Question 1

Discuss the economic, effectiveness, equity, and political issues of President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security financing.

Accepted Answer

Students should discuss these criteria in the context of a partial privatized Social Security system. For effectiveness, they may discuss that it is possible that people may get a higher return, but many people may not end up saving for their retirement and may be left in poverty in old age. Equity issues can be addressed in the context of more individual control or that this program will be better for the middle- or upper-class people. Political issues can be addressed through the role of AARP and its concern for such a reform or how this plan may appeal to youth who may have concerns about Social Security in the future.

Question 2

The main problem with the social security program is that ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  it will soon run out of money since, as a welfare program, it is politically unpopular 
B)  it will soon run out of money to pay benefits because too few workers will be paying into the system 
C)  it will soon run out of money; it's financed through taxes at a time when governments are reducing taxes 
D)  it will soon run out of money because of the increase in employed workers trying to access benefits 
A)  it will soon run out of money since, as a welfare program, it is politically unpopular 
B)  it will soon run out of money to pay benefits because too few workers will be paying into the system 
C)  it will soon run out of money; it's financed through taxes at a time when governments are reducing taxes 
D)  it will soon run out of money because of the increase in employed workers trying to access benefits B

Question 3

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax for working individuals and families that is intended to ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  encourage people to work 
B)  reduce the culture of poverty 
C)  encourage people to file income taxes 
D)  reduce the TANF caseload 
A)  encourage people to work 
B)  reduce the culture of poverty 
C)  encourage people to file income taxes 
D)  reduce the TANF caseload A

Question 4

Welfare programs consume enormous amounts of public funding during a time of recession. Other than cutting benefits and restricting eligibility, what is the most effective long-term method a government can use to reduce the spending on these programs?

Accepted Answer

A)  consolidate all of the subsidy programs 
B)  get the economy growing again, so that fewer people will need the benefit 
C)  reduce fraud and waste in current programs 
D)  expand benefits of these programs 
A)  consolidate all of the subsidy programs 
B)  get the economy growing again, so that fewer people will need the benefit 
C)  reduce fraud and waste in current programs 
D)  expand benefits of these programs

Question 5

Social Security would typically be categorized as what type of federal spending?

Accepted Answer

A)  entitlement 
B)  discretionary 
C)  interest 
D)  defense 
A)  entitlement 
B)  discretionary 
C)  interest 
D)  defense

Question 6

The Social Security Administration also administers the ______.

Accepted Answer

Supplement

Question 7

Explain the two major perspectives on the causes of poverty. What implications do these perspectives have on preferred policy options?

Accepted Answer

One view, typically held by conservative

Question 8

Who is entitled to receive Social Security benefits?

Accepted Answer

A)  retirees age 66 and up, people with certain disabilities, and certain family members 
B)  retirees age 70 and up and their dependents 
C)  the poor and the elderly age 65 and up 
D)  retirees age 66 and up only 
A)  retirees age 66 and up, people with certain disabilities, and certain family members 
B)  retirees age 70 and up and their dependents 
C)  the poor and the elderly age 65 and up 
D)  retirees age 66 and up only

Question 9

Put the following demographic groups in descending order of poverty rate (i.e., highest rate listed first, lowest rate last).

Accepted Answer

A)  older adults, children, adults (age 18-64) 
B)  children, older adults, adults (age 18-64) 
C)  adults (age 18-64), children, older adults 
D)  children, adults (age 18-64), older adults 
A)  older adults, children, adults (age 18-64) 
B)  children, older adults, adults (age 18-64) 
C)  adults (age 18-64), children, older adults 
D)  children, adults (age 18-64), older adults

Question 10

Which new program, enacted in 1996, ended the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program?

Accepted Answer

A)  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
B)  Federal Anti-Poverty Program 
C)  National Unemployment Aid Program 
D)  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
A)  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 
B)  Federal Anti-Poverty Program 
C)  National Unemployment Aid Program 
D)  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Question 11

One major criticism of the welfare reform programs enacted during Clinton administration in the late 1990s is that the program ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  has led to more welfare fraud 
B)  has not lifted people out of poverty due to low wages 
C)  requires people to work, a politically unpopular requirement 
D)  immediately led to dramatically increased welfare caseloads in states 
A)  has led to more welfare fraud 
B)  has not lifted people out of poverty due to low wages 
C)  requires people to work, a politically unpopular requirement 
D)  immediately led to dramatically increased welfare caseloads in states

Question 12

One of the major criticisms of the Federal Poverty Level is that ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  it is too high 
B)  its benefit calculation formula is seriously outdated and has been used since the 1950s 
C)  it doesn't take into account the "culture of poverty" 
D)  it relies too heavily on the "Gini" coefficient 
A)  it is too high 
B)  its benefit calculation formula is seriously outdated and has been used since the 1950s 
C)  it doesn't take into account the "culture of poverty" 
D)  it relies too heavily on the "Gini" coefficient

Question 13

What is meant by "culture of poverty"?

Accepted Answer

This term refers to the idea t

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a prominent proposal to reform the social security program?

Accepted Answer

A)  privatizing 
B)  removing the cap on payroll taxes, so that people with higher level wages pay more taxes. 
C)  reducing benefits by raising retirement age to 70 
D)  requiring recipients to undergo employment training and obtain jobs 
A)  privatizing 
B)  removing the cap on payroll taxes, so that people with higher level wages pay more taxes. 
C)  reducing benefits by raising retirement age to 70 
D)  requiring recipients to undergo employment training and obtain jobs

Question 15

______ is the largest expenditure for a domestic program in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A)  Social Security 
B)  Education 
C)  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
D)  Environment 
A)  Social Security 
B)  Education 
C)  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
D)  Environment

Question 16

Social Security is called a "pay as you go" system. This means that ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  benefits that the U.S. government currently pays out are funded through currently collected taxes 
B)  individuals control the investment of their Social Security dollars (also called privatized) 
C)  it is a means-tested program 
D)  money taken out for Social Security today will pay for benefits in the future 
A)  benefits that the U.S. government currently pays out are funded through currently collected taxes 
B)  individuals control the investment of their Social Security dollars (also called privatized) 
C)  it is a means-tested program 
D)  money taken out for Social Security today will pay for benefits in the future

Question 17

Analyze the reasons for the growing income gap between the wealthy and poor in the United States. Discuss the major policy proposal that was recently proposed by President Obama to reduce this gap.

Accepted Answer

There have been several tax cuts for the

Question 18

One of the major criticisms of the federal poverty level is that ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  it is too high 
B)  its benefit calculation formula is seriously outdated and has been used since the 1950s 
C)  it doesn't take into account the "culture of poverty" 
D)  it relies too heavily on the Gini coefficient 
A)  it is too high 
B)  its benefit calculation formula is seriously outdated and has been used since the 1950s 
C)  it doesn't take into account the "culture of poverty" 
D)  it relies too heavily on the Gini coefficient

Question 19

Redistributive policies and programs are those through which ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  government redistributes tax laws to affect different sets of individuals 
B)  government provides grants or programs without collecting money from other individuals 
C)  government initiates educational programs to influence public behavior 
D)  government provides benefits to one group of individuals by collecting money from other individuals 
A)  government redistributes tax laws to affect different sets of individuals 
B)  government provides grants or programs without collecting money from other individuals 
C)  government initiates educational programs to influence public behavior 
D)  government provides benefits to one group of individuals by collecting money from other individuals

Question 20

The Gini coefficient measures ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  tax rates 
B)  income inequality 
C)  poverty rates 
D)  welfare spending 
A)  tax rates 
B)  income inequality 
C)  poverty rates 
D)  welfare spending

Discuss the economic, effectiveness, equity, and political issues of President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security financing.

The main problem with the social security program is that ______.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax for working individuals and families that is intended to ______.

Welfare programs consume enormous amounts of public funding during a time of recession. Other than cutting benefits and restricting eligibility, what is the most effective long-term method a government can use to reduce the spending on these programs?

Social Security would typically be categorized as what type of federal spending?

The Social Security Administration also administers the ______.

Explain the two major perspectives on the causes of poverty. What implications do these perspectives have on preferred policy options?

Who is entitled to receive Social Security benefits?

Put the following demographic groups in descending order of poverty rate (i.e., highest rate listed first, lowest rate last).

Which new program, enacted in 1996, ended the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program?

One major criticism of the welfare reform programs enacted during Clinton administration in the late 1990s is that the program ______.

One of the major criticisms of the Federal Poverty Level is that ______.

What is meant by "culture of poverty"?

Which of the following is NOT a prominent proposal to reform the social security program?

______ is the largest expenditure for a domestic program in the United States.

Social Security is called a "pay as you go" system. This means that ______.

Analyze the reasons for the growing income gap between the wealthy and poor in the United States. Discuss the major policy proposal that was recently proposed by President Obama to reduce this gap.

One of the major criticisms of the federal poverty level is that ______.

Redistributive policies and programs are those through which ______.

The Gini coefficient measures ______.

Public Policy and Politics

Government Institutions and Policy Actors

Understanding Public Policy Making

Policy Analysis

Public Problems and Policy Alternatives

Assessing Policy Alternatives

Economic and Budgetary Policy

Health Care Policy

Education Policy

Environmental and Energy Policy

Foreign Policy and Homeland Security

Politics, Analysis, and Policy Choice

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Exam 9: Welfare and Social Security Policy

Discuss the economic, effectiveness, equity, and political issues of President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security financing.

The main problem with the social security program is that ______.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal income tax for working individuals and families that is intended to ______.

Welfare programs consume enormous amounts of public funding during a time of recession. Other than cutting benefits and restricting eligibility, what is the most effective long-term method a government can use to reduce the spending on these programs?

Social Security would typically be categorized as what type of federal spending?

The Social Security Administration also administers the ______.

Explain the two major perspectives on the causes of poverty. What implications do these perspectives have on preferred policy options?

Who is entitled to receive Social Security benefits?

Put the following demographic groups in descending order of poverty rate (i.e., highest rate listed first, lowest rate last).

Which new program, enacted in 1996, ended the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program?

One major criticism of the welfare reform programs enacted during Clinton administration in the late 1990s is that the program ______.

One of the major criticisms of the Federal Poverty Level is that ______.

What is meant by "culture of poverty"?

Which of the following is NOT a prominent proposal to reform the social security program?

______ is the largest expenditure for a domestic program in the United States.

Social Security is called a "pay as you go" system. This means that ______.

Analyze the reasons for the growing income gap between the wealthy and poor in the United States. Discuss the major policy proposal that was recently proposed by President Obama to reduce this gap.

One of the major criticisms of the federal poverty level is that ______.

Redistributive policies and programs are those through which ______.

The Gini coefficient measures ______.

Public Policy and Politics

Government Institutions and Policy Actors

Understanding Public Policy Making

Policy Analysis

Public Problems and Policy Alternatives

Assessing Policy Alternatives

Economic and Budgetary Policy

Health Care Policy

Education Policy

Environmental and Energy Policy

Foreign Policy and Homeland Security

Politics, Analysis, and Policy Choice

Filters