unit 4

Question 1

consensus

Answer 1

when the vast majority of Americans agree with an idea

Question 2

divisive opinion

Answer 2

polarized between two different opinions

Question 3

political socialization

Answer 3

traditionally family and schools were the most powerful ways that children received their political ideas

Question 4

changing trends in political socialization

Answer 4

religion, race, geography, social class, age level of edu, gender, peer groups

Question 5

cohort effect

Answer 5

each generation had defining events i.e. great depression, WWII, Vietnam war

Question 6

agenda setting

Answer 6

the ability of the news media to influence the importance placed on the topics of the public agenda

Question 7

dealignment

Answer 7

a voter group abandons a party to become independent or nonvoting

Question 8

realignment

Answer 8

switching of voter preference from one party to another

Question 9

straw polls issues relating to polling

Answer 9

magazines used “straw polls” by mailing questionnaires to readers -> reflect a narrow segment of the population

Question 10

scientific polling

Answer 10

• use representative sampling of the population
• choose people on a random basis
• neutral questions

Question 11

policy formation

Answer 11

various policy proposals and alternatives discussed in congress and by the public

Question 12

policy adaptation

Answer 12

adopting a plan of action to solve a problem. Congress may pick a specific proposal and the bill is passed

Question 13

policy implementation

Answer 13

the bureaucracy, courts, and executive branch carries out the policy

Question 14

policy evaluation

Answer 14

after policy is adopted by ppl in gov and outside, conduct studies to judge effectiveness of the program

Question 15

medicare

Answer 15

designed to support elderly regardless of income

Question 16

medicaid

Answer 16

designed to subsidize health care for the poor

Question 17

affordable care act and obamacare

Answer 17

universal health care plan - both employed and government insurance plans (ObamaCare)
single-payer system

Question 18

social security

Answer 18

• largest spending program
• government promised to pay for supported via payroll taxes

Question 19

discretionary spending

Answer 19

programs congress can change funding for

Question 20

entitlement spending

Answer 20

government spending on certain programs that are required by law

Question 21

economic indicators

Answer 21

gdp, employment, inflation

Question 22

full employment

Answer 22

all available labor resources are used in the most efficient way possible

Question 23

business cycle

Answer 23

• expansions and boom periods
• 6 months i.e. 2 quarters of falling GDP - recession
• severe GDP drop - depression
• top of business cycle is peak
• bottom is trough

Question 24

fiscal policy

Answer 24

government tax and spending policies designed to stimulate or contract GDP

Question 25

expansionary fiscal policy

Answer 25

used during recessions (deficit)
- dec. taxes
- inc. spending

Question 26

contractionary fiscal policy

Answer 26

used during inflation (surplus)
- inc. taxes
- dec. spending

Question 27

Keynesian economics

Answer 27

called for inc. gov spending and tax cuts during great depression
- focuses on gov tax and spending policies

Question 28

automatic stabilizers

Answer 28

taxes and unemployment

Question 29

monetary policy

Answer 29

US gov expand/contract money supply during a recession/expansion

Question 30

expansionary monetary policy

Answer 30

used when in a recession
- dec reserve rate required for members banks
- lower discount rate i.e. interest rate charged by fed
- gov sell bonds

Question 31

contractionary monetary policy

Answer 31

used to slow down inflation
- inc reserve rate required for member banks
- inc discount rate
- gov buy bonds

Question 32

buying bonds

Answer 32

• puts money in the system
• loose money

Question 33

selling bonds

Answer 33

• takes money out of the system
• tight money

Question 34

progressive tax

Answer 34

takes a larger % of income from high income groups than from low income groups based on concept of ability to pay

Question 35

proportional tax

Answer 35

takes same percentage of income from all income groups

Question 36

regressive tax

Answer 36

takes larger % of income from low-income groups than high income groups

Question 37

moral idealism

Answer 37

foreign policy based on moral considerations, projects US as a nation that helps other countries and spread American goodwill

Question 38

political idealism

Answer 38

foreign policy that sees world as a dangerous place, US must defend itself

Question 39

diplomacy

Answer 39

maintaining peaceful relationships btwn nations, groups, or individuals

Question 40

economic aid

Answer 40

unilateral transfer of resources from one economic entity to another

Question 41

technical assistance

Answer 41

process of providing targeted support to an organization with a development need or problem

Question 42

defense

Answer 42

defense policy is part of national security policy i.e. arms and weapons

Question 43

foreign policy debate since 9/11

Answer 43

political realism -> tightened national security

Question 44

presidential powers in foreign policy

Answer 44

• congress declares war, but president is commander and chief of armed forces
• pres send troops into battles for 60 days without congressional approval
• senate confirms treaties, but pre can make executive agreements w/o congressional approval
• pre use bully pulpit to persuade the public

Question 45

congressional powers in foreign policy

Answer 45

• declare war (article 1 section 8)
• congressional approval after 60 days for troops
• ratifies treaties
• control funding for a foreign policy via appropriation bills
• confirm appointments

Question 46

war powers act

Answer 46

pres report to congress after spending troops