Question 1

How do rates of gun ownership in the United States compare with other post-industrial countries in the world, such as the United Kingdom and Germany?
A)They are much lower.
B)They are slightly lower.
C)They are much higher.
D)They are slightly higher.
E)They are about the same.

Accepted Answer

The United States has much higher rates of gun ownership compared to other post-industrial countries like the United Kingdom and Germany.

Question 2

How has the Social Security trust fund been weakened since the 1980s?
A)Congress reduced taxes on Social Security in the early 1980s.
B)Congress began to use the Social Security trust fund to pay for Medicare.
C)Congress began to "borrow" from the Social Security trust fund.
D)Congress reduced the retirement age for many Baby Boomers, allowing them to retire early.
E)Congress began to use the Social Security trust fund to pay for large expansions of welfare.

Accepted Answer

Congress has indeed "borrowed" from the Social Security trust fund, using its surpluses to fund other government operations, which has contributed to concerns about the fund's long-term sustainability.

Question 3

One suggestion to lower crime rates is to redefine crimes, removing crimes without a victim. Which of the following might qualify as "victimless" crimes?
A)Fraud and extortion
B)Theft and drunk driving
C)Rape and assault
D)Drug sales and murder
E)Prostitution and drug use

Accepted Answer

Prostitution and drug use are often cited as examples of victimless crimes because they primarily involve consensual activities among adults without a direct, identifiable victim, unlike the activities listed in the other options which clearly have identifiable victims or potential for harm to others.

Question 4

Since the 1980s, what government program has been the fastest growing?
A)Medicaid
B)Medicare
C)Social Security
D)Pell Grants
E)TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

Accepted Answer

The answer of Since the 1980s, what government program has...

Question 5

For most of American history, the Second Amendment was considered to apply to state militias and not individuals. When did the idea of an individual right to gun ownership become widespread?
A)The 1920s
B)The 1940s
C)The 1960s
D)The 1980s
E)The 1880s

Accepted Answer

The idea of an individual right to gun ownership became widespread in the 1980s, influenced by political movements and reinterpretations of the Second Amendment.

Question 6

What was the broad effect of the USA Patriot Act (2001)?
A)The federal government's ability to surveil individuals was broadly decreased.
B)The federal government's ability to surveil individuals was increased, but only for terrorism-related charges.
C)The state governments' ability to surveil individuals was broadly increased.
D)The federal government's ability to surveil individuals was broadly increased.
E)The state governments' ability to surveil individuals was broadly decreased.

Accepted Answer

The USA Patriot Act significantly expanded the federal government's authority to surveil and investigate individuals, particularly in matters related to terrorism, but not exclusively limited to it. This included broader powers for wiretapping, monitoring of financial transactions, and more.

Question 7

Shortly after his election, which president removed the United States from the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to lower greenhouse gases?
A)Ronald Reagan
B)George H. W. Bush
C)Bill Clinton
D)George W. Bush
E)Barack Obama

Accepted Answer

George W. Bush announced the United States' withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, citing concerns over the treaty's impact on the U.S. economy and the exemption of developing countries from compliance.

Question 8

Which of the following countries has the highest rate of criminal incarceration?
A)The United States
B)Russia
C)China
D)Iran
E)The United Kingdom

Accepted Answer

The United States has the highest rate of criminal incarceration in the world, with a significant portion of its population in prison compared to other countries.

Question 9

Which of the following has significantly changed since the Kyoto Protocol to make climate change reduction efforts more complicated?
A)China and India have increased their carbon emissions significantly.
B)The cost of renewable energy has significantly increased.
C)The cost of renewable energy has significantly decreased.
D)Public attention to climate change has declined significantly.
E)Politicians across the political spectrum are no longer interested in the issue.

Accepted Answer

China and India have become major contributors to global carbon emissions since the Kyoto Protocol, complicating international efforts to reduce emissions.

Question 10

Which of the following would best describe taxes on corporations in the United States?
A)Corporate tax rates are relatively high, but the taxes paid are fairly low.
B)Corporate tax rates are relatively low, and the taxes paid are fairly low.
C)Corporate tax rates are relatively high, and the taxes paid are fairly high.
D)Corporate tax rates are relatively low, but the taxes paid are fairly high.
E)Corporate taxes have been effectively eliminated due to tax changes that started under President Reagan.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following would best describe...

Question 11

Which country spends the most, roughly 50 percent of the global total, on national security?
A)Russia
B)The United States
C)China
D)North Korea
E)India

Accepted Answer

The United States spends the most on national security, accounting for roughly 50 percent of the global total. This significant investment in defense and military capabilities far exceeds that of any other country.

Question 12

After defense spending cuts in the 1990s under Presidents H. W. Bush and Clinton, the general direction of defense spending in the United States has been in what direction?
A)Level, no major changes
B)Slightly decreased
C)Significantly decreased
D)Slightly increased
E)Significantly increased

Accepted Answer

Since the 1990s, U.S. defense spending has significantly increased, especially after the events of September 11, 2001, leading to increased military operations and defense budgets.

Question 13

Which President negotiated and signed the Balanced Budget Act?
A)President Reagan
B)President H. W. Bush
C)President W. Bush
D)President Clinton
E)President Obama

Accepted Answer

President Clinton negotiated and signed the Balanced Budget Act in 1997, aiming to balance the federal budget by 1999.

Question 14

Compared to countries in Europe, the United States government's social safety net tends to be which of the following?
A)Much larger and more broadly defined
B)Somewhat larger and more broadly defined
C)Similar in size
D)Somewhat smaller and more narrowly defined
E)Much smaller and more narrowly defined

Accepted Answer

The United States government's social safety net is generally considered to be much smaller and more narrowly defined compared to those in European countries, which tend to have more extensive welfare systems and social services.

Question 15

What element of the American political system creates significant complications for the regulation of drugs such as marijuana?
A)Separation of powers
B)Federalism
C)Judicial review
D)Checks and balances
E)Executive privilege

Accepted Answer

Federalism creates complications for the regulation of drugs like marijuana because it involves a division of power between the federal government and the states. This means that while the federal government may classify marijuana as illegal, individual states have the power to legalize it for medical or recreational use, leading to a complex patchwork of laws.

Question 16

During the Reagan presidency, what happened to federal spending as compared to the Carter presidency?
A)It decreased due to major budget cuts, especially on defense.
B)It decreased due to major budget cuts, especially on social welfare programs.
C)It stayed roughly the same due to a mix of budget cuts and tax cuts.
D)It increased due to increased defense and agriculture spending.
E)It increased due to increased social welfare spending.

Accepted Answer

During the Reagan presidency, federal spending increased, particularly due to a significant rise in defense spending. Reagan's policies, known as "Reaganomics," involved tax cuts, deregulation, and increased military spending, which contributed to an overall increase in federal expenditure.

Question 17

What is meant by the term "sustainable growth"?
A)An approach where economic growth is prioritized regardless of its effects on the environment
B)An approach where environmental protection is prioritized regardless of its effects on the economy
C)An approach where families are required to provide the state with enough children to keep the population stable
D)An approach where the state takes over all industries with significant negative effects on the environment
E)An approach where economic growth is balanced with minimizing the impact on the environment

Accepted Answer

Sustainable growth refers to an approach where economic development is pursued in a manner that is balanced with environmental protection, aiming to minimize negative impacts on the environment.

Question 18

Both Thomas Hobbes and Aristotle would have agreed that one of the fundamental, if not the primary, purposes of government and politics was the protection of what?
A)Security
B)Liberty
C)Property
D)Public morality
E)Propriety

Accepted Answer

Hobbes and Aristotle, despite their differing views on many aspects of political philosophy, both emphasized the importance of security as a fundamental purpose of government. Hobbes, with his focus on the need for a strong sovereign to protect people from the state of nature, and Aristotle, with his view of the polis as a means of achieving a good life, both recognized that security is essential for any political community to function and for individuals to pursue their interests and well-being.

Question 19

How do government entitlements differ from other kinds of government-provided benefits?
A)They are generally considered to be a right and not a privilege.
B)They are generally considered to be a privilege and not a right.
C)They tend to be much smaller and narrowly defined.
D)They tend to be much larger and broadly defined.
E)Very few people are eligible.

Accepted Answer

Government entitlements are benefits that individuals have a legal right to receive if they meet certain eligibility criteria, making them a right rather than a privilege.

Question 20

During the Reagan presidency, what happened to federal budget deficits?
A)They increased slightly.
B)They increased substantially.
C)They stayed roughly the same.
D)They decreased slightly.
E)They decreased substantially.

Accepted Answer

During the Reagan presidency, federal budget deficits increased substantially due to significant tax cuts and increased military spending, which were not offset by reductions in other areas of spending.

Quiz 13: Issues in Public Policy: Politics, Principles, Priorities, and Practices

How do rates of gun ownership in the United States compare with other post-industrial countries in the world, such as the United Kingdom and Germany?

How has the Social Security trust fund been weakened since the 1980s?

One suggestion to lower crime rates is to redefine crimes, removing crimes without a victim. Which of the following might qualify as "victimless" crimes?

Since the 1980s, what government program has been the fastest growing?

For most of American history, the Second Amendment was considered to apply to state militias and not individuals. When did the idea of an individual right to gun ownership become widespread?

What was the broad effect of the USA Patriot Act (2001) ?

Shortly after his election, which president removed the United States from the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to lower greenhouse gases?

Which of the following countries has the highest rate of criminal incarceration?

Which of the following has significantly changed since the Kyoto Protocol to make climate change reduction efforts more complicated?

Which of the following would best describe taxes on corporations in the United States?

Which country spends the most, roughly 50 percent of the global total, on national security?

After defense spending cuts in the 1990s under Presidents H. W. Bush and Clinton, the general direction of defense spending in the United States has been in what direction?

Which President negotiated and signed the Balanced Budget Act?

Compared to countries in Europe, the United States government's social safety net tends to be which of the following?

What element of the American political system creates significant complications for the regulation of drugs such as marijuana?

During the Reagan presidency, what happened to federal spending as compared to the Carter presidency?

What is meant by the term "sustainable growth"?

Both Thomas Hobbes and Aristotle would have agreed that one of the fundamental, if not the primary, purposes of government and politics was the protection of what?

How do government entitlements differ from other kinds of government-provided benefits?

During the Reagan presidency, what happened to federal budget deficits?