Deck 17: Making Social Policy

Question 1

What president called the Earned Income Tax Credit the "best anti-poverty,the best pro-family,the best job creation measure to come out of Congress"?

A)Lyndon Johnson
B)Bill Clinton
C)Ronald Reagan
D)Richard Nixon

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Social Security is aimed at what group of people?

A)children
B)seniors
C)the poor
D)college students

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Rapid population growth in China has put a strain on the country's social safety net,especially in terms of citizens' __________.

A)access to health care
B)ability to buy food
C)ability to pay for medical care
D)access to affordable housing

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Federal aid aimed at improving the quality of life for all citizens,such as by fighting crime or improving schools,is usually distributed on the basis of __________.

A)population
B)income
C)entitlement
D)need

Question 5

The food stamp program began during what event or period?

A)the Great Society
B)World War II
C)the Great Depression
D)the Vietnam War

Question 6

Created in 1935,__________ put 8.5 million Americans to work building roads,public buildings,parks,and airports.

A)the Head Start program
B)the Works Progress Administration
C)the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
D)the Veterans' Assistance program

Question 7

The Social Security program was adopted during what event or period?

A)the Vietnam War
B)the Reagan administration
C)the Great Society
D)the Great Depression

Question 8

The Affordable Care Act,colloquially known as Obamacare,deals primarily with what policy area?

A)education
B)health care
C)welfare
D)economics

Question 9

Medicare and Medicaid were developed as part of what major expansion of social policy?

A)the Great Society
B)the New Deal
C)the Fair Deal
D)the Race to the Top

Question 10

Which of the following is true of the Affordable Care Act,colloquially known as Obamacare?

A)It creates a new government-run health insurance policy.
B)It provides universal coverage to all Americans.
C)It creates new legal protections for doctors against medical malpractice lawsuits.
D)It requires Americans who are not covered to buy health insurance or pay a penalty.

Question 11

Which of the following programs enjoys the most public support?

A)Medicaid
B)Social Security
C)No Child Left Behind
D)Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Question 12

What government agency is credited with helping track down the cause of the swine flu outbreak in 2009?

A)the National Institutes of Health
B)the Public Health Service
C)the Department of Health and Human Services
D)the Centers for Disease Control

Question 13

The federal government now offers __________ social safety net programs.

A)approximately 50
B)approximately 200
C)more than 500
D)more than 2,000

Question 14

The nation's first entitlement program was __________.

A)aid to unmarried women
B)veterans' relief
C)food assistance to the poor
D)aid to the elderly

Question 15

Which region of the United States is generally the least generous in regard to protecting its citizens against economic hardship?

A)Northwest
B)West
C)Northeast
D)South

Question 16

Sarah is a 27-year-old graduate student pursuing a master's degree in political science.She has never purchased health insurance for herself and,frankly,would prefer not to,given that she has enjoyed good health and would like to avoid paying insurance premiums.If she chose not to purchase insurance in 2014,what would be the likely consequence?

A)She will be fined by the federal government.
B)She will not face any consequences;there is no legal requirement for purchasing health insurance.
C)She will receive a warning letter from the federal government.If she still does not have insurance in one year,she could face minor criminal charges.
D)She will be fined by the state government.

Question 17

During which period were the first public assistance programs created in the United States?

A)the late 1700s
B)the early 1800s
C)the late 1800s
D)the 1930s

Question 18

Which of the following represents one of the major challenges facing health care policymakers in the future?

A)containing the costs of health care
B)transitioning from a private health care system to a government-run system
C)educating the public about their rights and responsibilities under the new health care law
D)transferring responsibility for health care policy from the federal government to the states

Question 19

What are the two broad goals of social policy?

A)to raise the quality of life for all citizens and to control the costs of government programs
B)to create a social safety net and to raise the quality of life for all citizens
C)to create a social safety net and to protect citizens' rights and liberties
D)to protect citizens' rights and liberties and to control the costs of government programs

Question 20

Which of the following is a means-tested program?

A)Social Security
B)No Child Left Behind
C)Medicare
D)Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Question 21

How does the Affordable Care Act (ACA)affect Medicaid?

A)The ACA dramatically expands Medicaid.
B)The ACA leaves Medicaid unchanged.
C)The ACA creates stricter eligibility requirements for Medicaid.
D)The ACA transfers Medicaid from the federal government to the states.

Question 22

Which of the following could be considered an example of "corporate welfare"?

A)shifting AFDC to TANF
B)providing homeowners relief from foreclosure
C)bailing out banks during the recent economic crisis
D)providing supplemental security income

Question 23

At the time it was passed,which of the following was supported by the same women's groups that had just won ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment?

A)Infancy and Maternity Protection Act
B)Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act
C)National School Lunch Act
D)Aid to Families with Dependent Children

Question 24

Andrew is 27 years old and self-employed.Following passage of the Affordable Care Act,how can Andrew get health insurance?

A)He can apply for coverage through a state-run insurance exchange.
B)He will be automatically enrolled in coverage by his state government.
C)He will be automatically enrolled in coverage by the federal government.
D)He can choose to stay on his parents' health insurance policy.

Question 25

Social Security now covers what percentage of the U.S.workforce?

A)25
B)45
C)75
D)90

Question 26

When considered by absolute numbers,and not as a percentage within their own group,most poor people fall into which category?

A)white
B)African American
C)Hispanic
D)Asian

Question 27

Policing crime is primarily a matter for which levels of government?

A)state and local
B)federal and state
C)districts and divisions
D)cities and townships

Question 28

The first 100 days of the New Deal were remarkable for what reason?

A)That was the waiting period before the unemployed could obtain assistance.
B)The WPA put millions of unemployed people to work.
C)They produced the most significant list of legislation ever passed in U.S.history.
D)School lunch programs had to be suspended because of the war.

Question 29

Which of the following is most accurate regarding the future of Medicare?

A)Medicare will likely need adjustments to meet future demands.
B)The Medicare trust fund is expected to run out of money by 2016.
C)Medicare is expected to be financially stable for the next 50 years.
D)Medicare will be replaced by a private investment program beginning in 2015.

Question 30

Which of these was an outcome of the Great Depression?

A)The federal government cut Social Security benefits because it lacked adequate funds.
B)The federal government assumed new responsibilities for the management of economic matters.
C)The federal government devolved responsibility for solving the economic crisis to the states.
D)The federal government took a laissez-faire approach when dealing with economic matters.

Question 31

Why did the federal government become increasingly involved in education in the 1990s and beyond?

A)The federal government was responding to concerns about the quality of public education.
B)By order of the Supreme Court,the federal government was required to assist states with improving educational performance.
C)The federal government was concerned that private schools outnumbered public schools.
D)The federal government wanted to support strong student performance in math and science.

Question 32

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)is charged with doing which of the following?

A)patrolling U.S.borders to prevent illegal immigration and entry of terrorists
B)monitoring the sale of destructive weapons and guns inside the United States
C)investigating international matters related to violations of federal criminal laws
D)gathering and reporting evidence in matters related to federal criminal laws

Question 33

Which of the following is true of women and minorities when it comes to access to college?

A)The number of women and minorities enrolled in college has increased in recent years.
B)The number of women and minorities enrolled in college has decreased in recent years.
C)The number of women enrolled in college has increased in recent years,but the number of minorities has decreased.
D)The number of minorities enrolled in college has increased in recent years,but the number of women has decreased.

Question 34

Which of the following is true of the federal government's role in education?

A)The federal government is not involved in education.
B)The federal government is the primary governmental level involved in education.
C)The federal government has only been involved in education since the year 2000.
D)The federal government has taken on a greater role in education since 2000.

Question 35

Which of the following is an example of "middle-class welfare"?

A)agricultural subsidies
B)access to national parks and forests
C)Head Start program
D)renter's rebate for an apartment

Question 36

What has been the effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?

A)It has helped some people,but it has not been effective in helping unmarried working mothers.
B)It has primarily benefited those who earn $100,000 a year or more.
C)It has clearly reduced poverty rates among low-income workers.
D)It has not been as effective as anticipated.

Question 37

The success of the Earned Income Tax Credit can be attributed,in part,to the fact that __________.

A)recipients are less embarrassed to take federal support when it comes in the form of a tax refund
B)the program is targeted to families in which at least one parent is employed
C)recipients must apply for benefits rather than receiving them automatically
D)recipients get their benefits automatically and don't have to apply for them

Question 38

If the Social Security trust fund runs out,what will most likely happen?

A)The program will remain,but the federal government will raise taxes or reduce benefit levels.
B)The program will be eliminated,as required by law.
C)There will be no change in the program;the federal government will simply borrow more money to pay for it.
D)The program will be handed over to state governments,as required by law.

Question 39

The Infancy and Maternity Protection Act was a precursor of what program?

A)Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
B)Aid to Families with Dependent Children
C)Head Start
D)Medicaid

Question 40

Since its creation in 1935,Social Security has expanded to include what groups?

A)retirees,survivors,and people with disabilities
B)retirees,survivors,and the poor
C)women,children,and people with disabilities
D)women,children,and minorities

Question 41

Under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),federal funding for public assistance is limited to __________ years of a person's life.

A)two
B)five
C)seven
D)ten

Question 42

Which of the following best describes the goal of social policy in general?

A)to provide aid for those who are economically disadvantaged
B)to promote the welfare of citizens through domestic programs
C)to promote the welfare of the disadvantaged in developing countries
D)to keep the nation secure by making sure poverty is eliminated

Question 43

Which of the following philosophical beliefs explains the federal government's comparatively limited role in welfare and health policies?

A)a commitment to egalitarianism
B)a commitment to rugged individualism
C)a commitment to communitarianism
D)a commitment to social safety nets

Question 44

Which of the following best explains the federal government's motivation for being involved in education policy in the 1950s?

A)The federal government believed that education is an important part of defense.
B)The federal government was concerned with the effects of income inequality on the education system.
C)The federal government believed that states had largely failed to provide an adequate education system.
D)The federal government believed that education is important for a strong economy.

Question 45

Which of the following group of Americans has a larger proportion of people within that group living in poverty than do other groups?

A)whites
B)African Americans and Hispanics
C)Cubans and Puerto Ricans
D)Asians

Question 46

Which of the following best describes the federal disability insurance and unemployment programs?

A)They are generous programs that allow recipients to collect payments for years.
B)Almost all of the people on these programs have other sources of income as well.
C)These programs were created as part of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society agenda.
D)These programs provide only the bare minimum for survival and are often the only source of income for people on them.

Question 47

Why did Congress enact a new program in 1998 directed at improving teacher quality in primary and elementary education?

A)Education interest groups and teachers' unions pressured Congress into taking action.
B)Congress recognized the link between quality of primary and elementary education and college success.
C)This program was a response to the failure of previous federal policies.
D)The federal government had to step in after states cut their education funding.

Question 48

Prior to passage of the Affordable Care Act,what statement would proponents of the bill have used to support of their position?

A)Private insurance companies are adequate to provide health care coverage to nearly all Americans.
B)Uninsured Americans have access to health care because hospitals are required to treat patients with life-threatening conditions.
C)Health care costs have risen substantially over the past few decades.
D)Health care costs have declined over the past few decades.

Question 49

Judy is a 45-year-old mother of two (ages 9 and 11)who was recently laid off from her job and is now living on her savings.What program might Judy be eligible for to get through this tough time?

A)Head Start
B)Medicare
C)Aid to Families with Dependent Children
D)Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Question 50

Entitlement programs are designed to do which of the following?

A)help ensure equality in public school funding
B)help provide income to low-earning households
C)provide financial aid to poor college students
D)provide benefits to all qualifying individuals

Question 51

What new rule was put in place with passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996?

A)Recipients must submit to a drug test before they are granted benefits.
B)Recipients must enter a work training program within two months of receiving initial benefits.
C)Recipients are subject to a two-year lifetime limit on public assistance.
D)Recipients must get jobs within six months of receiving initial benefits.

Question 52

Which of the following best describes the main difficulty that has been encountered in implementing the No Child Left Behind Act?

A)The act did not increase federal spending for education enough to help the states meet the law's requirements.
B)The act emphasizes teacher improvement too much and does not emphasize student learning enough.
C)The law does not provide any way for children who are attending failing schools to move to higher-performing schools.
D)The act set standards that were too easy for states to meet.

Question 53

How is Medicaid funded?

A)by state governments
B)by state and local governments
C)by the federal and state governments
D)by the federal government

Question 54

Melissa is a single mother working full time at a minimum wage job.To make ends meet,she also receives public assistance.Under current law,what would happen if Melissa got married?

A)Her welfare benefits would be unchanged.
B)She would no longer be eligible for public assistance.
C)She would lose as much as $8,000 per year in cash and noncash benefits.
D)She would gain as much as $2,000 per year in cash and noncash benefits.

Question 55

Who is eligible for unemployment insurance benefits?

A)workers who have quit their jobs
B)workers who have lost their jobs because of economic conditions
C)workers who have been fired from their jobs because of poor performance
D)workers whose hours have been reduced from full time to part time

Question 56

Which of the following is a typical eligibility requirement for social insurance?

A)U.S.citizenship
B)financial need
C)demonstrated ability to pay for services
D)prepayment of some kind

Question 57

The Affordable Care Act,also known as Obamacare,is best described as __________.

A)a minor change to the existing health policy structure
B)a fundamental change in way that health care is delivered and to whom
C)a form of socialism
D)a policy that streamlines and simplifies the health care system

Question 58

Which of the following is one of the main arguments of those who oppose federal policies promoting marriage?

A)Married people are not any happier,healthier,or wealthier than their unmarried peers.
B)Finding good-paying jobs for people is a better solution than promoting marriage.
C)Same-sex marriage is outlawed,so the law does not provide equal protection.
D)Domestic violence occurs more frequently in married than in unmarried households.

Question 59

The Affordable Care Act requires that Americans purchase health insurance.

Question 60

Which of the following is necessary information to determine eligibility for a means-tested program?

A)the number of years a person has worked before retirement
B)the number of years a person has been on Social Security
C)the number of years a person has been in the military
D)the income level of the person in question

Question 61

The goals of social policy are to help those who help themselves and to protect those who have worked hard and have earned what they have achieved.

Question 62

Social Security is considered an entitlement program.

Question 63

Medicare is designed to help the __________ population.

Question 64

Because most social policy programs are restricted to one group of citizens only,they are often described as ___________ aid.

Question 65

A welfare program that contains an income eligibility threshold is likely a means-tested program.

Question 66

In 2014,a family of four with an annual income of $33,050 fell below the poverty line.

Question 67

Although the federal government does not have primary responsibility for policing,it is responsible for law enforcement in some areas.

Question 68

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a means-tested program.

Question 69

Southern states tend to be more generous with their social insurance policies because they have a greater number of people in poverty.

Question 70

Kindergarten through high school education is generally seen as a responsibility of __________ levels of government.

Question 71

President Lyndon Johnson avoided addressing problems of poverty.

Question 72

One reason for the increase in health care costs is that people now live longer than they did in the past.

Question 73

Welfare recipients are often criticized because they can remain indefinitely on programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Question 74

Advanced medical technology has led to increases in health care costs.

Question 75

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)has been replaced with the federal program ___________.

Question 76

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a social insurance program.

Question 77

Elementary and secondary schools are funded primarily by federal income taxes.

Question 78

___________ is a combination of entitlement programs that includes retirement benefits,health insurance,and support for disabled workers and the children of disabled or deceased workers.

Question 79

Social Security is a means-tested program because it provides benefits to all qualifying individuals.

Question 80

The Affordable Care Act,colloquially known as Obamacare,involved a federal takeover of the insurance industry.