question

The only type of good for which there is no market failure, and the government need not intervene to prevent it.

answer

pure public good

question

A good which can be______ is one in which one individual's consumption of the good does not interfere with another individual's consumption of the same good.

answer

jointly consumed

question

The "tragedy of the commons" when individuals attempt to maximize their use of ________ without regard to their degradation or depletion.

answer

externalized

question

The decision of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) not to adopt ergonomics rules because the costs for businesses to comply outweighed the benefits of reducing repetitive motions injuries was based on the analysis criterion of ______.

answer

efficiency

question

Federal ______ grants for community development activities give states and local governments an amount of money to conduct the activities with more flexibility to determine how the money is spent.

answer

block

question

The aging of baby boom generation has led to growing interest in reform of government programs such as Medicare and Social Security. Similarly, immigration policy is in the forefront due to the influx of immigrants to the U.S. These are examples of _____ the influencing policy.

answer

social context

question

Passage of the ______ exemplified the complex interplay of the two houses of Congress, the president, interest groups and politics in the making of policy.

answer

Affordable Health Care Act of 2010

question

Understanding the system of the government is important for students of public policy since

answer

It enables us to assess constraints on policy development and the opportunities that exist within the system to develop solutions through policy

question

When the U.S. government was formed, which three cabinet-level departments existed?

answer

War, Treasury, and Foreign Affairs

question

_____ refers to the checks and balances that our Constitution sets up among the three branches of government.

answer

separation of powers

question

_____ refers to the ability of a government to address its problems effectively through public policy.

answer

policy capacity

question

Government policy sectors are defined as

answer

Units or agencies of government that are involved in the policy making process

question

Federal cabinet departments and major agencies such as the CIA and EPA are formed in which branch of government?

answer

executive

question

Growth in the size of government has led to

answer

A decline in the Gross Domestic Product and increase in poverty rates

question

An increase in the use of ____ by the Federal government led to greater cooperation and decentralization between states and the Federal government.

answer

categorical and block grants

question

Conflict between states and the Federal government can be caused by _____, in which the Federal government place new rules about government services that must be provided by states, but did not provide funds to cover the new costs which might be incurred.

answer

unfunded mandates

question

The Senate allows its members more freedom to debate policy issues than the House. In some cases, Senators talk for hours in hopes of influencing a bill or blocking its passage. This is called a

answer

veto

question

The tread of decentralization of government in the United States transfers policy authority from _____ to _____?

answer

federal to state

question

Since the U.S. Congress is _____, the Hose of Representatives and the Senate must agree on policy actions before these policies can go forward.

answer

bicameral

question

One of the biggest differences between a cabinet-level department (agency) and an independent regulatory commission is that

answer

The president may not remove a commissioner of an independent regulatory commission because of policy disagreement

question

Interest groups often attempt to influence policymakers and public policy through

answer

lobbying

question

Which statement summarizes the structure of the Federal Judiciary? It is made up of

answer

The Supreme Court, Circuit, and Federal Districts Courts, and various specialty courts

question

Formerly called from triangles, _____ are informal groupings of interest groups, congressional subcommittees, and an executive agency that are less likely to be influenced by public opinion since they typically work closely together out of the public eye.

answer

issue networks

question

The ____ theory of policymaking focuses on the role of experts and leaders in formulating public policy.

answer

elite

question

Which of the following best describes the sequences of the policy-making process presented by the Kraft/Furlong policy process model?

answer

Agenda settings, policy formulation, policy implementation, policy evaluation

question

The policy-making stage in which public needs are selected for consideration by a legislative body of government is

answer

agenda setting

question

Policy analysis is used most heavily during which stages of the policy-making process?

answer

Problem analysis, policy alternatives development, and policy evaluation

question

Some analysts try to predict how likely a policy issue will be placed on the agenda for action. Policy issues that have _____, _____ have the best chances to be placed on a public agenda.

answer

low conflict and high saliency

question

_____ are tools, approaches, or methods that policy makers have available to use in order to formulate a policy.

answer

policy instruments

question

Regulating is defined as

answer

The government requiring certain activities to be done, and if not, assessing penalties

question

The _____ theory of policymaking emphasizes the formal and legal parts governmental structure.

answer

institutional

question

Political systems theory explains policymaking as a process of

answer

Interaction between the government institutions and the larger social, economic and cultural context in which they operate

question

_____ portrays public policy as the product of a continuous struggle among organized interest groups.

answer

group theory

question

What is the president's major forum for agenda setting and stating the coming year's priorities?

answer

The State of the Union Address

question

An example of ____ is farmers, agricultural equipment makers, and the bureaucrats at the U.S. Department of Agricultural working together to promote particular policies.

answer

An advocacy coalition framework

question

Which of the policy typologies identified by Lowi refers to the situation where government spends money to provide grants or programs without regard to where the money will come from to pay for it?

answer

distributive

question

These types of policies have "winners" and "losers," in other words, some groups benefit at the expense of others.

answer

redistributive

question

A policy model that involves calculation of all social, policy and economics value is?

answer

rationalism

question

A weakness of the incremental model is that it

answer

may fail when policy makers are confronted with a crisis

question

Group Theory begins with what proposition?

answer

Interaction among groups is the central focus of politics

question

Government will manage a problem if

answer

Private industry does not want to address the problem using the free market

question

Analyzing problems, studying possible policy alternatives, and evaluating the efficiency or effectiveness of policies are examples of what?

answer

policy analysis

question

Researchers and academics conduct research to develop a rigorous and in depth understanding of public problems and policy alternatives. This approach to policy analysis is

answer

scientific

question

Being committed to specific policy values and goals, as well as ideological and partisan agenda, is known as the ___________ approach.

answer

political

question

Making modest changes in policy is known as what?

answer

incremental decision making

question

A systematic and organized way to evaluate problems, policy alternatives, or the effectiveness of government programs is referred to as

answer

policy analysis

question

Which is the correct sequence in the policy analysis process?

answer

Set agenda, formulate policy, legitimize policy, implement, and evaluate

question

A growing sector of private sector organization that conduct policy research often used by government policymakers are called

answer

think tanks

question

Which of the following illustrates an operational measure of school quality?

answer

standardized test scores

question

A __________ approach to policy analysis focuses on understanding the underlying conditions that causing a public problem, while the __________ approach focuses more on how to alleviate shorter term symptoms of the problem.

answer

root cause/proximate cause

question

Which of the following is an example of date that could be collected to study the root causes of poverty?

answer

the number of students that drop out of high school

question

Which of the following is most likely to conduct political forms of policy analysis?

answer

national academy of sciences

question

Which of the following policy analysis criteria is used if the acceptability of a particular alternative to interest groups, the general public, or politicians is a concern?

answer

Political feasibility

question

To reduce drivers' cellphone use, should state government institute sanctions such as tickets or fines? Or should they try to educate drivers on cell phone use? These are examples of which part of the policy analysis?

answer

construct policy alternatives

question

In order to choose which policy option (such as sanctions or public education) are better than others to reduce cell phone use, policy analysis might use the criterion of efficiency. What question would they ask related to efficiency?

answer

For what we invest, which of these options is likely to do the best job of reducing cell phone use?

question

Policy analysts that propose policies which align with mainstream public values are taking as approach to policy formulation known as ______

answer

Adhering to consensual norms

question

Which of the following policy analysis criteria would be used if a fair and just evaluation were a concern?

answer

equity

question

Policy analysis that puts a priority on citizen involvement and alignment with public opinion emphasizes

answer

Democratic political processes

question

According to Deborah Stone, in the market model

answer

Individuals act to maximize their own self-interest

question

Policy analysts study the nature of the problem. Which statement below best defines what this refers to?

answer

The severity, scope and causes of the problem

question

The policy instrument of ______ refers to government attempts to convey important information to citizens in order to influence their behavior.

answer

education

question

Regulating is defined as

answer

The government requiring certain activities to be done, and if not, assessing penalties

question

Market incentives as tools or instruments of policy are defined as

answer

Subsidies or loans to individuals

question

The U.S. government administers the Medicare program. Which of the following describes the type of policy tool being used in this?

answer

government management

question

When developing policy alternatives to address a problem, the policymaker should examine _____, which refer to how well the policy has worked in a stat, pilot test, or other smaller-scale attempt to implement it.

answer

literature reviews

question

____ are observable ways to define a problem

answer

Operational measurement

question

Which creative thinking tool begins with an analysis of the status quo as a baseline?

answer

brainstorming

question

____ involves finding solutions to a problem by spontaneously sharing ideas without initial regard to practicality or feasibility.

answer

brainstorming

question

Which of the following information sources would provide an overview of a subject or problem that would be a good place to begin the process of policy analysis?

answer

the new york times

question

Providing direct payments or benefits to individuals is an example of

answer

subsidizing

question

The policy design tools that rely on the premise that most people will behave because they have been told to do so are known as

answer

authority tools

question

Local governments often hire nonprofit organizations to provide some of the services government provides, such as treatment for drug addictions or maintenance of trails. These are examples of ____.

answer

contracting out

question

In an attempt to change the behavior or attitudes of citizens, government leaders often use _____ policy tools, which refer to making public addresses or speeches to exhort citizens to do something.

answer

hortatory

question

When determining how to respond to rising energy costs, policymakers assessed the likely environmental, health, and safety impacts of energy exploration, development, and use. This is an example of

answer

Applying risk assessment approaches to analyze policy options

question

Nearly every policy proposal is concerned with the criterion of ______.

answer

technical feasibility

question

Many individuals recently urged President Obama to reform health care by setting up a single payer system like the Canadian system. In developing his health care reform plan, the president ruled out that option early sing the criterion of_____, because it was likely to be "dead on arrival" in Congress.

answer

political feasibility

question

With the scarcity of government resources in the past several years, the evaluating criterion of ____ has become more and more important.

answer

efficiency

question

In some states, legislators may be more likely to process laws allowing gay marriage than in other states. Gay marriage is more _____ in the states that pass such laws.

answer

socially acceptable

question

______ refers to the availability and reliability of technology needed for policy implementation.

answer

technical feasibility

question

Which of the following policy analysis criteria deals with whether a policy has a fair process or policy outcome?

answer

equity

question

_____ refers to the policy analysis method that assesses the potential for harm that might result (to people or to the environment) if potential hazards should occur.

answer

risk analysis

question

Cost/benefit analysis is a useful tool in policy analysis. It can be used to

answer

Analyze the efficiency of various possible policy alternatives.

question

_____ focuses on analyzing policy results and outcomes.

answer

program evaluation

question

_____ deals with the likelihood that an agency or department can implement a policy well.

answer

administrative feasibility

question

A difficult and relatively infrequent type of policy analysis that systematically examines conflicts and concerns about policy alternatives from the standpoint of values and rights is referred to as

answer

ethical analysis

question

Which government office is in charge of monitoring how other agencies conduct cost-benefit analyses?

answer

office of management and budget

question

Policy analysts can estimate the value of a human life through ______.

answer

contingent valuation methods

question

Being stuck in traffic imposes _____ on drivers because they could be doing something more productive with their time.

answer

an opportunity cost

question

It can be said of U.S. health care that

answer

It is inefficient system; the return is low for the amount of money invested

question

Which governmental program provides medical insurance for the elderly as an entitlement?

answer

medicare

question

The ____ part of Obama health care plan requires that everyone is responsible to obtain health insurance coverage from their employer, a government program, or by purchasing it themselves.

answer

individual mandate

question

Which statement is true about a single payer health care system?

answer

the government is the only payer for health care.

question

This program added in 1997, expanded health insurance for children.

answer

State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

question

_____ provide health care by forming networks of physicians, hospitals, and other health care providers; they supposedly control costs by monitoring and regulating the care patients can receive.

answer

Managed care organizations or Preferred Providers

question

What feature makes the U.S. health care system distinct from most other countries?

answer

The significant involvement of many for-profit companies and providers of care

question

One of the most promising ways to reduce health care costs may be

answer

Emphasize preventive health care

question

Attaining the goal of economic growth may take _____ more acceptable to the general public, since the public's own earnings may be increasing.

answer

Welfare and other redistribute programs

question

In general, increasing levels of unemployment will lead to _____ government revenue and ____ government expenditures

answer

decreasing/increasing

question

In recent years, the approximate number of uninsured Americans was:

answer

Forty-five to fifty-five million

question

Put the following demographic groups in descending order of poverty rate (i.e., highest rate listed first, lowest rate last.)

answer

Children, adults (age eighteen to sixty-four,) older adults

question

Welfare programs consume enormous amounts of public funding during a time of recession. Other than cutting benefits and restricting eligibility, what is the most effective long-term method a government can use to reduce the spending on these programs?

answer

Get the economy growing again so that the fewer people will need the benefit

question

One of the major criticism of the Federal Poverty Level is that

answer

Its benefits calculation formula is seriously outdated and has been used since the 1950s.

question

What is the difference between the national deficit and the national debt?

answer

The deficit is the yearly amount government expenses exceed revenue. The debt is the accumulation of the deficits over the years.

question

Social Security is called a "pay as you go" system. This means that

answer

Benefits that the U.S. government currently pays out are funded through currently collected taxes.

question

Which of the following economic policy concern is often highly inter-related with a growing economy and high levels of employment?

answer

growing inflation

question

Redistributive policies and programs are those where

answer

Government provides benefits to one group of individuals by collecting money from the other individuals.

question

The highest quantile (20 percent) of the U.S. population earns about ___ of the total income in the country.

answer

50 percent

question

What does the Gini coefficient measure?

answer

Income inequality

question

The economic goal of stable prices is typically measured using the

answer

consumer price index (CPI)

question

Which of the following is currently a "means-tested" program?

answer

welfare

question

Economic indicators show that the economy has been sluggish in recent months. What monetary policy option can be imposed to deal with this situation?

answer

Increase the money supply and reduce the discount rate

question

Which statement reflects the Obama administration's stance with regard to No Child Left Behind?

answer

NCLB should be changed to offer states more flexibility; offer incentives rather than punishments.

question

Who has played the biggest role in the educational policy through U.S. history?

answer

state and local government

question

Which policy allows parents to send their children to any public school in a particular area?

answer

school choice

question

In Texas and other states, the issue of ____ has surfaced with regard to the financing of public education due to the fact that ____.

answer

Equity/poor areas receive lower quality education

question

____ are public schools that serve a distinct population or have a more specialized educational emphasis (such as fine arts, science, or technology.)

answer

charter schools

question

Decreasing income tax rates, especially for the rich, follows the principle of

answer

supply-side economics

question

Current trends point to a reduction in college attendance by middle and low income college students. This trend causes policy makers to be concerned about the policy criteria of

answer

equity of access

question

Despite the fact that millions of students currently attend college in the U.S., there has been relatively little public pressure for the government to adequately fund higher education due largely to the fact that

answer

Individuals in the eighteen to twenty-four year old category vote at significantly lower rates than other ages groups.

question

Which of the following is NOT a foreign policy tool that the U.S. government utilizes to promote national security along with economic and political goals?

answer

Progressive taxes and fees

question

Foreign policy is much different than other policy areas in that

answer

It is both domestic and foreign audiences to consider

question

This controversial law provided for an increase in use of surveillance by the U.S. government to prevent terrorism.

answer

The USA PATRIOT Act

question

Comparing the 1950s-70s with the present day, U.S. national security policy has shifted from an emphasis on ____ to ____.

answer

Defense and deterrence to surveillance and prevention

question

A _____ tax is one in which the rate of taxation is higher for individuals who earn higher incomes

answer

progressive

question

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was developed in response to the threat of aggression from whom?

answer

soviet union

question

Policies to prevent terrorist attacks, such as airline security, must take into account examination of the balance between

answer

Effectiveness of risk reduction and cost

question

Which branch of government typically initiates the budgetary process?

answer

executive

question

Over the past several decades, increasing _____ has led to a growing emphasis on economic issues in the U.S. foreign policy.

answer

globalization

question

What agency was begun during the Korean war and is the most secretive of the intelligence agencies, working on the cutting edge of intelligence data analysis?

answer

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

question

_____ policy refers to the government's budgetary process, and includes the sum-total of taxing and spending.

answer

fiscal

question

The ____ is the U.S. government division that distributes and manages the distribution of financial resources directly to other nations.

answer

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

question

According to chapter 13, the conflict and polarization that typify American government today often leads

answer

Incremental decision making

question

____ allows policymakers to evaluate the situation while taking incremental policy steps

answer

adoptive management

question

The ____ has lead to more evaluations of public policies, an important way to improve policy capacity.

answer

Government Performance and Results Act of 1993

question

According to IOU.S.A., the United States' first operated with a deficit during ____

answer

the American Revolution

question

According to the article in the Patterson Reader, the "Donut Hole" is

answer

The gap in Medicare benefits that leaves citizens paying for prescription drugs

question

According to the Climate Change 2007 Synthesis Report _____ is _____

answer

Warming of the Climate System, unequivocal

question

The Climate Change 2007 argues that _____ is consistent with global warming.

answer

rising sea levels

question

Public policy is best defined as

answer

government action taken in response to a public problem

question

_______ refers to the institutions and political processes through which public policy choices are made.

answer

government

question

______ are economic justifications for why government becomes involved in societal problems.

answer

market failures

question

A recession is likely to affect the policies that congress and the president adopt to stimulate jobs. This is an example of which context affecting the development of public policy?

answer

economic context

question

The ideology of individual members of Congress is an example of the ______ context that affects the development of public policy.

answer

political

question

The United States saw an increase in environmental legislation in the 1970s due in part to pressure from environmental groups. This represents what type of rationale for government intervention?

answer

moral or ethical reasons

question

Education is often cited as something that benefits more than just the person getting the education; it benefits society in a number of other ways. This is called:

answer

positive externality

question

A(n) _____ occurs when the public has incomplete information in order to make a decision or the decision is complex and difficult for the average citizen to know how best to proceed. The government may then create policies to protect them.

answer

information failure

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