Chapter 16/17: Domestic Policy Flashcards
How does Congress influence domestic policy?
- pass bills
- do most of the work
How does the president influence domestic policy?
- sign laws
- make executive orders
limited powers
What is an important section of social policy?
social welfare
distribution of resources
How do citizens directly and indirectly influence policy?
- direct - voting
- indirect - media, message government members
The federal government initially did not provide social welfare. When was it introduced?
- pension for Civil War veterans and their (widowed) spouses
- Great Depression and the New Deal (variety of programs)
How is social security funded?
payroll taxes
Medicare
- health insurance for retirees
- government’s most expensive social policy program
How do people qualify for need-based programs? Who funds these programs?
- individuals need to demonstrate a specific need to get benefits, government uses federal poverty thresholds to assess families
- funded by state and federal governments
Poverty Line
income threshold below which people are considered poor
How do Americans pay for healthcare?
- private insurance
- out of pocket
- government support
Americans spend more money on healthcare than any other country. What does this lead to?
medical bills are one of the leading causes of debt
Who signed the Affordable Care Act and when? What did it include?
- Obama, 2010
- comprehensive medical coverage, electronic medical records
How was the Affordable Care Act found controversial? How did the Supreme Court respond?
- one had to get health insurance, or they would be taxed
- upheld the law - argued that it was a tax and government had the right to tax
Which environmental issue receives the most attention?
- climate change
- disagreements on how to address it - some believe it exists, some a hoax
What does the investment of renewable energy lead to?
partisan divide
What levels of government primarily oversee education?
- state and local governments
- education systems differ from each state
How has the federal government increased involvement in education?
- end segregation in schools
- establishment of the Department of Education
What are issues in education equality?
- quality of education
- affordability of higher education
