US Public Policy and Foreign Relations: Key Concepts and Historical Context
2
Who originally formulated the law cited here?
The National Council on Disability
What step was required after this law was written?
Congress wrote regulations regarding its details.
What was the main effect of the law cited here?
It protected the legal rights of people with disabilities
Which step was part of implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act?
Federal agencies established specific regulations for compliance with the law.
Congress defined its specific terms.
How was the policy created by the Americans with Disabilities Act changed after it was implemented?
Congress amended it to broaden the protections it offered
What area of public policy lies exclusively with the federal government?
Foreign policy
What area of public policy lies exclusively with state and local governments?
Education policy
In what area of policy making do federal and state responsibilities overlap?
Economic policy
Which stage of policy making includes promises to the public about new policies?
Formulation
Which stage of policy making includes writing new laws confirming new policy?
Adoption
Which stage of policy making includes enforcing newly written laws?
Implementation
Which entity often proposes new foreign policy ideas?
The federal government
Which entity is most responsible for proposing new educational policy ideas?
A state government
Which entity is most responsible for approving new school curriculum policies and providing funding for schools?
A local government
Which step is part of public policy implementation?
Federal agencies enforce newly written tax laws.
What is the primary role of federal agencies in public policy?
They formulate regulations that make policies more specific and concrete
What is the role of bureaucrats in implementing public policy?
They take action to enforce new laws.
Which statement was most likely made by a member of the executive branch?
“I oversee a federal agency that enforces new policies.”
“I formulated a policy that Congress then debated.”
“I oversee an agency that makes sure policies are carried out
Which role does the legislative branch play in making public policy
Debating most-favored-nation status among foreign countries
Passing a new law loosening the embargo against Cuba
Passing a new law about endangered species
2
Which statement represents a view of an opponent of the social safety net?
Government should not intrude on people’s lives.
Government spending should be decreased whenever possible
People deserve to be protected from serious poverty.
Under the Affordable Care Act, the individual mandate:
requires all Americans to purchase health insurance.
What was the fate of the public option during debate over the Affordable Care Act?
It was debated but not included in the law.
Under the Affordable Care Act, what is the role of health insurance exchanges?
They help citizens shop for health insurance.
Which opinion would a Republican most likely hold about entitlement programs?
They cost the government too much money
Which statement about entitlement programs would a Republican most likely agree with?
They are not a responsibility of government
What did Republicans say about the Social Security Act when it was first introduced?
Saving for retirement is the job of citizens, not government
What is one goal of Medicare?
To provide the elderly with free health care
What was one goal of the Higher Education Act?
To help students pay for college
Which benefit was not part of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964?
Health care for impoverished citizens
Which president would have been most likely to agree that the government’s role in people’s lives should be more limited?
Ronald Reagan
Which president would have been most likely to agree that the government should be widely expanded to protect the most vulnerable Americans?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Which president would have been most likely to agree that access to higher education among impoverished Americans required government intervention?
Lyndon B. Johnson
Which New Deal agency was most effective in aiding the elderly during the Depression?
The Social Security Administration
Which New Deal agency was most effective in aiding the unemployed during the Depression?
The Works Progress Administration
Which New Deal agency was most effective in aiding farmers during the Depression?
The Agricultural Adjustment Administration
Which item best completes the chart?
Protect against future economic crises
Protect citizens from bank failures
Prevent poverty among the elderly
What is one common Republican criticism of the Medicare and Medicaid programs?
The cost of running the programs is too high
Poverty has increased, so the program costs the government more to run.
The population has aged, so the program costs the government more to run.
4
Which step in the budget process do both houses of Congress control?
Both houses work on spending bills based on the president’s budget.
Which step in the budget process does the House of Representatives control?
The House of Representatives turns the president’s budget into spending bills.
Which step in the budget process does the Senate control?
The Senate incorporates the House’s spending bill into its own version.
What will most likely result from the event in the headline
The economy’s slowdown will be eased.
What is the event in the headline most likely a response to?
The economy is slowing down
What is the event in the headline most likely a response to?
he economy is growing rapidly
Which action does the executive branch take as part of the government spending process?
Which action does the executive branch take as part of the government spending process?
The president signs Congress’s passed budget resolution.
Which action does the executive branch take as part of the government spending process?
The Office of Management and Budget sends budget guidelines to federal agencies.
Which action does the executive branch take as part of the government spending process?
Executive branch agencies plan their fiscal budgets for the year.
Which situation most likely results when the government raises interest rates to banks?
Economic activity slows
Which situation most likely results when the government lowers interest rates to banks?
Economic activity increases.
Which situation most likely results when the government raises interest rates to banks?
Fewer citizens borrow money to buy houses or cars.
Which statement refers to Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?
The American economy produced 15 percent more last year than the year before.
Which statement refers to per capita GDP?
The average household level of production declined last year
Which statement from a newspaper article refers to the consumer price index (CPI)?
The average cost of groceries has increased 10 percent since last year.
Under what circumstances would the government most likely raise taxes?
The economy is growing rapidly.
Consumer spending has decreased recently.
How would a government most likely respond to a slowdown in the economy?
Lowering taxes in order to stimulate spending
When would the government most likely increase its spending?
When unemployment has increased
When would the government most likely decrease its spending?
When unemployment has decreased
How would the government most likely respond to a decrease in consumer spending?
By adding to its discretionary spending budget
Which scenario indicates that a contractionary monetary policy is needed?
Investment has been slowing.
Which scenario indicates that an expansionary monetary policy is needed?
The economy has been growing rapidly
Which scenario indicates that a contractionary monetary policy is needed?
The economy has grown too quickly.
2
Which action is a part of the president’s role in foreign policy?
Making final decisions
Which action is a part of the secretary of state’s role in foreign policy?
Representing the United States to foreign nations
Which action is a part of the secretary of defense’s role in foreign policy?
Managing national security
Which title best completes this job description?
Ambassador
Midlevel diplomat
Embassy staff member
What conclusion about the use of U.S. military power would be most logically drawn from the experience of the Vietnam War?
A stronger military does not guarantee victory.
What conclusion about the use of U.S. military power would be most logically drawn from the experience of the Iraq War?
After a military victory, the defeated country may remain unstable and dangerous.
What conclusion about the use of U.S. military power would be most logically drawn from the experience of the war in Afghanistan?
The roles of military personnel and diplomatic workers have begun to overlap.
Which action is an example of the United States using economic influence as a tool of foreign policy?
Refusing to trade with a country until it improves its human rights record
Providing funding for another country to establish a clean water program
Signing a free trade agreement with a group of other countries
Which statement would most likely be made by a supporter of sanctions as a tool of foreign policy?
We can get countries to change their policies by hurting their economy
Being able to trade with the United States is very important to most foreign governments
Citizens will pressure their government for change if it will improve their lives
What is the purpose of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank?
To help poor countries
To promote economic development
To reduce poverty
Which statement is true of a treaty?
It legally binds the nations that agree to it.
It must be ratified by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate.
It is not legally binding.
What foreign policy goal does the United States advance by participating in the United Nations?
Cooperating with other nations to solve global problems
What foreign policy goal does the United States advance by participating in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?
Promoting military defense of itself and its allies
What foreign policy goal does the United States advance by participating in the World Bank?
Helping poor nations develop economically
4
Which option best completes the diagram?
The aftermath of the Cold War is the major U.S. foreign policy priority.
The September 11 terrorist attacks occur.
Terrorism becomes a major concern of U.S. foreign policy
Removing the Taliban from power was a major goal of _____.
the war in Afghanistan
Stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction was a major goal of _____.
the war in Iraq
Encouraging democracy was a major goal of _____.
both the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq
Which statement would most likely be made by a supporter of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?
It is the job of the United States to protect the world from terrorism
Unstable, undemocratic countries pose a danger to the entire world
The political situation in the Middle East is very important to American interests.
When did human rights became a major international concern?
After the end of World War II
Which institution passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The United Nations
For the United States, support for human rights has often been closely tied to support for _____
democratic reforms
•First president to make human rights central to foreign policy
•Pressured U.S. military allies to improve human rights practices
•Withdrew support for President Anastasio Somoza of Nicaragua over human rights issues
Jimmy Carter
•Supported U.S. allies even if they had poor human rights records
•Ignored segregationist government in South Africa •Pushed for democratic reforms in Eastern Europe and El Salvador
Ronald Reagan
•Used international institutions such as NATO to push for human rights
•Worked against some human rights abuses but chose not to take action on others
•Used military force to end human rights violations in the former Yugoslavia
Bill Clinton
•Editorial: Countries That Harm Their Own Citizens Cannot Be True U.S. Allies
•President Carter Announces Increased Focus on Human Rights Records of Military Partners
•President Carter Ends Support for Nicaragua, Citing Human Rights Abuses
A belief that human rights are as important as military policy
•President’s Efforts Lead to Democratic Reforms in Haiti
•Clinton: Military Force Necessary to Stop Human Rights Violations in Former Yugoslavia
•Human Rights Advocates Condemn U.S. Decision to Stay Out of Somalia Conflict
A decision to intervene in some human rights situations but not others
•George W. Bush: Iraq Invasion Necessary to Establish Democracy and End Human Rights Abuses
•Bush Administration Urges Tough Human Rights Stance Against Iran and North Korea
•Human Rights Advocates: Some U.S. Allies as Problematic on Human Rights as U.S. Enemies
An acknowledgment that strong words on human rights are not always applied equally to all nations
About how big a share of the global economy is the U.S. economy?
22 percent
If the United States has a trade deficit, what does that mean?
It imports more goods than it exports.
What commodity has the United States recently focused on producing domestically?
Energy
Overall, what is U.S. economic foreign policy designed to promote?
Free trade
When negotiating economic policy, what do U.S. diplomats usually seek to reduce?
Trade barriers
How do the United States and other nations primarily cooperate economically?
By forming trade blocs
2
Which of the following people would be considered an American citizen by birth?
A person born in the United States to noncitizen parents
Which of the following people would not be considered an American citizen by birth?
A person born overseas who moved to the United States as a child
Which of the following best defines an American citizen by birth?
Someone who was either born to American parents or born in the United States
Which of the following people would be considered a naturalized American citizen?
A person born abroad who has successfully applied for American citizenship
A person who was not an American at birth but who has since gained American citizenship
Someone who is an American citizen now but was not when he or she was born
Which of the following people would be considered a noncitizen in the United States?
A citizen of another country who is visiting the United States on vacation
A person born overseas to American parents
What right is denied to a noncitizen in the United States?
Voting in presidential elections
Which statement is an accurate summary of how American citizenship has changed over time?
It has given rights to a wider group of the population
Compared with today, American citizenship in previous centuries
was restricted to a smaller class of people.
Which statement about American citizenship in the 18th century is true?
It was held by a smaller percentage of the American population
How did the Fourteenth Amendment affect citizenship in the United States?
It extended citizenship to formerly enslaved people
Which constitutional amendment extended citizenship to formerly enslaved people?
The Fourteenth Amendment
Which group of people was most directly affected by the Fourteenth Amendment?
African Americans
How did the Nineteenth Amendment affect citizenship in the United States?
It expanded the definition of citizenship to include women’s right to vote.
Which constitutional amendment expanded the definition of citizenship to include women’s right to vote?
The Nineteenth Amendment
Which group of people was most directly affected by the Nineteenth Amendment?
Women
How did the Twenty-Sixth Amendment affect citizenship in the United States?
It expanded the definition of citizenship to include voting rights for younger adults.
Which constitutional amendment expanded the definition of citizenship to include voting rights for younger adults?
The Twenty-Sixth Amendment
Which group of people was most directly affected by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment?
Young adults
What other standard must people meet
if they wish to become naturalized American citizens?
Be of good moral character
Be at least 18 years old
Understand the principles of American government