Deck 16: Social Policy

Question 1

____________________ policies are designed to provide a basic level of income,safety,education,housing,and health care to certain categories of people at risk.

A) Economic
B) Regulatory
C) Social
D) Compassionate
E) Progressive

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What are social policies intended to bring about?

A) greater economic efficiency
B) greater economic growth
C) smoother commercial transactions
D) a more just and orderly society
E) a more free and equal society

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Aside from health care expenses,federal programs to aid the poor have never exceeded ____________________ of the federal budget.

A) 1 percent
B) 3 percent
C) 5 percent
D) 10 percent
E) 15 percent

Answer 3

B

Question 4

What is TANF?

A) federal program that provides temporary income to the poor
B) lobby group opposed to President Obama's health care reform legislation
C) state-funded social program that provides vouchers for poor children to attend private schools
D) law passed by Congress in 2008 that regulates auto emissions
E) federal housing program

Question 5

While most people agree that ____________________ is a welfare program,there is some debate about whether ____________________ should be included in that category.

A) health care; direct assistance
B) public education; direct assistance
C) national defense; public education
D) direct assistance; national defense
E) direct assistance; health care

Question 6

States are most likely to have fairly consistent laws with regard to ____________________.

A) privacy protections
B) violent crimes
C) marriage and divorce
D) behavioral proscriptions
E) drug laws

Question 7

All of the following public goods come from social policies EXCEPT ____________________.

A) public education
B) social insurance
C) national defense
D) crime prevention
E) health care

Question 8

The federal Assistance to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)program provides cash payments to families with children living below the federal poverty line.The maximum income feature of AFDC eligibility means the program is ____________________.

A) means-tested
B) progressive
C) regressive
D) agent-based
E) need-based

Question 9

A government program or policy is ____________________ if it is offered only to people who meet objective eligibility requirements,such as income level.

A) means-tested
B) progressive
C) regressive
D) agent-based
E) need-based

Question 10

Currently,Medicaid is only available to those who fall below a certain income threshold.If President Obama's health care reforms had expanded the program so that every U.S.citizen was covered by Medicaid,it would no longer be considered a ____________________ program.

A) progressive
B) regressive
C) means-tested
D) need-based
E) social

Question 11

The education children receive in public schools is a ____________________.

A) common good
B) club good
C) public good
D) private good with positive externalities
E) private good with negative externalities

Question 12

A program like TANF,which provides cash assistance to families below a certain income level,is an example of a ____________________ program.

A) regulatory
B) progressive
C) regressive
D) redistributive
E) distributive

Question 13

In the twentieth century,states' social programs became ____________________ autonomous from the federal government and ____________________ in size.

A) less; larger
B) less; smaller
C) more; larger
D) more; about the same
E) more; smaller

Question 14

While redistributive policies typically benefit ____________________,distributive policies usually benefit ____________________.

A) specific groups; nearly everyone
B) nearly everyone; specific groups
C) only the wealthy; nearly everyone
D) only the poor; only the wealthy
E) nearly everyone; only the poor

Question 15

What is a welfare state?

A) a state that allocates more than 40 percent of its budget to programs and services intended for low-income families and individuals
B) an economic crisis caused by the lack of comprehensive social policies
C) only accompanied by the reduction of social programs
D) the set of government programs devoted to social policy
E) a state that allocates more than 60 percent of its budget to programs and services intended for low-income families and individuals

Question 16

Which term refers to the set of government programs devoted to social policy?

A) social state
B) progressive state
C) liberal state
D) welfare state
E) poverty state

Question 17

Federal support for public education is a ____________________.

A) distributive social policy because it provides a public good to the poor
B) redistributive social policy because it benefits everyone by creating an educated workforce
C) redistributive social policy because it uses revenue from progressive income taxes to provide support for services for low-income children
D) distributive social policy because it uses revenue from progressive income taxes to provide support for services for low-income children
E) redistributive social policy because it provides a public good to the poor

Question 18

According to the provisions of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ____________________.

A) only children under the age of 18 and adults over the age of 65 are required to obtain health insurance by 2018
B) all Americans are required to obtain health insurance by 2018
C) states are prohibited from mandating that adults obtain health insurance by 2022
D) all employers are required to provide health insurance to their full-time employees by 2014
E) insurance companies are required to provide health insurance to all citizens except those with preexisting conditions by 2018

Question 19

In the areas of ____________________ and ____________________ states have been and continue to be primarily responsible for financing and implementing programs.

A) education/crime prevention
B) immigration/education
C) health care/immigration
D) border security/health care
E) crime prevention/border security

Question 20

Until the ____________________ century,few federal social programs existed.

A) twenty-first
B) twentieth
C) nineteenth
D) eighteenth
E) seventeenth

Question 21

Unlike TANF or SNAP,Social Security is considered universal because ____________________.

A) benefits are paid as a direct cash payment
B) benefits are put on electronic debit cards
C) everyone qualifies for the same benefits regardless of income
D) it is not means-tested
E) payments are guaranteed to anyone who pays into Social Security

Question 22

The SNAP program serves multiple roles as a social policy because it ____________________.

A) is distributive and improves public health
B) provides cash transfers and includes behavioral proscriptions
C) provides tax credits and includes behavioral proscriptions
D) provides tax credits and improves public health
E) provides redistributive tax credits

Question 23

Currently,about ____________________ of American families own their own homes.

A) one-fourth
B) one-third
C) one-half
D) two-thirds
E) three-quarters

Question 24

While cash transfer programs are often ____________________,social insurance programs typically allocate benefits based on ____________________.

A) means-tested; previous contributions
B) need-based; previous contributions
C) means-tested; age
D) distributive; age
E) redistributive; previous contributions

Question 25

Where is government aid for the chronically homeless most likely to come from?

A) the federal government, through programs like TANF and Medicare
B) the federal government, through programs aimed at providing shelters and job training
C) state and local governments, in compliance with unfunded federal mandates requiring the development of shelters and job training programs
D) state and local governments, which have autonomy in creating and funding programs for homeless people
E) federal, state, and local governments, with state and local governments creating programs for homeless people, and the federal government providing funding

Question 26

How are levels of income tied to Social Security payments?

A) Household income must fall below a certain threshold to qualify for Social Security payments.
B) Household income must fall above a certain threshold to qualify for Social Security payments.
C) Social Security payments are based on how much income one earned before retiring.
D) Social Security payments are not tied to income; they are based on age.
E) Social Security payments are not tied to income; they are universal.

Question 27

Which social programs do employer contributions help directly fund?

A) Social Security and TANF
B) TANF and SNAP
C) Social Security and Unemployment Insurance
D) Unemployment Insurance and SNAP
E) SNAP and Social Security

Question 28

Which of the following is NOT part of the federal government's effort to provide health care?

A) evaluating the safety of cosmetics
B) building hospitals in rural areas
C) funding medical research
D) providing health education in schools
E) coordinating the purchase of private health insurance

Question 29

Bella and Lucius,teenagers from Warthogs High,break into Alice and Frank's house and steal several pieces of jewelry.Is the federal government likely to become involved in pursuing and prosecuting them?

A) yes, because the federal government has the majority of law enforcement resources
B) yes, because the federal government prosecutes all cases of theft
C) yes, because their crime involves interstate commerce
D) no, because they have not broken federal laws
E) no, because they are minors

Question 30

As of 2009,about ____________________ percent of Americans did not have health insurance.

A) 6
B) 16
C) 26
D) 36
E) 60

Question 31

Attempts to improve federal regulation of the mortgage industry occurred because ____________________.

A) home ownership rates are lower in the U.S. than in Europe
B) federal subsidies were no longer working to adequately bolster home ownership rates
C) taxpayer-funded mortgage subsidies were criticized for benefitting the 1 percent of citizens who pay the most taxes
D) private lending institutions' lax loan requirements led to high default rates
E) too many borrowers were choosing to work with private lenders instead of the FHA

Question 32

The No Child Left Behind Act sought to raise educational standards through a/an ____________________,while Race to the Top used a/an ____________________.

A) social welfare program; regulatory policy
B) unfunded mandate; financial incentives
C) regulatory policy; unfunded mandate
D) universal policy; means-tested formula
E) competition; social welfare program

Question 33

Nick works for a law firm,which provides privately purchased health insurance for him.After leaving his pharmacist's office,Nick looks at his receipt and sees that his new medication cost $100.His insurance company paid $85,while Nick paid $15 out of pocket.Did the federal government affect the price of this medication?

A) No, because Nick's insurance is privately purchased by his employer.
B) No, because the insurance company negotiates prices with the pharmacy.
C) No, but it will be after health care reform takes effect.
D) Yes, through the Medicare reimbursement rate.
E) Yes, through federally mandated pricing tiers.

Question 34

As part of the Great Society,the Department of Housing and Urban Development undertook programs designed to build better quality and more racially integrated housing for the poor.These programs ____________________.

A) largely succeeded, because the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made housing discrimination illegal
B) largely succeeded, through the creation of mixed-income housing
C) largely failed, because local governments' constraints often limited the federal governments' ability to avoid creating urban ghettoes
D) largely failed, because federal programs often overlooked the advice of more knowledgeable local governments and city planners
E) largely failed, but have become a higher priority in recent years.

Question 35

Unlike the EITC,TANF payments ____________________.

A) are means-tested and made for a limited period of time
B) are made through tax credits for an extended period of time
C) are made through tax credits for a limited period of time
D) are made through cash transfers for an extended period of time
E) are made through cash transfers for a limited period of time

Question 36

Social Security currently consumes ____________________ percent of the annual federal budget.

A) 5
B) 10
C) 20
D) 30
E) 50

Question 37

The Earned Income Tax Credit,or EITC,grants tax credits to low-income families with children living at home.This is an example of a ____________________.

A) redistributive regulatory policy
B) distributive means-tested policy
C) distributive regulatory policy.
D) redistributive social welfare policy
E) distributive social welfare policy

Question 38

How do most economists understand the federal government's practice of subsidizing and offering tax deductions for interest paid on mortgage loans?

A) as a redistributive policy that mostly benefits lower classes
B) as a redistributive policy that mostly benefits upper classes
C) as a redistributive policy that benefits all classes equally
D) as a distributive policy that mostly benefits lower classes
E) as a distributive policy that mostly benefits upper classes

Question 39

Oliver,a 42-year old man who has been unemployed for some time and lacks financial resources,has strep throat.If he seeks medical attention,his health care will most likely be ____________________.

A) relatively inexpensive because it is provided by the federal government through Social Security
B) relatively inexpensive because it is provided by the federal government through Medicare
C) relatively inexpensive because it is provided by his state's insurance program
D) relatively expensive because it is purchased through supplementary Medicare insurance
E) relatively expensive because it is provided by a variety of sources and paid for out of pocket

Question 40

What is the largest provider of health insurance in the U.S.?

A) Blue Cross/Blue Shield
B) the state of California
C) the state of New York
D) Medicare
E) Social Security

Question 41

Democrats and Republicans are most likely to agree that the government ____________________.

A) should ensure that citizens have equal access to resources
B) should ensure that citizens have equal opportunities to earn resources
C) should provide access to higher education
D) should lift benefits restrictions on welfare programs
E) should only approve universalistic social welfare policies

Question 42

What is the primary reason for recent increases in the U.S.prison population?

A) Sensationalized television reporting has increased fear of crime among the public.
B) States have built new prisons and must fill them to justify the expense.
C) The rate at which violent crimes occur has increased.
D) The federal government has become more involved in training and funding local law enforcement.
E) Policies aimed at stopping drug use and trafficking have led to a large number of arrests.

Question 43

In general,political liberals regard inequality as the result of ____________________.

A) a lack of moral virtue
B) misguided social policies
C) structural features of a capitalist economy
D) the natural distribution of talent and ability
E) failed family structures

Question 44

Explain the division of responsibility between the federal government and the state governments in the domain of social policy.Which policy areas are largely dominated by federal programs? Which areas are principally reserved to the states? In which areas are the federal and state governments both active? What constitutional and practical considerations might structure this particular division of programming?

Question 45

Identify and describe two major federal programs that provide health care.In each case,who is taxed to provide the health care,and who receives the health care? Are these programs distributive or redistributive? Are they means-tested?

Question 46

How does the American welfare state compare to the welfare states of other advanced democracies? In what respects is the American welfare state more or less developed than others? How has the United States balanced the competing values of liberty and equality differently than other industrialized democracies?

Question 47

When did the last major spike in violent crime in the United States occur?

A) late 1950s
B) mid-1960s
C) late 1970s and early 1980s
D) late 1980s and early 1990s
E) mid-2000s

Question 48

In order to make the U.S.stronger,Adam believes that the government should pursue efficiency by allowing market forces to reward the most talented and committed people,without intervention.Based on these views,Adam can likely be considered a ____________________.

A) Republican
B) communist
C) liberal
D) conservative
E) Democrat

Question 49

Bella and Lucius's friend Tom convinces them to join his gang.As gang members,they sell drugs to fellow students at Warthogs High and drive stolen goods from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.Is the federal government likely to become involved in pursuing and prosecuting Bella and Lucius?

A) yes, because the federal government has the majority of law enforcement resources
B) yes, because the federal government prosecutes all cases involving banned substances
C) yes, because their crimes involve interstate commerce
D) no, because they have not broken federal laws
E) no, because they are minors

Question 50

Since 2003,federal subsidies for state and local law enforcement have been primarily administered by the ____________________.

A) Department of the Interior
B) Department of Homeland Security
C) Department of Justice
D) Department of Defense
E) Department of the Treasury

Question 51

In order to make the U.S.stronger,John believes that the government should make sure that all citizens have equal access to medical care and housing,even if that requires increasing taxes.Based on these views,John can likely be considered a ____________________.

A) Republican
B) Communist
C) liberal
D) conservative
E) Democrat

Question 52

Eric is moving from France to the United States.Having grown up in another country,he may be surprised to find that the U.S.federal government ____________________.

A) operates a larger welfare state than France's
B) primarily supports the mentally ill through public funds, whether distributed directly or indirectly
C) provides many social services through tax incentives instead of direct funding
D) requires new businesses to gain operating permits from the government
E) largely relies on family members to care for the mentally ill

Question 53

Define the term means-tested.Identify one major federal social program that is means-tested and another that is not means-tested.Why are some social programs means-tested while others are available to qualified classes of people without regard to income?

Question 54

A higher proportion of Americans ____________________ than in any other country in the world for which reliable data are available.

A) are literate
B) are illiterate
C) receive welfare payments
D) are in prison
E) pay income taxes

Question 55

Tom,the leader of a gang,has convinced many of his fellow gang members to engage in criminal activity.Though he has given directions to others,Tom has avoided committing any crimes himself.Is the federal government likely to become involved in pursuing and prosecuting Tom?

A) yes, because the federal government has the majority of law enforcement resources
B) yes, because the federal government has responsibility for investigating organized crime
C) yes, because his crimes concern interstate commerce
D) no, because he has not broken federal law
E) no, because he has only broken state laws

Question 56

What are the values of liberty and equality? In what respects do social policies represent trade-offs between these two values? Identify a public policy and explain how it either enhances liberty at the expense of equality or enhances equality at the expense of liberty.In your opinion,which value is more important,liberty or equality? Why?

Question 57

In general,political liberals regard inequality as the result of ____________________.

A) a lack of moral virtue
B) misguided social policies
C) structural features of a capitalist economy
D) the natural distribution of talent and ability
E) failed family structures

Question 58

To hide his criminal activity Tom,the leader of a gang,convinces his accountants,Yaxley and Dolohov,to create a shell corporation.This corporation will operate at a loss so that Tom can avoid paying taxes on his earnings.Is the federal government likely to become involved in pursuing and prosecuting Yaxley and Dolohov?

A) yes, because the federal government has the majority of law enforcement resources
B) yes, because the federal government prosecutes all instances of financial mismanagement
C) yes, because their crimes involve interstate commerce
D) no, because they have not broken federal laws
E) no, because they are paid professionals providing a service

Question 59

Which country generally has the smallest welfare state?

A) United States
B) Germany
C) France
D) Canada
E) Australia

Question 60

Designing social policies often reflects a trade-off between the values of ____________________.

A) freedom and liberty
B) order and equality
C) liberty and choice
D) freedom and equality
E) liberty and individualism