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1. The U.S. social welfare system differs markedly from those of West European democracies, a situation that is attributable primarily to America's

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cultural emphasis on individualism and federal system of government.

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2. The poverty line is defined as

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three times the annual cost of a thrifty food budget for an urban family of four.

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3. According to survey data, the form of assistance that Americans favor the most to help the poor is

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education and job training.

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4. _______ has the highest child poverty rate among the major industrialized nations.

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The United States

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5. The largest proportion of Americans living below the poverty line are

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children and their divorced, separated, or unmarried mothers.

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6. Poverty is a condition that today affects roughly one in ________ Americans.

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eight

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7. In his book, Losing Ground, Charles Murray argues that

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welfare programs create a foundation for a permanent underclass of unproductive people.

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8. ________ was terminated in 1996 and replaced by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program

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AFDC

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9. The term entitlement refers to a program

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where any individual who meets the eligibility criteria is entitled to receive the benefit.

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10. The EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) represents a reallocation of income to

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lower-income workers.

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11. Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal reflected the concept of positive government, meaning

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that government intervention helped people to attain a greater degree of individual freedom and security at a time when economic insecurity was widespread.

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12. The defining characteristic of a social insurance program is that

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eligibility for the program's benefits is confined to those who pay the special taxes that fund the program.

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13. Social insurance programs have high levels of public support because

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of their self-financing feature.

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14. The Social Security benefits that today's retirees receive are funded primarily by

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payroll taxes on people who are currently working.

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15. The term \"means test\" refers to

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whether an applicant's income is low enough to qualify for public assistance.

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16. ________ was called the great leveler when it began in the early nineteenth century.

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Public education

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17. The Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program was unpopular because of

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the public perception that it contributed to welfare dependency and irresponsibility.

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18. Criticism of the food stamp program occurs because it

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All of the answers are correct.

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19. All of the following are true statements about Medicaid except

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it serves all Americans who cannot afford health insurance.

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20. President Franklin Roosevelt's greatest domestic policy legacy is

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Social Security.

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21. In terms of its educational system, the United States ranks at the top in terms of

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All of the answers are correct.

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22. More than 90 percent of the funding for K-12 public education comes from

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state and local governments combined.

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23. Which of the following statements is true concerning American public opinion on school vouchers?

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Americans are divided in their opinions on school vouchers.

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24. ________ persuaded Congress to enact the No Child Left Behind Act.

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President George W. Bush

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25. The primary reason that the existence of Social Security greatly lessens the demand for other forms of social welfare is that

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Social Security checks keep millions of elderly Americans with no other substantial source of income out of poverty.

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26. Compared to tax policy in Western European democracies, tax policy in the United States shifts

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a smaller portion of income from the rich to the poor.

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27. Studies indicate that most unemployed American workers lost or left their jobs because

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of economic slowdowns and corporate restructuring.

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28. Welfare policy in the United States

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is an issue that frequently divides the two political parties.

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29. The TANF program must operate within all the following guidelines except

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states have no discretion in their handling of welfare cases.

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30. Which of the following is a true statement about the visibility of poverty in American society today?

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Poverty is less visible to residents of the suburbs than in inner cities or rural areas.

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31. Which of the following social welfare programs was supported by a majority of congressional Republicans at the time of enactment?

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the 1995 Welfare Reform Act

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32. ________ orchestrated the Great Society programs of the 1960s.

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Lyndon Johnson

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33. Which of the following is true regarding income patterns in America?

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The top fifth of Americans in terms of income receive half of the total income in the nation.

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34. The major reason why Social Security is likely to be a focus of reform is because

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at some point in the future, the number of workers will be insufficient to provide enough Social Security tax revenue to pay the benefits due to eligible retirees.

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35. The Medicare program provides health benefits to

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only retirees who have reached the age of eligibility and paid the payroll taxes that are required for eligibility to receive the benefit.

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36. The American preference for equality of opportunity is consistent with Americans

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All of the answers are correct.

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37. Of the following, which is likely the least criticized public assistance program?

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Supplemental Security Income

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38. Most social welfare programs are

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run jointly by federal and state governments.

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39. ________ is an example of an in-kind benefit.

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The Food Stamp program

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40. In contrast with Medicare, the Medicaid program is

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a public assistance program.

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41. The program that replaced the sixty-one-year-old federal guarantee of aid to the poor was

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TANF.

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42. A recent poll determined that Americans believe that public assistance programs for the poor are the second-costliest federal program. How accurate is this perception?

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None of the above answers are correct.

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43. All of the following are true of the Head Start program except that it

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is fully funded at the present time.

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44. The success of the No Child Left Behind Program has been hampered by

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inadequate funding

AP Gov Chapter 16

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