Question 1

How is the American welfare system different from welfare systems in other countries?

Accepted Answer

A)  The elderly do considerably better than the young in the American welfare state. 
B)  The United States' welfare state is larger than most others in the world. 
C)  The United States' welfare state developed sooner than others in the world. 
D)  The United States' welfare state is more redistributive than other welfare states. 
E)  The United States' welfare state requires more of private employers. 
A)  The elderly do considerably better than the young in the American welfare state. 
B)  The United States' welfare state is larger than most others in the world. 
C)  The United States' welfare state developed sooner than others in the world. 
D)  The United States' welfare state is more redistributive than other welfare states. 
E)  The United States' welfare state requires more of private employers.

Question 2

Health savings accounts

Accepted Answer

A)  are tied to cost of living adjustments. 
B)  are favored primarily by Democrats. 
C)  are favored primarily by Republicans. 
D)  are a kind of means-tested program. 
E)  would be funded through Medicare. 
A)  are tied to cost of living adjustments. 
B)  are favored primarily by Democrats. 
C)  are favored primarily by Republicans. 
D)  are a kind of means-tested program. 
E)  would be funded through Medicare.

Question 3

The basic distinction between social insurance programs and means-tested programs is that the former involve

Accepted Answer

A)  payments to and from a trust fund, and the latter involve benefits from general revenues for people who qualify based on low income. 
B)  benefits from general revenues for people who qualify based on low income, and the latter involve payments to and from a trust fund. 
C)  federal payments to retired people, and the latter involve state payments toward medical costs. 
D)  state payments toward medical costs, and the latter involve federal payments to retired people. 
A)  payments to and from a trust fund, and the latter involve benefits from general revenues for people who qualify based on low income. 
B)  benefits from general revenues for people who qualify based on low income, and the latter involve payments to and from a trust fund. 
C)  federal payments to retired people, and the latter involve state payments toward medical costs. 
D)  state payments toward medical costs, and the latter involve federal payments to retired people.

Question 4

A large majority of American social welfare spending goes for

Accepted Answer

A)  TANF, and its share is growing steadily. 
B)  TANF, but its proportion is shrinking. 
C)  social insurance programs, and its share is growing steadily. 
D)  social insurance programs, but its proportion is shrinking. 
E)  AFDC. 
A)  TANF, and its share is growing steadily. 
B)  TANF, but its proportion is shrinking. 
C)  social insurance programs, and its share is growing steadily. 
D)  social insurance programs, but its proportion is shrinking. 
E)  AFDC.

Question 5

Identify six major political and structural factors that help explain the special character of the American welfare state.

Accepted Answer

The six factors listed in the

Question 6

Of all the rich democracies, only the United States, Great Britain, and Japan have programs that protect the minimum standards of living of families and individuals against loss of income due to economic instability, old age, illness, and disability.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following regarding the U.S. job market is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The political power of labor unions is very high. 
B)  The minimum wage in the U.S. is low compared with average wages. 
C)  Unemployment compensation is not very generous and limited in duration. 
D)  Workers are under tremendous pressure to find a job, even at a low wage. 
E)  All of the above 
A)  The political power of labor unions is very high. 
B)  The minimum wage in the U.S. is low compared with average wages. 
C)  Unemployment compensation is not very generous and limited in duration. 
D)  Workers are under tremendous pressure to find a job, even at a low wage. 
E)  All of the above

Question 8

According to your text, which of the following statements does NOT characterize the development of welfare states in rich democracies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Structural factors best explain why political leaders create and expand safety nets. 
B)  Political leaders created such programs in part for votes and election victories. 
C)  Industrialization produces hardships. 
D)  Interest groups work to influence politicians to support their members' preferences through safety net programs. 
E)  Welfare states and programs were used to undermine radical movements for change. 
A)  Structural factors best explain why political leaders create and expand safety nets. 
B)  Political leaders created such programs in part for votes and election victories. 
C)  Industrialization produces hardships. 
D)  Interest groups work to influence politicians to support their members' preferences through safety net programs. 
E)  Welfare states and programs were used to undermine radical movements for change.

Question 9

Social Security is a means-tested federal program.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following is a major feature of TANF?

Accepted Answer

A)  Families of poor children are no longer guaranteed assistance. 
B)  Its design and administration have been turned over to the states. 
C)  States receive block grants from the federal government. 
D)  The head of every family receiving welfare is required to work within two years of receiving benefits. 
E)  All of the above 
A)  Families of poor children are no longer guaranteed assistance. 
B)  Its design and administration have been turned over to the states. 
C)  States receive block grants from the federal government. 
D)  The head of every family receiving welfare is required to work within two years of receiving benefits. 
E)  All of the above

Question 11

An aging baby boomer population is the primary concern of

Accepted Answer

A)  Medicaid funding. 
B)  social security funding. 
C)  unemployment insurance. 
D)  social welfare spending. 
E)  health insurance for children. 
A)  Medicaid funding. 
B)  social security funding. 
C)  unemployment insurance. 
D)  social welfare spending. 
E)  health insurance for children.

Question 12

________ is a major constitutional factor influencing the set-up and management of the American social welfare system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ is a major constitutional factor influencing...

Question 13

Among industrialized democracies, the United States is considered to be at the ________ end of the spectrum in the delivery of social welfare.

Accepted Answer

A)  minimal 
B)  liberal 
C)  developed 
D)  democratic socialist 
E)  highest 
A)  minimal 
B)  liberal 
C)  developed 
D)  democratic socialist 
E)  highest

Question 14

A social welfare state is

Accepted Answer

A)  a society with a set of government programs that protect the minimum standards of living. 
B)  strongly based on the benefits of the free market and individualism. 
C)  used primarily in underdeveloped nations with relatively young populations. 
D)  one of the fundamental freedoms that is protected in the Bill of Rights. 
E)  None of the above 
A)  a society with a set of government programs that protect the minimum standards of living. 
B)  strongly based on the benefits of the free market and individualism. 
C)  used primarily in underdeveloped nations with relatively young populations. 
D)  one of the fundamental freedoms that is protected in the Bill of Rights. 
E)  None of the above

Question 15

Food stamp benefit levels are

Accepted Answer

A)  set by the federal government. 
B)  set by county governments. 
C)  voted on by the people. 
D)  set by the states under general federal guidelines. 
E)  debated constantly by Congress. 
A)  set by the federal government. 
B)  set by county governments. 
C)  voted on by the people. 
D)  set by the states under general federal guidelines. 
E)  debated constantly by Congress.

Question 16

Social Security and Medicare have helped reduce the elderly poverty rate from about 48 percent in the mid-1950s to about 10 percent today.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The American welfare state does not include universal health care coverage.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

The lion's share of social welfare spending is for ________.

Accepted Answer

social ins

Question 19

Public assistance or ________ is the target of widespread criticism although it accounts for only a small part of the annual federal budget.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Public assistance or ________ is the target...

Question 20

The United States has an extensive range of safety nets, even though it is premised on limited government and individualism.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

How is the American welfare system different from welfare systems in other countries?

Health savings accounts

The basic distinction between social insurance programs and means-tested programs is that the former involve

A large majority of American social welfare spending goes for

Identify six major political and structural factors that help explain the special character of the American welfare state.

Of all the rich democracies, only the United States, Great Britain, and Japan have programs that protect the minimum standards of living of families and individuals against loss of income due to economic instability, old age, illness, and disability.

Which of the following regarding the U.S. job market is NOT true?

According to your text, which of the following statements does NOT characterize the development of welfare states in rich democracies?

Social Security is a means-tested federal program.

Which of the following is a major feature of TANF?

An aging baby boomer population is the primary concern of

________ is a major constitutional factor influencing the set-up and management of the American social welfare system.

Among industrialized democracies, the United States is considered to be at the ________ end of the spectrum in the delivery of social welfare.

A social welfare state is

Food stamp benefit levels are

Social Security and Medicare have helped reduce the elderly poverty rate from about 48 percent in the mid-1950s to about 10 percent today.

The American welfare state does not include universal health care coverage.

The lion's share of social welfare spending is for ________.

Public assistance or ________ is the target of widespread criticism although it accounts for only a small part of the annual federal budget.

The United States has an extensive range of safety nets, even though it is premised on limited government and individualism.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters

Exam 18: Social Safety Nets

How is the American welfare system different from welfare systems in other countries?

Health savings accounts

The basic distinction between social insurance programs and means-tested programs is that the former involve

A large majority of American social welfare spending goes for

Identify six major political and structural factors that help explain the special character of the American welfare state.

Of all the rich democracies, only the United States, Great Britain, and Japan have programs that protect the minimum standards of living of families and individuals against loss of income due to economic instability, old age, illness, and disability.

Which of the following regarding the U.S. job market is NOT true?

According to your text, which of the following statements does NOT characterize the development of welfare states in rich democracies?

Social Security is a means-tested federal program.

Which of the following is a major feature of TANF?

An aging baby boomer population is the primary concern of

________ is a major constitutional factor influencing the set-up and management of the American social welfare system.

Among industrialized democracies, the United States is considered to be at the ________ end of the spectrum in the delivery of social welfare.

A social welfare state is

Food stamp benefit levels are

Social Security and Medicare have helped reduce the elderly poverty rate from about 48 percent in the mid-1950s to about 10 percent today.

The American welfare state does not include universal health care coverage.

The lion's share of social welfare spending is for ________.

Public assistance or ________ is the target of widespread criticism although it accounts for only a small part of the annual federal budget.

The United States has an extensive range of safety nets, even though it is premised on limited government and individualism.

Democracy and American Politics

The Constitution

Federalism States and Nations

Structural Foundations of the American Government

Public Opinion

News Media

Interest Groups and Business Corporations

Social Movements

Political Parties

Participation Voting, and Elections

Congress

The President

The Executive Branch

The Courts

Freedom: the Struggle for Civil Liberties

Civil Rights: the Struggle for Political Equality

The Budget and Economic Policies

Foreign Policy and National Defense

Filters