Deck 13: Parties, Leaders, and the National Debt

Question 1

Which is not an example of a mandatory spending program?

A) Medicare
B) Food stamps
C) Military spending
D) Unemployment compensation

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The chapter covers only a sample of survey questions dealing with the budget: to what extent do the two parties agree or disagree on a wider range of survey questions dealing with budget issues?

Answer 2

No Answer

Question 3

Numerous states have had to deal with deficit problems; what can members of Congress and the president learn from governors and state legislators who have had to manage tax and spending priorities under the constraints of a balanced budget requirement?

Answer 3

No Answer

Question 4

How does the debt problem in the U.S. compare with other democratic countries?

Question 5

Political scientists generally agree that partisan polarization has increased because _____.

A) of growing public concern about the deficit and debt
B) Democrats support Social Security and Medicare and Republicans do not
C) Democratic and Republican representatives no longer socialize the way they used to
D) the voters themselves have become more polarized

Question 6

"Hyperpluralism" describes _____.

A) the growth of government programs, which has contributed to the growth of organized interest groups
B) both parties' use of polarizing rhetoric to convince constituents that the other party is responsible for the deficit and debt
C) the increasing number of Americans registering as independents, as opposed to joining the Democratic or Republican parties
D) the increasing ethnic heterogeneity in the United States as a result of immigration

Question 7

According to opinion polls, as deficits increase, public concern regarding the deficit and debt _____.

A) does not change for Republicans or Democrats
B) increases for Republicans and does not change for Democrats
C) increases for Democrats and does not change for Republicans
D) increases for both Republicans and Democrats

Question 8

Without major spending cuts or tax increases, the national debt will grow in the future because _____.

A) wars will continue to be expensive
B) health care costs are projected to increase significantly
C) education costs will soar
D) all of the above

Question 9

Since 1965, which of following trends in the budget is true?

A) The deficit has increased gradually.
B) Mandatory spending has grown as a percentage of all spending.
C) Defense spending has increased.
D) Tax policy has not changed much.

Question 10

In 1965, approximately what percentage of the budget was mandatory spending, and what percentage was it in 2011?

A) 18 percent in 1965; 79 percent in 2011
B) 13 percent in 1965; 45 percent in 2011
C) 32 percent in 1965; 83 percent in 2011
D) 27 percent in 1965; 56 percent in 2011

Question 11

Without major spending and tax reforms, publicly held debt will reach what percentage of GDP by 2020?

A) 75 percent
B) 80 percent
C) 90 percent
D) 100 percent

Question 12

Approximately how much revenue does the government lose annually as a result of tax expenditures?

A) $530 billion
B) $1.1 trillion
C) $5.3 trillion
D) $11 trillion

Question 13

Approximately how many tax expenditures does our tax code have for individuals and corporations?

A) 200
B) 300
C) 400
D) 500

Question 14

If groups can pressure members of Congress to support their priorities, why don't young people band together to demand solutions to the debt problem, including reforming entitlement programs that seem to benefit the elderly at the expense of the next generation of taxpayers?