Deck 15: Working Americans

Question 1

Under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

A)employers must provide workers a "joint and survivor option."
B)survivor coverage can only be waived with a wife's (or dependent's) "knowing consent."
C)pension payments are lower for workers with survivor coverage.
D)all of these.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Possible causes of increased inequality in the U.S. include

A)stagnating wages for low-income workers.
B)growth in wages of high-income workers.
C)policies that weaken income supports for the poor.
D)all of these.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Protective labor laws during the post-WWI era

A)limited the number of hours women could work.
B)restricted the mingling of women and men in the workplace.
C)controlled the wages that could be paid to women.
D)both limited the number of hours that women could work and controlled the wages that could be paid to women.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The executive order establishing Affirmative Action was signed by

A)President Nixon.
B)President Johnson.
C)President Eisenhower.
D)President Kennedy.

Question 5

Generally during recessions we see

A)wages fall faster than the Gross Domestic Product.
B)unemployment rises more slowly than other economic indicators.
C)the decline in the Gross Domestic Product outstrip unemployment.
D)all of these.

Question 6

The first issue addressed by the National Organization for Women was

A)women's access to abortion.
B)sex-classified help-wanted advertisements.
C)equal pay for equal work.
D)comparable worth.

Question 7

Under U.S. labor policy the term "welfare benefits" refers to

A)health insurance.
B)life insurance.
C)disability coverage.
D)all of these.

Question 8

As originally conceived, affirmative action requirements applied only to

A)firms that contracted with the federal government.
B)public schools.
C)state governments.
D)all of these.

Question 9

Proponents of a human capital explanation of the gender wage gap argue

A)women are less committed to their work.
B)women receive less education than men.
C)women have interrupted work histories.
D)all of these.

Question 10

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 established the ___________ to enforce laws against discrimination.

A)Department of Labor
B)Civil Rights Commission
C)Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
D)Department of Health and Human Services

Question 11

The Minimum Wage law is enforced by

A)the U.S. Department of Labor.
B)the state Attorney General.
C)the U.S. General Accounting Office.
D)the Employment Office of each state.

Question 12

Under the Doctrine of Disparate Impact

A)practices that resulted in gender or racial disparities could be subject to litigation.
B)only firms that intended to discriminate were subject to litigation.
C)federal contractors were directed to establish quotas for hiring and promotion.
D)all of these.

Question 13

The Keating-Owen Bill was

A)approved by Congress in 1916.
B)signed by President Woodrow Wilson.
C)the nation's first child labor bill.
D)all of these.

Question 14

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

A)employers who receive federal contracts may not discriminate on the basis of sex.
B)no employer may discriminate on the basis of sex.
C)public agencies are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of sex.
D)employers with 50 or more employees cannot discriminate on the basis of sex.

Question 15

Complaints of age discrimination in employment should be directed

A)to the U.S. Department of Labor.
B)to the Department of Health and Human Services.
C)to the Administration on Aging.
D)to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Question 16

The Family and Medical Leave Act was signed by

A)President Ronald Reagan.
B)President George H. Bush.
C)President Bill Clinton.
D)President George W. Bush

Question 17

Flexible spending accounts

A)provide child care subsidies for low-income, working women.
B)allow employees to pay their child care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
C)offer tax benefits to employers who establish on-site child care.
D)do all of these.

Question 18

Provisions of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) are enforced by

A)the Department of Health and Human Services.
B)the Department of Labor.
C)the Department of Justice.
D)none of these.

Question 19

Sexual harassment is an example of

A)excessive sexuality in the workplace.
B)sex-based discrimination in the workplace.
C)an attempt to reduce offensive remarks in the workplace.
D)none of these.

Question 20

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) applies to Americans who are

A)over the age of 40.
B)between the ages of 40 and 65.
C)over the age of 65.
D)of any age.

Question 21

Which type of occupation had the highest proportion of African American men in 2012?

A)Sales and office occupations
B)Production and transportation
C)Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
D)Service occupations

Question 22

Which type of occupation had the highest proportion of non-Hispanic White workers in 2012 ?

A)Management and professional
B)Production and transportation
C)Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
D)Service occupations

Question 23

Trends in global wages indicate that the share of the world's wealth that goes to wages has increased in recent years.

Question 24

During the early decades of the 20th century, African American women were more likely than other women to be in paid employment.

Question 25

In the U.S., employers with over 100 workers must provide advance notice of plant closings.

Question 26

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) was established as part of the PersonalResponsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA).

Question 27

Before the Equal Pay Act of 1963, it would have been legal for employers to maintain different pay scales for women and men performing the same job.

Question 28

Business representatives were strong advocates in support of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978.

Question 29

During the 20th century, inequality increased in the U.S. but declined throughout the rest of the world.

Question 30

The Occupational Safety and Health Act established a general duty for employers to eliminate workplace hazards.

Question 31

Younger female workers are more likely than older female workers to have pension coverage.

Question 32

In which type of occupation were Asian Americans "over-represented"?

A)Management and professional
B)Production and transportation
C)Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
D)Service occupations

Question 33

List two social trends that set the stage for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Question 34

Free market advocates generally argue that globalization supports economic growth which will ultimately improve the condition of workers.

Question 35

Business representatives were strong advocates in support of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978.

Question 36

To some extent, globalization has increased the power of national governments while reducing the influence of multinational corporations.

Question 37

The occupational distribution of Hispanic males in the U.S. in 2008 revealed over-representation in which types of occupations?

A)Management and professional
B)Production and transportation
C)Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
D)Service occupations

Question 38

Under COBRA, all workers who are fired must be provided the opportunity to purchase health coverage at group rates.

Question 39

The EITC is administered by the Department of Labor.

Question 40

List three legislative milestones in U.S. Immigration Policy related to employment.

Question 41

Many observers note that labor does not flow as readily across national borders as do capital and information. What are the implications of this observation for workers?

Question 42

Describe two pieces of civil rights legislation that passed during the 1960s.

Question 43

List three arguments that have been used by opponents of Affirmative Action.

Question 44

List two possible advantages and two possible disadvantages (from a societal perspective) of married women's participation in the labor force.