Chapter 8 The Making of Government Policy (20 points total) Name: Instructions: Numbers are not consecutive, they represent the original answers. Multiple choice and true-false questions are one point: 1) Which of the following states is the only U. S. member to have a unicameral legislature, an issue which may be on the Michigan ballot in 2006: A) Texas B) Wyoming C) California D) Nebraska 2) Of the bills presented in Congress, approximately % are reported out of committee and % become law. A) 25; 20 B) 60; 30 C) 10; 5 D) 8; 1 3) What piece of legislation requires California lawmakers to have a 2/3 majority in order to raise property taxes and establish that state's fiscal budget? A) Proposition 11 B) California Balanced Budget Amendment C) Proposition 13 D) Article 15 4) An elitist orientation asserts that B) social policy in a mixed democratic polity is equal opportunity and resultant of trade-offs C) "bit-by-bit" additions to public social infrastructure produce important and valid questions D) "best practice" evaluations that determine to what extent policy change, effectiveness and outcome studies bring about intended outcomes.
5) Pluralist orientations assume that B) the continued recertification and funding by public decision makers is a sign of an effective and successful program C) social policy in a mixed democratic polity is equal opportunity and resultant of trade-offs D) "best practice" evaluations that determine to what extent policy change, effectiveness andoutcome studies bring about intended outcomes. 6) Incrementalists suggest that A) the continued recertification and funding by public decision makers is a sign of an effective and successful program. B) individuals represent a "power structure" and supports status quo that advantages them, C) "best practice" evaluations that determine to what extent policy change, effectiveness and outcome studies bring about intended outcomes. D) "bit-by-bit" additions to public social infrastructure produce important and valid questions 7) Rationalists assert that B) social policy in a mixed democratic polity is equal opportunity and resultant of trade-offs C) "bit-by-bit" additions to public social infrastructure produce important and valid questions D) "best practice" evaluations that determine to what extent policy change, effectiveness and outcome studies bring about intended outcomes. 8) Social activists rely on the premise that B) social policy in a mixed democratic polity is equal opportunity and resultant of trade-offs C) "bit-by-bit" additions to public social infrastructure produce important and valid questions D) the continued recertification and funding by public decision makers is a sign of an effective and successful program.
10) Which of the following is NOT a central aspect regarding government decision-making? A) the degree of change in policy represented by a decision B) the rationality of the decision C) how the upper and middle class populations benefit D) the extent to which the disadvantaged benefit 11) Which of the following regarding bureaucratic rationality is NOT a true statement? A) Civil servants are not able to deploy programs in an equitable and nonpartisan manner. B) It is central to governmental policy and hence to the maintenance of the welfare state. C) Civil servants can objectively define the social problems they see. D) It maintains authority from power vested in the state. 12) The 1996 welfare reform legislation A) exempted 20% of AFDC/TANF caseloads from time limits. B) set up special fund accounts for persons 65 years and older, similar to Social Security. C) required recipients to work at least 35 hours per week. D) all of the above. True/False (Place T or F in the left margin) 20) The liberal evolutionary perspective emphasizes the differences between organized groups that compete for social resources social policy and resultant programs are the products of intense rivalry among various classes and groups. 22) Market rationality refers to the ordering of social affairs by governmental agencies. XX) The Department of Labor defines as unemployed only those who are out of work and actively looking for jobs. It also considers part-time workers as employed, and it considers discouraged workers who have given finding work to no longer be in the workforce and therefore they aren t counted among the unemployed. Short Essay (3 points each) 26) Discuss how an idea becomes legislation, comparing (a) the official process as described in the textbook and the SWK 250 website, and the (b) other processes cynically labeled the real process on the SWK 250 website. Based upon class discussion and a review of the website s various newspapers articles and documents, what kinds of changes do you think need to be made in the rules of the House/Senate or in the law in order to improve the legislative process?
30) Discuss the two social planning methods discussed on page 210 in regard to their ability to anticipate future problems and deal with current problems. Which of these two forms of planning do you feel social workers should be equipped to engage in?
31) Identify and discuss the four stages of the policy process.
32) Explain why poor and minority populations are currently not well represented by PACs and lobbyists.