Question 1

Which of the following is a significant obstacle to a comprehensive and consistent healthcare policy?

Accepted Answer

All of the options are significant obstacles to a comprehensive and consistent healthcare policy.

A) Shotgun approach followed by policymakers: This refers to the policymakers' tendency to make policies that address specific issues in a piecemeal fashion rather than a comprehensive approach. This leads to inconsistencies, and the policies do not address the overall healthcare system's issues.

B) Separation of powers: This refers to the distribution of powers among different branches of government, such as the executive, legislative, and judicial. The separation of powers can lead to a lack of coordination among the different branches when it comes to healthcare policy.

C) Politics of election cycles: Politicians tend to focus on policies that will help them get re-elected. This means that they prioritize short-term goals for political gains, which often conflicts with the healthcare system's overall long-term goals.

Question 2

Policy making in the United States

Accepted Answer

Policy making in the United States usually involves a struggle over ideas and values. While facts and evidence are important, they may not be the only or primary factors that determine policy decisions. Societal values, political considerations, and competing interests also play a significant role in shaping policy.

Question 3

Policy cycle includes

Accepted Answer

The policy cycle includes all of the above stages. It begins with identifying a problem and bringing it to the government's attention, which is followed by agenda setting. Once a problem is on the agenda, the government works on policy formulation, legitimation, and budgeting. After policies are created, the next step is their implementation, which is followed by evaluation to assess their success or failure. Therefore, all of these stages are crucial components of the policy cycle.

Question 4

The health policy environment can be thought of as

Accepted Answer

The health policy environment is a total matrix of factors that influence and shape the health policy cycle, including political, social, economic, and organizational factors. This includes factors such as stakeholder influence, funding streams, public attitudes, and legal considerations, as well as the context in which policies are developed and implemented.

Question 5

To whom does Congress routinely delegate day-to-day decision-making authority in implementing government programs?

Accepted Answer

Congress routinely delegates day-to-day decision-making authority in implementing government programs to the bureaucracies, which are the various government agencies responsible for implementing and administering the programs. These bureaucracies are composed of career civil servants who are experts in their respective fields, and they have the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out the day-to-day operations of government programs.

Question 6

What role does the Judiciary play in healthcare policy?

Accepted Answer

The Judiciary plays multiple roles in healthcare policy, including confirming that the implementation of laws meets constitutional standards, ensuring that administrative agencies discharge their assigned responsibilities, and enforcing the Administrative Procedures Act. Therefore, the best choice is D, which includes all of the above options.

Question 7

Policy makers view policy decisions from the perspective of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Policy makers view policy decisions from the...

Question 8

According to the authors, which of the following philosophers' ideas pervades American political thought and institutions?

Accepted Answer

The authors state that "John Locke's ideas pervade American political thought and institutions."

Question 9

According to James Madison, what should be done in regards to factions?

Accepted Answer

Madison believed that eliminating factions was impossible and would violate individual liberty. Instead, he suggested that their effects should be controlled through institutional design and checks and balances.

Question 10

When the same party controls the presidency and both houses of Congress, it is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A unified government occurs when the same political party controls both the presidency and both houses of Congress.

Question 11

The federal government uses a variety of tools (carrots and sticks) to encourage state government to participate in and to implement federal programs. These include

Accepted Answer

The federal government uses a variety of tools to encourage state government to participate in and implement federal programs. These tools include pre-empting state action, imposing federal mandates, and providing financial incentives through federal grants. Pre-empting state action means that the federal government takes away a state's ability to regulate a certain area or issue, effectively forcing their participation in federal initiatives. Imposing federal mandates means that the federal government forces the states to comply with specific requirements, which can include penalties for non-compliance. Providing financial incentives through federal grants means that the federal government offers funding to states that participate in federal programs and implement federal initiatives. Therefore, all three of these tools are used by the federal government to encourage state participation in and implementation of federal programs.

Question 12

Which of the following makes it difficult to pass laws/policies by a simple majority in the Senate?

Accepted Answer

Cloture is a rule in the Senate that allows a filibuster to be ended with a vote of three-fifths of the Senate. This means that it takes at least 60 votes to pass many laws/policies, rather than a simple majority of 51 votes.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a component of an iron triangle?

Accepted Answer

Journalists are not a component of an iron triangle. Iron triangles are typically composed of three entities: Congress, the bureaucracy, and interest groups.

Question 14

According to some, the subgovernment model of policymaking has been replaced by what model?

Accepted Answer

The subgovernment model posits that a few key interest groups, government agencies, and legislative committees dominate policymaking within a particular issue area. However, many scholars argue that this model has been replaced by the issue networks model, which recognizes that policymaking involves a diverse set of actors with varying levels of influence and interests, including advocacy groups, think tanks, media outlets, and other actors beyond the traditional subgovernment players. The issue networks model suggests that policymaking is more fragmented and decentralized, with power and influence spread out among a larger group of actors.

Question 15

What was the Madisonian system designed to do?

Accepted Answer

The Madisonian system, also known as the separation of powers, was designed to prevent a tyranny of the majority by dividing power among three branches of government and creating a system of checks and balances. This was done to ensure that no one branch or person could gain too much power and potentially become a threat to individual liberty.

Question 16

An incremental nature of policy making in the United States is a result of

Accepted Answer

The incremental nature of policy making in the United States is a result of all the factors listed in the options. Separation of powers and checks and balances ensure that no one branch of government can make major changes without the approval of the other two branches. Bargaining and compromises are necessary in a democratic system, where different interest groups have different agendas. Politicians always want to avoid negative and politically risky consequences, which is why they tend to make policy changes in small steps over time. Therefore, D is the best answer.

Question 17

According to the authors, why do some argue that divided government can sometimes be better than unified government?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the authors, why do some...

Question 18

In situations where a unified government exists (one political party controls both Congress and the White House), which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

Unified government does not guarantee presidential success, ensure the opposition will reclaim power in the next cycle, or mean that party unity will always override local interests. These outcomes can vary based on numerous factors including the specific issues at hand, the political climate, and individual lawmaker priorities.

Question 19

Generally, where does policymaking in Congress take place?

Accepted Answer

Policymaking in Congress takes place primarily within the numerous committees and subcommittees. These committees hold hearings, debate and amend bills, and vote on whether or not to send them to the full House or Senate for consideration. The various committees and subcommittees are organized by issue area, and each has jurisdiction over a specific set of policy areas. While party leadership and lobbyists can play a role in shaping policy, the committees are the primary forums for policymaking in Congress.

Question 20

All the power and authority over the health policy in the Executive branch is given to

Accepted Answer

The power and authority over health policy in the Executive branch are distributed among many different federal agencies, not centralized in a single office or department. This includes the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and others, each with its own specific roles and responsibilities.

Quiz 1: Healthcare Politics