Chapter 15-17

Question 1

Identify two politically relevant factors that have affected the changing distribution of government benefits between children and the elderly

Answer 1

The elderly have effected the interest group lobbying for them, rising elderly population, declining birth rate l, rising life expectancy, elderly people vote all the time ( politicians like that )

Question 2

Explain how each of the two factors identified earlier has affected the changing distribution of government benefits

Answer 2

Elderly can vote while children can’t ( it give elderly more representation )
More Elderly are sucking money out while there is less working force putting money in

Question 3

How does divided government make it difficult or federal government to enact public policy

Answer 3

Def: at least one house of congress is controlled by opposing party of the president
It creates grid lock (nothing gets done) ex)government shut down a few years ago because couldn’t agree on budget deal

Question 4

How does weak party discipline make it difficult for the federal government to enact public policy

Answer 4

Party cannot come together on an agreement, the party leadership is to busy keeping them in check (reining them in)

Question 5

How does growth in the number of interest groups and political action committees make it difficult for the federal govt to enact public policy

Answer 5

There is so many different interest that it is hard to please everyone and when interest are not met the groups could punish congress members

Question 6

The constitution grants the president certain enumerated powers. Describe two of these formal powers that enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy

Answer 6

Appointment power to some domestic office, power to give state of the Union address, legislation power in the way of vetoing, chief executive of the U.S. To enforce the law

Question 7

Define the term and explain how each limits president ability to influence policy making in congress

Mandatory spending

Answer 7

Spending on certain programs that are required by existing law
If 4/5 of spending is already use for mandatory spending it give the president less money to work with for his own policy goals

Question 8

Define the term and explain how each limits president ability to influence policy making in congress

Party polarization

Answer 8

It is when party’s ideologies become farther apart

They are less willing to work with each other, congress and the president

Question 9

Define the term and explain how each limits president ability to influence policy making in congress

Lame duck period

Answer 9

Is when congress meets after its successor is elected (new president) but before his term begins
The old presidents power is diminished and congress turns response to new president

Question 10

Define fiscal policy

Answer 10

The federal governments use of taxation and spending policies to affect business activities

Question 11

Describe one significant way the executive branch influences fiscal policy

Answer 11

The office of management and budget writes the budget and president proposes it to congress, president can veto the final result form congress

Question 12

Describing one significant way the legislative branch influence fiscal policy

Answer 12

Congress has the power to act on passing the federal budget and taxes, congressional budget office

Question 13

Define monetary policy

Answer 13

Utilization of changes in the amount of money in circulation to alter credit markets, employment, and the rate of inflation

Question 14

Explain two reason why the federal reserve board is given independence in establishing monetary policy

Answer 14

Remove politics from monetary policy

Federal reserve board have expertise

Deflect blame from the president and congress of things go south

Question 15

Define entitlement program

Answer 15

Government sponsored program providing mandated benefits to those who meet eligibility requirements

Question 16

What is the primary source of revenue for social security program

Answer 16

Separate payroll tax on people who work (FICA tax on earned income

Special separate tax on income that go the social security

Question 17

Identify one threat to the future of the social security program should the trends depicted in the chart continue

Answer 17

If it continues social security program will go bankrupt

Question 18

Describe one demographic trend that threatens the future of the social security program and explain how it is responsible for the threat

Answer 18

Old people make up a larger population in the country, decline birth rates, people are living longer
If more people use the program compared to the workers paying into it the system

Question 19

Explain how any one of the trends in the chart above would change if the age of eligibility for social security was raised

Answer 19

If people are working longer instead and getting the program at a higher age the paid in would increase, there be a less declined year end reserve and paid out reserve will not go up as much

Question 20

Explain importance of media in the formation of policy agenda

Answer 20

It effects what issues the public feel are important which in turn effect how politicians act on the issue, they will set agenda

Question 21

Explain how elections form policy agenda

Answer 21

He who wins get to set the agenda

Question 22

Describe the roles of the congressional committees in enactment of public policy

Answer 22

They make up bills, go on junkets, hold hearings and they change the bills accordingly, put it into law

Question 23

Describe role executive orders on public policy

Answer 23

Allows president to sercumvent congress and unilaterally put law into order

Question 24

Explain importance of bureaucratic discretion in the implementation of public policy

Answer 24

Congress let them have great choice in implementing the policy

Question 25

Importance of issue networks or iron triangles in the implementation of public policy

Answer 25

They work to pressure the bureaucrats to benefit all the people

Question 26

Describe to enumerated powers congress has in making foreign policy

Answer 26

Power of the purse, which allows them to find wars, can approve or reject treaty’s and declare war

Question 27

Describe to expressed powers the president has in making foreign policy

Answer 27

Commander in chief of the military, appoint and receive ambassadors, grant/withhold recognition of other countries

Question 28

Explain how executive agreements expand the president ability to implement foreign policy

Answer 28

Allow him to by pass congress and act unilaterally

Question 29

How can Elections limit the president ability to implement foreign policy

Answer 29

Wants to get re elected, has to not make unpopular decisions about foreign policy so he does get relected

Question 30

How does the president approval ratings limit the president ability to implement foreign policy

Answer 30

Poor approval ratings equals congress is likely to give the president what he wants

Question 31

Describe what the figure above demonstrates about the distribution of benefits over time

Answer 31

Over time children have been given less benefits while benefits spent on the elderly has been steadily increasing