Question 1

Who/what is the largest provider of health insurance in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  Blue Cross/Blue Shield 
B)  the state of California 
C)  New York State 
D)  Medicare 
E)  Social Security 
A)  Blue Cross/Blue Shield 
B)  the state of California 
C)  New York State 
D)  Medicare 
E)  Social Security

Question 2

Federal support for public education is a ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  distributive social policy because it provides a public good to the poor 
B)  redistributive social policy because it benefits everyone by creating an educated workforce 
C)  distributive social policy because it uses revenue from progressive income taxes to provide support for services for low-income children 
D)  redistributive social policy because it uses revenue from progressive income taxes to provide support for services for low-income children 
E)  redistributive social policy because it provides a public good to the poor 
A)  distributive social policy because it provides a public good to the poor 
B)  redistributive social policy because it benefits everyone by creating an educated workforce 
C)  distributive social policy because it uses revenue from progressive income taxes to provide support for services for low-income children 
D)  redistributive social policy because it uses revenue from progressive income taxes to provide support for services for low-income children 
E)  redistributive social policy because it provides a public good to the poor

Question 3

What role does ideology play in helping explain the controversy surrounding poverty relief?

Accepted Answer

A)  Those who support generous welfare programs often believe society has a moral mandate to help the less fortunate, while those who oppose such programs believe that government intervention causes inefficiencies. 
B)  Liberals generally believe that welfare is necessary to ensure equality, while conservatives generally believe that welfare suppresses equality. 
C)  Conservatives and liberals both believe that freedom is best protected by generous welfare programs that facilitate equality. 
D)  Libertarians often support welfare programs because they support equality, while traditional conservatives oppose such programs. 
E)  Most ideologies support welfare, even if they believe the programs are inefficient and ineffective. 
A)  Those who support generous welfare programs often believe society has a moral mandate to help the less fortunate, while those who oppose such programs believe that government intervention causes inefficiencies. 
B)  Liberals generally believe that welfare is necessary to ensure equality, while conservatives generally believe that welfare suppresses equality. 
C)  Conservatives and liberals both believe that freedom is best protected by generous welfare programs that facilitate equality. 
D)  Libertarians often support welfare programs because they support equality, while traditional conservatives oppose such programs. 
E)  Most ideologies support welfare, even if they believe the programs are inefficient and ineffective.

Question 4

As part of the Great Society, the Department of Housing and Urban Development undertook programs designed to build better quality and more racially integrated housing for the poor. These programs largely ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  succeeded, because the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made housing discrimination illegal 
B)  succeeded, through the creation of mixed-income housing 
C)  failed, because local governments' constraints often limited the federal government's ability to avoid creating urban ghettoes 
D)  failed, because federal programs often overlooked the advice of more knowledgeable local governments and city planners 
E)  failed, but have become a higher priority in recent years 
A)  succeeded, because the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made housing discrimination illegal 
B)  succeeded, through the creation of mixed-income housing 
C)  failed, because local governments' constraints often limited the federal government's ability to avoid creating urban ghettoes 
D)  failed, because federal programs often overlooked the advice of more knowledgeable local governments and city planners 
E)  failed, but have become a higher priority in recent years

Question 5

Democrats and Republicans are most likely to agree that the government should ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  ensure that citizens have equal access to resources 
B)  ensure that citizens have equal opportunities to earn resources 
C)  provide access to higher education 
D)  lift benefits restrictions on welfare programs 
E)  only approve universalistic social welfare policies 
A)  ensure that citizens have equal access to resources 
B)  ensure that citizens have equal opportunities to earn resources 
C)  provide access to higher education 
D)  lift benefits restrictions on welfare programs 
E)  only approve universalistic social welfare policies

Question 6

What are the values of liberty and equality? In what respects do social policies represent trade-offs between these two values? Identify a public policy and explain how it either enhances liberty at the expense of equality or enhances equality at the expense of liberty. In your opinion, which value is more important, liberty or equality? Why?

Accepted Answer

A thorough answer may include:
•Liberty

Question 7

Until the ________ century, few federal social programs existed.

Accepted Answer

A)  twenty-first 
B)  eighteenth 
C)  nineteenth 
D)  twentieth 
E)  seventeenth 
A)  twenty-first 
B)  eighteenth 
C)  nineteenth 
D)  twentieth 
E)  seventeenth

Question 8

The No Child Left Behind Act sought to raise educational standards through a/an ________, while Race to the Top used a/an________.

Accepted Answer

A)  social welfare program; regulatory policy 
B)  unfunded mandate; financial incentives 
C)  regulatory policy; unfunded mandate 
D)  universal policy; means-tested formula 
E)  competition; social welfare program 
A)  social welfare program; regulatory policy 
B)  unfunded mandate; financial incentives 
C)  regulatory policy; unfunded mandate 
D)  universal policy; means-tested formula 
E)  competition; social welfare program

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT part of the federal government's effort to provide health care?

Accepted Answer

A)  evaluating the safety of cosmetics 
B)  building hospitals in rural areas 
C)  funding medical research 
D)  providing health education in schools 
E)  coordinating the purchase of private health insurance 
A)  evaluating the safety of cosmetics 
B)  building hospitals in rural areas 
C)  funding medical research 
D)  providing health education in schools 
E)  coordinating the purchase of private health insurance

Question 10

Redistributive policies typically benefit ________; distributive policies usually benefit ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  specific groups; nearly everyone 
B)  nearly everyone; specific groups 
C)  only the wealthy; nearly everyone 
D)  only the poor; only the wealthy 
E)  nearly everyone; only the poor 
A)  specific groups; nearly everyone 
B)  nearly everyone; specific groups 
C)  only the wealthy; nearly everyone 
D)  only the poor; only the wealthy 
E)  nearly everyone; only the poor

Question 11

Among those listed below, which country generally has the smallest welfare state?

Accepted Answer

A)  the United States 
B)  Germany 
C)  France 
D)  Canada 
E)  Australia 
A)  the United States 
B)  Germany 
C)  France 
D)  Canada 
E)  Australia

Question 12

A higher proportion of Americans ________ than in any other country in the world for which reliable data are available.

Accepted Answer

A)  is literate 
B)  is illiterate 
C)  receives welfare payments 
D)  is in prison 
E)  pays income taxes 
A)  is literate 
B)  is illiterate 
C)  receives welfare payments 
D)  is in prison 
E)  pays income taxes

Question 13

Which social programs do employer contributions directly help fund?

Accepted Answer

A)  Social Security and TANF 
B)  TANF and SNAP 
C)  Social Security and unemployment insurance 
D)  unemployment insurance and SNAP 
E)  SNAP and Social Security 
A)  Social Security and TANF 
B)  TANF and SNAP 
C)  Social Security and unemployment insurance 
D)  unemployment insurance and SNAP 
E)  SNAP and Social Security

Question 14

________ policies are designed to provide a basic level of income, safety, education, housing, and health care to certain categories of people at risk.

Accepted Answer

A)  Economic 
B)  Regulatory 
C)  Social 
D)  Compassionate 
E)  Progressive 
A)  Economic 
B)  Regulatory 
C)  Social 
D)  Compassionate 
E)  Progressive

Question 15

Nick works for a law firm, which provides privately purchased health insurance for him. After leaving his pharmacist's office, Nick looks at his receipt and sees that his new medication costs $100. His insurance company paid $85, while Nick paid $15 out of pocket. Did the federal government affect the price of this medication?

Accepted Answer

A)  no, because Nick's employer privately purchases his insurance 
B)  no, because the insurance company negotiates prices with the pharmacy 
C)  no, but it will be after health care reform takes effect 
D)  yes, through the Medicare reimbursement rate 
E)  yes, through federally mandated pricing tiers 
A)  no, because Nick's employer privately purchases his insurance 
B)  no, because the insurance company negotiates prices with the pharmacy 
C)  no, but it will be after health care reform takes effect 
D)  yes, through the Medicare reimbursement rate 
E)  yes, through federally mandated pricing tiers

Question 16

When did the last major spike in violent crime in the United States occur?

Accepted Answer

A)  late 1950s 
B)  mid-1960s 
C)  late 1970s and early 1980s 
D)  late 1980s and early 1990s 
E)  mid-2010s 
A)  late 1950s 
B)  mid-1960s 
C)  late 1970s and early 1980s 
D)  late 1980s and early 1990s 
E)  mid-2010s

Question 17

Bella and Lucius's friend Tom convinces them to join his gang. As gang members, they sell drugs to fellow students at Warthogs High and drive stolen goods from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Is the federal government likely to become involved in pursuing and prosecuting Bella and Lucius?

Accepted Answer

A)  yes, because the federal government has the majority of law enforcement resources 
B)  yes, because the federal government prosecutes all cases involving banned substances 
C)  yes, because their crimes involve interstate commerce 
D)  no, because they have not broken federal laws 
E)  no, because they are minors 
A)  yes, because the federal government has the majority of law enforcement resources 
B)  yes, because the federal government prosecutes all cases involving banned substances 
C)  yes, because their crimes involve interstate commerce 
D)  no, because they have not broken federal laws 
E)  no, because they are minors

Question 18

What is a welfare state?

Accepted Answer

A)  a state that allocates more than 40 percent of its budget to programs and services intended for low-income families and individuals 
B)  an economic crisis caused by the lack of comprehensive social policies 
C)  a state only accompanied by the reduction of social programs 
D)  the set of government programs devoted to social policy 
E)  a state that allocates more than 60 percent of its budget to programs and services intended for low-income families and individuals 
A)  a state that allocates more than 40 percent of its budget to programs and services intended for low-income families and individuals 
B)  an economic crisis caused by the lack of comprehensive social policies 
C)  a state only accompanied by the reduction of social programs 
D)  the set of government programs devoted to social policy 
E)  a state that allocates more than 60 percent of its budget to programs and services intended for low-income families and individuals

Question 19

In order to make the United States stronger, Maya believes that the government should make sure that all citizens have equal access to medical care and housing, even if that requires increasing taxes. Based on these views, Maya can likely be considered a ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  Republican 
B)  Communist 
C)  liberal 
D)  conservative 
E)  Democrat 
A)  Republican 
B)  Communist 
C)  liberal 
D)  conservative 
E)  Democrat

Question 20

Explain the division of responsibility between the federal government and the state governments in the domain of social policy. Which policy areas are largely dominated by federal programs? Which areas are principally reserved to the states? In which areas are the federal and state governments both active? What constitutional and practical considerations might structure this particular division of programming?

Accepted Answer

A thorough answer may include:
•Beginnin

Who/what is the largest provider of health insurance in the United States?

Federal support for public education is a ________.

What role does ideology play in helping explain the controversy surrounding poverty relief?

As part of the Great Society, the Department of Housing and Urban Development undertook programs designed to build better quality and more racially integrated housing for the poor. These programs largely ________.

Democrats and Republicans are most likely to agree that the government should ________.

Until the ________ century, few federal social programs existed.

The No Child Left Behind Act sought to raise educational standards through a/an , while Race to the Top used a/an.

Which of the following is NOT part of the federal government's effort to provide health care?

Redistributive policies typically benefit ; distributive policies usually benefit .

Among those listed below, which country generally has the smallest welfare state?

A higher proportion of Americans ________ than in any other country in the world for which reliable data are available.

Which social programs do employer contributions directly help fund?

________ policies are designed to provide a basic level of income, safety, education, housing, and health care to certain categories of people at risk.

When did the last major spike in violent crime in the United States occur?

Bella and Lucius's friend Tom convinces them to join his gang. As gang members, they sell drugs to fellow students at Warthogs High and drive stolen goods from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Is the federal government likely to become involved in pursuing and prosecuting Bella and Lucius?

What is a welfare state?

In order to make the United States stronger, Maya believes that the government should make sure that all citizens have equal access to medical care and housing, even if that requires increasing taxes. Based on these views, Maya can likely be considered a ________.

Introduction

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Rights and Liberties

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Political Participation

Interest Groups and Social Movements

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media and the Press

Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 16: Social Policy

Who/what is the largest provider of health insurance in the United States?

Federal support for public education is a ________.

What role does ideology play in helping explain the controversy surrounding poverty relief?

As part of the Great Society, the Department of Housing and Urban Development undertook programs designed to build better quality and more racially integrated housing for the poor. These programs largely ________.

Democrats and Republicans are most likely to agree that the government should ________.

Until the ________ century, few federal social programs existed.

The No Child Left Behind Act sought to raise educational standards through a/an ________, while Race to the Top used a/an________.

Which of the following is NOT part of the federal government's effort to provide health care?

Redistributive policies typically benefit ________; distributive policies usually benefit ________.

Among those listed below, which country generally has the smallest welfare state?

A higher proportion of Americans ________ than in any other country in the world for which reliable data are available.

Which social programs do employer contributions directly help fund?

________ policies are designed to provide a basic level of income, safety, education, housing, and health care to certain categories of people at risk.

When did the last major spike in violent crime in the United States occur?

Bella and Lucius's friend Tom convinces them to join his gang. As gang members, they sell drugs to fellow students at Warthogs High and drive stolen goods from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Is the federal government likely to become involved in pursuing and prosecuting Bella and Lucius?

What is a welfare state?

In order to make the United States stronger, Maya believes that the government should make sure that all citizens have equal access to medical care and housing, even if that requires increasing taxes. Based on these views, Maya can likely be considered a ________.

Introduction

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Rights and Liberties

Congress

The Presidency

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Political Participation

Interest Groups and Social Movements

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media and the Press

Economic Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

The No Child Left Behind Act sought to raise educational standards through a/an , while Race to the Top used a/an.

Redistributive policies typically benefit ; distributive policies usually benefit .