Question 1

Which of the following is NOT true regarding America's urban poor?

Accepted Answer

This statement is not entirely true, as there are rural areas that also experience high rates of poverty and joblessness. While urban poverty is a significant issue in the United States, it is not solely confined to cities.

Question 2

Which 1935 federal law created several domestic welfare programs, including Aid to Families with Dependent Children?

Accepted Answer

The Social Security Act of 1935 established several domestic welfare programs, including the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program. The act also created the Social Security system, which provides benefits to retirees, disabled individuals, and other eligible individuals.

Question 3

According to data from the U.S. Census, roughly what percent of the country lived below the poverty line in 2009?

Accepted Answer

According to data from the U.S. Census, roughly 14 percent of the country lived below the poverty line in 2009.

Question 4

Which state led the nation with a poverty level over 20 percent in 2010?

Accepted Answer

Mississippi had the highest poverty level in the nation in 2010, with 22.4 percent of its population living below the poverty line.

Question 5

During which period did the federal government's role in health care and social welfare programs dramatically change?

Accepted Answer

The answer of During which period did the federal government's...

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT true regarding the 2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act?

Accepted Answer

The 2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, did not have broad bipartisan support in Congress. It was primarily supported by Democrats and faced significant opposition from Republicans.

Question 7

America's urban poor, which has long been a focus of social welfare reformers, has been termed by some as America's

Accepted Answer

The term "underclass" has been commonly used to describe the urban poor in America who face systemic poverty and social exclusion. The term reflects the idea that this group is separate and distinct from both the working class and the middle class, and faces significant barriers to economic and social mobility.

Question 8

According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2011 Federal Guideline, the poverty income level for a household for a family of four is

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Census Bureau's 2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines set the poverty income level for a family of four at $22,350 or less.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT true regarding poverty?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Census Bureau's official poverty level for a family of four in 2011 was actually around $23,000, not $30,500.

Question 10

The 2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act benefits millions of college-age students by

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D because the 2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act permits individuals younger than 26 to remain on their parents' insurance plans, which benefits millions of college-age students who may not yet have their own insurance or who may not be able to afford it on their own.

Question 11

Where the degree of economic and racial inequality is higher, social welfare spending in the states tends to be

Accepted Answer

In areas where economic and racial inequality is higher, social welfare spending tends to be lower. This is often due to a variety of factors including political ideologies, fiscal priorities, and the influence of those who are economically advantaged, which can lead to less emphasis on redistributive policies.

Question 12

During his presidential campaign, which eventual winner told half-truths about a Chicago "welfare queen" in an attempt to demonize welfare recipients?

Accepted Answer

Ronald Reagan told half-truths about a Chicago "welfare queen" during his campaign for presidency in an attempt to demonize welfare recipients.

Question 13

Some scholars argue that the fragmented welfare state and paltry benefits have contributed to the rise in poverty of female-headed households, which is known as

Accepted Answer

The term "feminization of poverty" refers to the trend of increasing poverty rates among female-headed households. The fragmented welfare state and paltry benefits are identified as potential contributing factors to this trend by some scholars. Choices B, C, and D are not relevant to this topic.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT true regarding welfare policymaking and experimentation?

Accepted Answer

Competition among states and localities often leads to a "race to the bottom," where they may reduce benefits to avoid attracting individuals who would increase welfare costs, rather than adding benefits to attract more people.

Question 15

Political scientist Jack Walker developed a public policy model called the "S-curve." What does the "S-curve" represent?

Accepted Answer

The "S-curve" model developed by Jack Walker represents the diffusion of public policies across the states. The model shows that the adoption of a new policy starts slowly, then accelerates rapidly as more states adopt the policy, and eventually reaches saturation as most or all states have adopted the policy. This pattern resembles an S-curve, hence the name.

Question 16

Which of the following factors is often used by political scientists to explain policy diffusion?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following factors is often...

Question 17

In theory, the crafting, implementation, and costs of our health care and social welfare policies are

Accepted Answer

The answer of In theory, the crafting, implementation, and costs...

Question 18

With a rate of 7.7 percent in 2010, which state has the lowest poverty level in the nation?

Accepted Answer

New Hampshire had the lowest poverty rate in the United States in 2010 at 7.7 percent.

Question 19

When a state or community adopts or emulates another jurisdiction's policies, it is known as

Accepted Answer

Policy diffusion refers to the spread of ideas and policies from one jurisdiction to another. It often occurs when a state or community adopts or emulates the policies of another jurisdiction that has achieved success in addressing a particular issue or problem. Policy emulation, copy-and-share politics, and imitation politics are all similar concepts that are often used interchangeably with policy diffusion.

Question 20

Which of the following types of programs is not means-tested and is created by government to socialize risk?

Accepted Answer

Social insurance programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, are not means-tested and are created by government to socialize risk by pooling resources and spreading the financial burden of certain risks across a large group of people. Public assistance programs, on the other hand, are means-tested and provide assistance to individuals and families based on their income and other eligibility criteria. Assistance insurance is not a commonly used term in the context of government programs, and social work refers to the profession that provides services and support to individuals and communities in need.

Quiz 14: Social Welfare and Health Care Politics