Deck 9: The Policy Analysis Process: Evaluation of Political Feasibility

Question 1

Which of the following is the highest threshold for adoption of a recommendation by a policy analysis group?

A) A simple majority of the group members agrees with the recommendation.
B) Two-thirds of the group members agree with the recommendation.
C) Three-fourths of the group members agree with the recommendation.
D) All members of the group agree with the recommendation.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is a reason that health care policies often fail?

A) Most proposed health care policies are not based on sound scientific principles.
B) Supporters often lack sufficient political leverage to meet the threshold for adoption.
C) Most people are perfectly happy with the current system and resist change.
D) Few of the most important players in the health care arena have been willing to make compromises.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The process by which stakeholders decide whether to address a particular policy issue is called:

A) political feasibility.
B) coalition building.
C) aggregate political leverage.
D) agenda setting.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Regarding public health policy, the authorizing environment refers to the:

A) stakeholders who are most affected by a policy change.
B) people who must approve a proposed change in policy.
C) individuals who generate potential policy alternatives.
D) providers who must implement the new policy.

Question 5

At the federal government level, the power to make laws rests with:

A) the president.
B) federal administrative agencies.
C) Congress.
D) the Supreme Court.

Question 6

Most of the work in Congress is done:

A) at the committee level.
B) in the Oval Office.
C) during lobbying sessions.
D) on the House and Senate floor.

Question 7

The purpose of _____ is to implement policy changes in the federal budget while bypassing the unlimited debate and amendment that are ordinarily allowed.

A) exemption
B) filibustering
C) reconciliation
D) appropriation

Question 8

A president's political capital depends primarily on:

A) how close it is to the next election.
B) the length of time the president has been in office.
C) the electoral margin of the president's victory.
D) the president's popularity and the political strength of his or her party.

Question 9

If a president does not like a particular policy that Congress has passed, the president has the power to _____ the law.

A) exempt
B) veto
C) filibuster
D) override

Question 10

Which of the following statements about federal bureaucracy is CORRECT?

A) Bureaucracies are always under the tight control of the president.
B) It is illegal for bureaucrats to draft or suggest legislation.
C) Some bureaucrats can make policy, if they have regulatory authority.
D) All of the above

Question 11

The U.S. Supreme Court is most likely to:

A) determine the constitutionality of a new health care law.
B) sentence to jail providers who refuse to implement new policies.
C) oversee civil and criminal trials involving health care laws.
D) veto legislation that a majority of judges find objectionable.

Question 12

Which of the following is a major difference between the states and the federal government?

A) The federal legislative body consists of two houses, whereas most state governments have single-body legislatures.
B) Unlike the federal government, most states are prohibited from operating at a deficit.
C) Activities of state governments generally receive much more media coverage than federal government activities.
D) Voters are unable to pass legislation directly at the state level, only at the federal level.

Question 13

In recent years, what has been the trend regarding the relationship between political parties and health legislation?

A) Policy positions of the major parties have become very predictable and more inflexible.
B) No major political parties have shown particular interest in health legislation since the late 1980s.
C) Parties have become weaker than in the past, and thus less able to control their members' policies.
D) Cooperation between parties is the norm, rather than the exception, when it comes to health legislation.

Question 14

How do "frames" sometimes affect the acceptance of proposed health policies?

A) Frames can result in serious underfunding of proposed health policies.
B) Frames make it more likely that policy decisions will be made on rational rather than personal bases.
C) Frames sometimes misrepresent or fail to fully explain the proposed policy.
D) Frames make it easier for legislators to collaborate on finding policy solutions.

Question 15

How do lobbyists impact the adoption of health policy?

A) They assist lawmakers in writing policy recommendations.
B) They attempt to sway votes for or against certain policies.
C) They help stakeholders understand complex issues surrounding policies.
D) All of the above

Question 16

Convincing other groups to support a particular policy or change an existing policy that runs counter to that policy is an example of:

A) coalition building.
B) cross lobbying.
C) direct democracy.
D) grassroots lobbying.

Question 17

Which of the following is the MOST credible source of scientific data?

A) Summaries of data printed in major newspapers such as the New York Times
B) Findings published in peer-reviewed journals by academic researchers
C) Reports and studies generated by think tanks and drug companies
D) Articles posted on alternative medicine blogs and websites

Question 18

To analyze the political feasibility of a potential policy, one must:

A) focus primarily on the actors who stand to be impacted the most.
B) assume that no unexpected occurrences will take place.
C) consult with a wide array of experts with varying viewpoints and agendas.
D) ignore the stakeholders and concentrate on the policy details.

Question 19

A political feasibility analysis can be rendered inaccurate by:

A) unexpected catastrophic events.
B) a change of administration.
C) an inside the beltway mentality.
D) all of the above.

Question 20

Political feasibility analysis is analogous to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle of quantum physics because:

A) the processes involved are totally random.
B) political feasibility analysis plays a passive role in events.
C) everything that happens involves waves.
D) the way information is gathered influences the policy-making process.

Question 21

Only elected officials can influence the political feasibility of a particular health care policy.

Question 22

The authorizing environment for a particular policy often includes multiple entities, each with its own specific agenda.

Question 23

The intricate and convoluted legislative process in Congress has been a major impediment to significant health care reform in the United States.

Question 24

The president is most likely to change policy due to his or her authority and ability to pass legislation.

Question 25

State governments have a fairly minor role in the formulation of health policy.

Question 26

The timing of elections can have a major impact on whether an elected official is willing-or unwilling-to propose a particular health policy.

Question 27

Force field analysis is a method of measuring a stakeholder's political clout.

Question 28

Solutions involving "client politics" are almost always the least politically feasible.

Question 29

Stakeholder mapping merely involves asking experts to identify the major players involved in a potential policy change.