UNT PSCI 2305 Chapter 14 - 2020

Why is the division of power present in the American political system? A. It is an intentional attempt of modern governmental actors to maintain the status quo and prevent efforts at policy reform. B. It was an unintended consequence of compromises made between the Federalists and anti-Federalists over the proper scope of government. C. It was an intentional attempt by the Founders to prevent any single entity from gaining control of the government and its policies. D. It is an unintended consequence of the competition for power between interest groups.

C. It was an intentional attempt by the Founders to prevent any single entity from gaining control of the government and its policies.

What does it mean that the United States has global hegemony? A. The U.S. must expand militarily in order to balance the threat of force from other nations. B. The U.S. must preemptively strike against threats of terrorism. C. The U.S. is the sole superpower and exercises great influence over other global actors. D. The U.S. is contractually obligated to provide aid to developing countries.

C. The U.S. is the sole superpower and exercises great influence over other global actors.

Which of the following is one of the factors that might lead lawmakers to prioritize a certain issue over others? A. Foreign leaders have criticized the United States over the issue. B. Lobbyists have paid them to take action on the issue. C. Their constituents have raised concerns over the issue. D. Their local news outlets have stopped covering the issue.

C. Their constituents have raised concerns over the issue.

How do lawmakers ensure that a policy's effectiveness will be evaluated after it is implemented? A. They have a standing committee responsible for all policy evaluation. B. They petition the Supreme Court to evaluate the law. C. They require evaluation in the language of the law. D. They create agencies specifically to evaluate the law.

C. They require evaluation in the language of the law.

What was the "Great Recession"? A. a tightening of the federal budget in the 1980s B. a period of economic decline in the 1930s C. a financial crisis beginning in the late 2000s D. a period of soaring inflation in the 1970s

C. a financial crisis beginning in the late 2000s

What is it called when the federal government spends more money than it takes in during the year? A. outlays B. national debt C. deficit D. revenue

C. deficit

According to C. Wright Mills, who or what controls the political agenda? A. the military-industrial complex B. the media C. elites D. bureaucrats

C. elites

In which of the five stages of the policymaking process does the government assess the effectiveness of a policy? A. adoption B. formulation C. evaluation D. agenda setting

C. evaluation

Roughly how long did it take the federal government to enact new policy in response to 9/11? A. less than a week B. less than a month C. less than two months D. more than six months

C. less than two months

Which of the following is a diplomatic duty of the secretary of state? A. setting tariffs B. approving treaties C. overseeing the U.S. Foreign Service D. acting as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations

C. overseeing the U.S. Foreign Service

Based on the data in Figure 12 and Figure 13, supporters of smaller government would be more likely to vote for which of the following candidates in the next presidential election? Choose the BEST answer. A. the Democratic presidential candidate B. the Libertarian presidential candidate C. the Republican presidential candidate D. the Socialist presidential candidate

C. the Republican presidential candidate

Which of the following is an example of a bilateral agreement? A. the Geneva Conventions B. the North Atlantic Treaty Organization C. the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement D. the Paris Peace Accords

C. the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement

Why is membership in the Federal Reserve advantageous for financial institutions? A. These institutions gain prestige by participating in the Federal Reserve. B. The Federal Reserve provides annual funding for these institutions. C. These institutions are subject to fewer regulations. D. The Federal Reserve provides a safety net in case of economic collapse.

D. The Federal Reserve provides a safety net in case of economic collapse.

Why are redistributive policies often controversial? A. They limit behavior. B. They involve environmental regulations. C. They give states federal money to implement public policy. D. They take money from wealthier citizens and give it to poorer citizens.

D. They take money from wealthier citizens and give it to poorer citizens.

Which of the following led the United States to abandon its isolationist policies? A. the Cold War B. global hegemony C. the grand strategy D. a worldwide economic depression

D. a worldwide economic depression

Which of the following is a part of the military-industrial complex described by President Dwight D. Eisenhower? A. the FBI B. the secretary of state C. soldiers D. defense contractors

D. defense contractors

Most formal proposals during the policy formulation process are introduced by which of the following actors? A. bureaucrats B. interest groups C. think tanks D. members of Congress

D. members of Congress

Which of the following is a distributive policy? A. the Affordable Care Act B. Social Security C. seatbelt laws D. public education

D. public education

Which of the following is among the responsibilities of the Federal Reserve? A. printing money B. regulating exports C. setting tax rates D. setting interest rates

D. setting interest rates

Which of the following executive departments is not involved in U.S. foreign policy? A. the Department of State B. the Department of Defense C. the Department of Commerce D. the Department of the Treasury

D. the Department of the Treasury

President Barack Obama's shift toward targeted military involvements included which of the following strategies? A. more aid to emerging democracies B. multilateral nuclear disarmament C. covert CIA operations to assassinate hostile foreign leaders D. the use of drone aircrafts

D. the use of drone aircrafts

Why did the Supreme Court decide that the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act is constitutional? A. Congress has the power to tax, and the individual mandate could reasonably be considered a tax. B. The Commerce Clause gives Congress the power to establish universal health care coverage. C. Congress has the power to create any domestic policy it deems necessary, including the individual mandate. D. The Necessary and Proper Clause gives Congress the power to require the individual mandate.

A. Congress has the power to tax, and the individual mandate could reasonably be considered a tax.

How did George W. Bush overcome potential policy fragmentation within the federal government in the aftermath of 9/11? A. He worked with Congress to consolidate various intelligence agencies. B. He dissolved FEMA and handed responsibility for disaster relief to the states. C. He unified public opinion by making well-regarded speeches at the Pentagon and World Trade Center. D. He gave funding to New York City for disaster relief.

A. He worked with Congress to consolidate various intelligence agencies.

The issue of immigration fits best into which policy type? A. Immigration is an issue of domestic policy, foreign policy, and economic policy. B. Immigration is only a foreign-policy issue. C. Immigration is only an economic policy issue. D. Immigration is only a domestic policy issue.

A. Immigration is an issue of domestic policy, foreign policy, and economic policy.

What compromise concerning the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was struck between the Obama administration and religious institutions? A. Religious institutions were exempted from having to provide contraception to employees. B. Religious institutions were exempted from covering employees who drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. C. Religious institutions were allowed to use ACA funding to pay clergy or pastors for bedside services. D. Religious institutions were exempted from all provisions of the ACA.

A. Religious institutions were exempted from having to provide contraception to employees.

What happened when the United States threatened to bomb the Syrian government in 2013? A. Syria agreed to disarmament of its chemical weapons. B. Russia threatened an embargo on U.S. exports to the Middle East. C. Syria threatened to launch nuclear weapons at Israel. D. Syria increased its use of chemical weapons against rebel forces in the country's ongoing civil war.

A. Syria agreed to disarmament of its chemical weapons.

In what way does the legislative branch check and balance executive power regarding foreign policy? A. The Senate has authority over the ratification of treaties and confirmation of major presidential appointments. B. The Senate determines when, where, and how U.S. troops will be deployed in foreign conflicts. C. The House of Representatives determines when, where, and how U.S. troops will be deployed in foreign conflicts. D. The House of Representatives has authority over the ratification of treaties and confirmation of major presidential appointments.

A. The Senate has authority over the ratification of treaties and confirmation of major presidential appointments.

Which of the following statements provides an example of the disconnect between how people benefit from government and how people view government? A. The majority of Americans receive some sort of assistance from the government, but don't think the programs help them. B. The majority of Americans claim to prefer big government, but a majority also show disapproval of large government entitlement programs. C. The majority of Americans disapprove of Congress but approve of their district's representative in the House. D. The majority of Americans are registered Democrats, but vote Republican.

A. The majority of Americans receive some sort of assistance from the government, but don't think the programs help them.

What is the president's role in influencing fiscal policy? A. The president submits an annual budget to Congress. B. The president is responsible for coining money and overseeing the operations of the Treasury. C. The president sets tax rates. D. The president regulates all domestic business transactions via the Commerce Department.

A. The president submits an annual budget to Congress.

What do the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Higher Education Act, and ARPANET have in common? A. They are all public policies that have an impact on the daily lives of college students. B. They are all public policies that enhanced accreditation standards for colleges and universities. C. They are all public policies that were enacted due to the lobbying efforts of college students. D. They are all public policies aimed at making college more affordable.

A. They are all public policies that have an impact on the daily lives of college students.

How do local bureaucrats influence public policy? A. They make decisions that influence the implementation of public policy. B. They formulate public policy by developing solutions to societal problems. They set the public policy agenda for Congress. They decide which public policies to adopt as law.

A. They make decisions that influence the implementation of public policy.

Which of the following represents the evaluation stage of the policymaking process as it relates to the events of 9/11 and the government response? A. concerns about anti-terrorism efforts violating civil rights B. hijacked jets crashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon C. President Bush signing new anti-terrorism legislation D. the creation of the Department of Homeland Security

A. concerns about anti-terrorism efforts violating civil rights

Which area was hardest hit by sequestration? A. defense B. Medicaid C. education D. Social Security

A. defense

What are the three general policy categories? A. foreign, domestic, and economic B. legal, cultural, and political C. legislative, executive, and judicial D. federal, state, and local

A. foreign, domestic, and economic

Which of the following represent the largest source of federal government revenue? A. income taxes B. entitlement taxes C. Social Security taxes D. sales taxes

A. income taxes

Which of the following is an example of a regulatory policy that aims to promote "clean living"? A. mandatory recycling B. minimum-drinking-age laws C. the Affordable Care Act D. Cash for Clunkers

A. mandatory recycling

Which of the following would be considered primarily a foreign-policy issue? A. national defense B. interest rates C. law enforcement D. health care

A. national defense

What are the "ingredients" that go into David Easton's systems model of policymaking? A. opinion polling and constituent communication B. societal outcomes C. new laws and regulations D. the institutions of government

A. opinion polling and constituent communication

Which type of policy seeks to benefit society in general by prohibiting activities that might cause harm to oneself or others? A. regulatory policy B. domestic policy C. redistributive policy D. distributive policy

A. regulatory policy

What was Representative Cole's ultimate position about federal aid in the aftermath of the devastating tornado that hit Oklahoma in May 2013? A. that the federal budget should be offset to accommodate for the emergency relief funds B. that federal aid should be returned, and state emergency funds were sufficient C. that federal relief aid should be eliminated to curb federal spending D. that the federal emergency relief aid was not enough to rebuild after the tornado

A. that the federal budget should be offset to accommodate for the emergency relief funds

Which of the following provided American aid to European countries to help their economies recover from World War II? A. the Marshall Plan B. the Bush Doctrine C. the Truman Doctrine D. the Cold War

A. the Marshall Plan

Which government institution can make public policy by declaring a law unconstitutional? A. the Supreme Court B. the presidency C. Congress D. the bureaucracy

A. the Supreme Court

What is sequestration? A. the freezing of expenditures in order to provide automatic spending cuts B. the total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a single year C. government spending authorized by Congress D. money disbursed by the government to meet obligations incurred through entitlement programs

A. the freezing of expenditures in order to provide automatic spending cuts

Which of the following is a responsibility of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative? A. to participate in negotiations over import policies B. to oversee the Foreign Agriculture Service C. to regulate customs and border patrol D. to provide Congress with information on imports and exports

A. to participate in negotiations over import policies

Why is policy change usually slow and incremental? A. A successful proposal must be feasible to implement at the federal, state, and local levels of government. B. A successful proposal must unite multiple stakeholders with different values. C. Conflicts between the three branches of government create gridlock. Conflicts between the parties create gridlock.

B. A successful proposal must unite multiple stakeholders with different values.

How did Congress follow the Federal Reserve Board's advice at the beginning of the 2008-2009 financial crisis? A. Congress provided a $700 billion bailout package to aid struggling homeowners and unemployed workers. B. Congress provided a $700 billion bailout package to aid struggling banks. C. Congress passed a law making credit-default swaps illegal. D. Congress passed a law setting interest rates at zero percent until the end of the recession.

B. Congress provided a $700 billion bailout package to aid struggling banks.

What does it mean to legitimate public policy? A. It is the period of debate before a policy becomes law. B. It is the act of giving a policy the force of law. C. It is the introduction of a policy bill in Congress. D. It is the act of campaigning for public support for a policy.

B. It is the act of giving a policy the force of law.

Which of the following characterizes the pluralist model of policymaking? A. The agenda is transparent. B. Policymaking is directed by groups of citizens. C. The agenda is static. D. Policymaking is directed by elites.

B. Policymaking is directed by groups of citizens.

Which of the following was done to evaluate the No Child Left Behind Act? A. Government officials used classroom observations to measure improvements. B. Student scores on math tests were collected and analyzed over time. C. Federal agencies conducted teacher surveys measuring the approval rate of the act. D. Student grades on report cards were collected and analyzed over time.

B. Student scores on math tests were collected and analyzed over time.

Which of the following represents an example of a reformulation of a previous government program? A. Aid to Families with Dependent Children B. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families C. Annual Yearly Progress reports D. the No Child Left Behind Act

B. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

How do bureaucrats implement the law? A. State legislatures create rules and regulations that operationalize policies. B. They use administrative discretion to develop rules and regulations to operationalize policies. C. Congress gives them explicit directions for implementation. D. The president gives them explicit directions for implementation.

B. They use administrative discretion to develop rules and regulations to operationalize policies.

Which of the following would be considered a street-level bureaucrat responsible for implementing federal policy at a local level? A. a grassroots political activist B. a schoolteacher C. a member of a union D. the president

B. a schoolteacher

How long did it take for health care reform to be formulated and adopted by the federal government? A. a month B. a year C. a week D. six months

B. a year

On what does the federal government spend the most money? A. education B. entitlement programs C. interest on the debt D> national defense

B. entitlement programs

Which of the following education policies would you expect a liberal to support? A. individual discretion regarding childhood education B. federal oversight of and funding for all public schools C. the abolishment of the Department of Education D. local supervision and resource distribution for all public schools

B. federal oversight of and funding for all public schools

During a recession, which of the following would an economist be MOST likely to suggest? A. limit market intervention B. increase government spending C. decrease government spending D. deregulate industry

B. increase government spending

Which of the following is a component of fiscal policy? A. currency circulation B. taxation C. dollar valuation D. interest rates

B. taxation

Which government actor is primarily responsible for implementing U.S. monetary policy? A. the president B. the Federal Reserve C. the Supreme Court D. Congress

B. the Federal Reserve

What is the origin of the American political divide over the proper scope of government? A. the economic expansion of the late 19th century B. the Federalist/anti-Federalist debates C. the Great Depression D. the Declaration of Independence

B. the Federalist/anti-Federalist debates

What does the "black box" represent in David Easton's systems model? A. new laws and regulations B. the institutions of government C. societal outcomes D. opinion polling and constituent communication

B. the institutions of government

What is fragmentation in the political system? A. the polarization of partisan factions B. the phenomenon of separate government actors seeking to solve the same problem in different ways C. the separation of powers between the three branches of government D. the ideological divisions that develop within parties

B. the phenomenon of separate government actors seeking to solve the same problem in different ways

What power does the U.S. Constitution explicitly give to the president? A. the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations B. the position of commander in chief of the military C. the power to declare war D. the power to commit troops for up to 60 days without a declaration of war

B. the position of commander in chief of the military

How did President Barack Obama pressure Congress to pass the Hurricane Sandy relief bill? A. He demanded action during his State of the Union address. B. He used Twitter to influence public opinion. C. He held a highly publicized event at the White House. D. He campaigned for action via cross-country bus tours.

C. He held a highly publicized event at the White House.

How did the North American Free Trade Agreement incentivize trade between Mexico, the United States, and Canada? A. It threatened embargoes on trade if violated. B. It orchestrated arms sales between the three countries. C. It eliminated tariffs on trade between the three countries. D. It reduced restrictions on crossing the borders.

C. It eliminated tariffs on trade between the three countries.