need to be paid to?

Medicare

Which foreign policy tool is a last resort because sanctions, diplomacy and/or aid have not been effective?

Military Action

What is the trading bloc established between the US, Canada and Mexico?

NAFTA

What is the main source of tax revenue for the federal government?

Personal Income Tax

What court case established separate but equal in 1896?

Plessy v Furguson

Who is the President's chief foreign policy advisor?

Secretary of State

A mix business, residential and public use land in the same area is known as:

Smart Growth

*Retired Citizens to Receive 5% Increase In Benefits* What entitlement program is referred to in this headline?

Social Security

What program's purpose is to provide retirement benefits?

Social Security

Who determines who is eligible for welfare?

State Governments

What level of government controls public education?

State government

What level of government determines eligibility for welfare programs?

State government

Which organization would a country consult to help raise their GDP?

The World Bank

What government mandate ensures equality amongst boys and girls in high school sports?

Title IX

Local land-use issues are usually decided by which public agency?

Zoning Board

What do critics of affirmative action claim the policy is guilty of?

reverse discrimination