Question 1

The first federal government assistance in education came in

Accepted Answer

A)  1785, when the federal government set aside land for public schools. 
B)  1812, when Congress established public schools in Washington, D.C. 
C)  1862, with the establishment of land-grant colleges. 
D)  1944, with the G.I. Bill. 
E)  2001, with the No Child Left Behind Act. 
A)  1785, when the federal government set aside land for public schools. 
B)  1812, when Congress established public schools in Washington, D.C. 
C)  1862, with the establishment of land-grant colleges. 
D)  1944, with the G.I. Bill. 
E)  2001, with the No Child Left Behind Act. A

Question 2

The goals of social policy

Accepted Answer

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. 
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. A

Question 3

Which of the following statements about Social Security is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

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. 
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. C

Question 4

Part of the reason welfare programs became so unpopular was that

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 5

About ________ percent of the current federal budget is spent on entitlement programs.

Accepted Answer

A)  20 
B)  35 
C)  50 
D)  64 
E)  78 
A)  20 
B)  35 
C)  50 
D)  64 
E)  78

Question 6

The periodic adjustment of benefits or wages that takes into account the increased cost of living is called ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  means testing 
B)  indexing 
C)  graphing 
D)  economic tabulating 
E)  inflation 
A)  means testing 
B)  indexing 
C)  graphing 
D)  economic tabulating 
E)  inflation

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT a problem with the current health care system in the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  An increasing number of workers cannot afford health insurance coverage. 
B)  Many small employers cannot afford to offer health care benefits to their employees. 
C)  Medicaid is under increasing fiscal strain due to rising health care costs. 
D)  Medicare is under increasing fiscal strain due to rising health care costs. 
E)  Local governments are forced to pay the health care costs of all unemployed Americans. 
A)  An increasing number of workers cannot afford health insurance coverage. 
B)  Many small employers cannot afford to offer health care benefits to their employees. 
C)  Medicaid is under increasing fiscal strain due to rising health care costs. 
D)  Medicare is under increasing fiscal strain due to rising health care costs. 
E)  Local governments are forced to pay the health care costs of all unemployed Americans.

Question 8

The welfare reforms of 1996 did all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 9

What was the result of the efforts to reform health care in the United States in 1994?

Accepted Answer

A)  A law was passed granting almost all Americans health care coverage. 
B)  A law granting health care coverage to almost all Americans passed Congress but was vetoed by President Bill Clinton. 
C)  A law increasing federal subsidies for health insurance to the working poor was passed and signed. 
D)  Health care reform met resistance and no bill was passed by Congress. 
E)  A law was passed in the Senate but not in the House of Representatives. 
A)  A law was passed granting almost all Americans health care coverage. 
B)  A law granting health care coverage to almost all Americans passed Congress but was vetoed by President Bill Clinton. 
C)  A law increasing federal subsidies for health insurance to the working poor was passed and signed. 
D)  Health care reform met resistance and no bill was passed by Congress. 
E)  A law was passed in the Senate but not in the House of Representatives.

Question 10

A(n) ________ benefit is one where potential recipients must document their genuine need.

Accepted Answer

A)  indexed 
B)  contributory 
C)  means-tested 
D)  in-kind 
E)  progressive 
A)  indexed 
B)  contributory 
C)  means-tested 
D)  in-kind 
E)  progressive

Question 11

Americans do not benefit equally from social programs. Describe and analyze the distribution of government benefits. What groups benefit the most and from what types of programs? Who receives the fewest benefits and why is this the case?

Accepted Answer

The distribution of government benefits

Question 12

________ is the single largest medical insurance program in the United States.

Accepted Answer

A)  PhP 
B)  Anthem 
C)  Cigna 
D)  Medicaid 
E)  Aetna 
A)  PhP 
B)  Anthem 
C)  Cigna 
D)  Medicaid 
E)  Aetna

Question 13

Why is it difficult to lobby for the interests of poor children?

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 14

Which group was one of the first to receive government assistance throughout the United States?

Accepted Answer

A)  African Americans after the Civil War 
B)  mothers with dependent children 
C)  the unemployed 
D)  newly arriving immigrants 
E)  veterans coming back from World War I 
A)  African Americans after the Civil War 
B)  mothers with dependent children 
C)  the unemployed 
D)  newly arriving immigrants 
E)  veterans coming back from World War I

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a goal of American social policy?

Accepted Answer

A)  the alleviation of poverty 
B)  the promotion of equality of opportunity 
C)  closing the gap between rich and poor 
D)  protecting people against disability and illness 
E)  protecting people against temporary unemployment 
A)  the alleviation of poverty 
B)  the promotion of equality of opportunity 
C)  closing the gap between rich and poor 
D)  protecting people against disability and illness 
E)  protecting people against temporary unemployment

Question 16

What is the shadow welfare state?

Accepted Answer

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 
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

Question 17

Which of the following statements about the No Child Left Behind Act is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

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 3-8 for proficiency in math and reading. 
D)  It creates a standard national test for all students. 
E)  Many states considered it an unfunded mandate. 
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 3-8 for proficiency in math and reading. 
D)  It creates a standard national test for all students. 
E)  Many states considered it an unfunded mandate.

Question 18

What was the significance of Goldberg v. Kelly (1970)?

Accepted Answer

A)  It established the right of noncitizens to receive public assistance. 
B)  It held that public assistance benefits could not be revoked without due process of law. 
C)  It held that unequal welfare benefits were a violation of the equal protection clause. 
D)  It allowed the executive branch, rather than Congress, to set public assistance rates. 
E)  It held that the government could revoke assistance benefits without cause. 
A)  It established the right of noncitizens to receive public assistance. 
B)  It held that public assistance benefits could not be revoked without due process of law. 
C)  It held that unequal welfare benefits were a violation of the equal protection clause. 
D)  It allowed the executive branch, rather than Congress, to set public assistance rates. 
E)  It held that the government could revoke assistance benefits without cause.

Question 19

The federal government's spending on Aid to Families with Dependent Children fell after the mid-1970s because

Accepted Answer

A)  the Supreme Court's decision in Goldberg v. Kelly prohibited more than 15 percent of the budget from being spent on welfare. 
B)  unlike Social Security, the program was not indexed to inflation. 
C)  fewer and fewer people needed the benefits provided by the program. 
D)  most state governments started refusing to accept federal money for welfare programs. 
E)  the program's cost-of-living adjustments were linked to real gross domestic product rather than to inflation. 
A)  the Supreme Court's decision in Goldberg v. Kelly prohibited more than 15 percent of the budget from being spent on welfare. 
B)  unlike Social Security, the program was not indexed to inflation. 
C)  fewer and fewer people needed the benefits provided by the program. 
D)  most state governments started refusing to accept federal money for welfare programs. 
E)  the program's cost-of-living adjustments were linked to real gross domestic product rather than to inflation.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is NOT a reason why the No Child Left Behind Act has been controversial?

Accepted Answer

A)  Many states branded it an unfunded mandate. 
B)  Teachers argued that "teaching to the test" undermined critical thinking skills. 
C)  The standards were too lenient and almost every school met them easily. 
D)  It vastly increased the role of the federal government in the public school system. 
E)  The states were made responsible for setting standards and devising appropriate tests. 
A)  Many states branded it an unfunded mandate. 
B)  Teachers argued that "teaching to the test" undermined critical thinking skills. 
C)  The standards were too lenient and almost every school met them easily. 
D)  It vastly increased the role of the federal government in the public school system. 
E)  The states were made responsible for setting standards and devising appropriate tests.

The first federal government assistance in education came in

The goals of social policy

Which of the following statements about Social Security is FALSE?

Part of the reason welfare programs became so unpopular was that

About ________ percent of the current federal budget is spent on entitlement programs.

The periodic adjustment of benefits or wages that takes into account the increased cost of living is called ________.

Which of the following is NOT a problem with the current health care system in the United States?

The welfare reforms of 1996 did all of the following EXCEPT

What was the result of the efforts to reform health care in the United States in 1994?

A(n) ________ benefit is one where potential recipients must document their genuine need.

Americans do not benefit equally from social programs. Describe and analyze the distribution of government benefits. What groups benefit the most and from what types of programs? Who receives the fewest benefits and why is this the case?

________ is the single largest medical insurance program in the United States.

Why is it difficult to lobby for the interests of poor children?

Which group was one of the first to receive government assistance throughout the United States?

Which of the following is NOT a goal of American social policy?

What is the shadow welfare state?

Which of the following statements about the No Child Left Behind Act is FALSE?

What was the significance of Goldberg v. Kelly (1970)?

The federal government's spending on Aid to Families with Dependent Children fell after the mid-1970s because

Which of the following statements is NOT a reason why the No Child Left Behind Act has been controversial?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters

Exam 17: Social Policy

The first federal government assistance in education came in

The goals of social policy

Which of the following statements about Social Security is FALSE?

Part of the reason welfare programs became so unpopular was that

About ________ percent of the current federal budget is spent on entitlement programs.

The periodic adjustment of benefits or wages that takes into account the increased cost of living is called ________.

Which of the following is NOT a problem with the current health care system in the United States?

The welfare reforms of 1996 did all of the following EXCEPT

What was the result of the efforts to reform health care in the United States in 1994?

A(n) ________ benefit is one where potential recipients must document their genuine need.

Americans do not benefit equally from social programs. Describe and analyze the distribution of government benefits. What groups benefit the most and from what types of programs? Who receives the fewest benefits and why is this the case?

________ is the single largest medical insurance program in the United States.

Why is it difficult to lobby for the interests of poor children?

Which group was one of the first to receive government assistance throughout the United States?

Which of the following is NOT a goal of American social policy?

What is the shadow welfare state?

Which of the following statements about the No Child Left Behind Act is FALSE?

What was the significance of Goldberg v. Kelly (1970)?

The federal government's spending on Aid to Families with Dependent Children fell after the mid-1970s because

Which of the following statements is NOT a reason why the No Child Left Behind Act has been controversial?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

Filters