Term
| how does the media convince decision makers that there is a problem? |
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Definition
| the media can play a large role in bringing light to a problem, especially if the public doesn't have a lot of information already |
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Term
| how do interest groups convince decision makers that there is a problem? |
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Definition
| interest groups can identify problems and crises and convince the public that it is worth attending to |
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Term
| how do political leaders convince decision makers that there is a problem? |
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Definition
| a variety of political leaders can convince the public that there is a problem with something, or even the President |
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Term
| the public tends to pay attention and get involved with decision makers under what circumstances? |
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Definition
| the public tends to pay attention when a crisis is a living, day-to-day thing like the Great Depression or low economic conditions |
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Term
| what is policy formation? |
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Definition
- laying out alternative ways to deal with the problems that have been identified
- -ex: once you convince the public that something is a problem, such as global warming,you must:
- what steps and policy do you formulate to address the problem?
- get groups and committees relevant to the topic to get involved and take action
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Term
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Definition
-a condensed version of how a bill gets enacted -this is when a decision is finally made about how to address a problem |
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Term
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Definition
| any of the three branches of govt, not just congress |
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Term
| policy process: implementation |
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Definition
-carrying out the decision that was made -in large part, executing the policies that are made is turned over to state or local govts, businesses, and non-profit organizations -ex: the court may hand down a decision, but someone else has to act it out |
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Term
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Definition
| the consequences or effects from the policies that have been implemented |
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Term
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Definition
| as businesses, individuals, and other organizations are affected, they take action to convince others that the policy is not working or they may try to protect the policy if it is to their advantage |
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Term
| policy process: agenda setting |
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Definition
| this brings the whole process full circle, and brings us back to identifying the porblems and formulating policy to deal with the problems |
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Term
| what are the indicators for economic policies? |
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Definition
-employment -prices -growth -interest rates -international balances -the changing american economy |
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Term
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Definition
-normally expressed as a percentage of unemployment -this number is the percentage of people who are unemployed and looking for a job |
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Term
| the government focuses on ________ as a way of tracking prices |
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Definition
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Term
| consumer price index (CPI) |
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Definition
-a basic figure that has a lot of different figures that factor in -shows the increase in prices -the goal is to get this number as close to zero as possible -ex: a CPI for healthcare |
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Term
| gross domestic product (GDP) |
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Definition
-measures growth -this is all of the value assigned to goods and services produced in the US -this is basically output measured in dollar terms, it is ideal that this number increases |
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Term
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Definition
-subtracts out inflation -ex: if the economy is growing at 9% and inflation is 2%, then the real GDP is 7% |
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Term
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Definition
-economic downturn -when GDP deacreas for two quarters in a row |
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Term
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Definition
-often recognised as a balance of trade -how well the US is doing in terms of exports minus imports -the US imports far more than we export, so this number is negative |
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Term
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Definition
| we have become an economy that once was dominated more by goods, but is now dominated more by services |
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Term
| how has globalization changed the american economy? |
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Definition
it is difficult to tell what is an american company and what is an international company now. there are huge amounts of american investments overseas |
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Term
| 3 things changing in the american economy |
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Definition
-sectoral change -globalization -growing inequality: within and between countries that are developed and those that are underdeveloped |
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Term
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Definition
| govt policy regarding money and credit |
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Term
| what is the federal reserve system and what does it do? |
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Definition
-relatively independent body that tries to avoid the recessions and depressions that were common in the 1800's -functions include regulating banks |
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Term
| what is the board of governors? |
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Definition
-governs the federal reserve system -made up of 7 members who are appointed for 14 year terms -the chairman has a 4 year term |
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Term
| what does the federal open markey committee do? |
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Definition
-they use rates of various types to influence monetary policy and oversee open market operations in the US -one of the most critical components of the federal reserve system -they meet secretly 8 times a year |
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Term
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Definition
| the interest rate that the federal government charges private banks |
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Term
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Definition
allows interbank borrowing virtually overnight currently: 2.25% june 2007: 5.25% |
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Term
| how can the reserve requirement help control the economy? |
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Definition
-if worried about inflation, the reserve requirement is increased to slow down the economy -if worried about a recession, it is decreased |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| who are the actors dealing with fiscal policy? |
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Definition
- executive: President, Office of Management Budget (OMB), Treasury, CEA
- congress: budget, appropriations, and revenue committes
- there are budget committees in each house
- revenue committees decide how to spend it
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Term
| how does congress use the budget to control the economy? |
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Definition
-if congress is worried about inflation, ideally, they will cut spending w/ the budget. -during a recession, ideally, they will increase spending designed to stimulate individuals and businesses |
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Term
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Definition
| when the government makes certain guarantees to people |
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Term
| fiscal policy: policy tools |
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Definition
-budget -tax laws -off-budgett items |
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Term
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Definition
-exectutive: president, treasury, commerce -congress -interest groups |
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Term
| trade policy: policy tools |
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Definition
-tariffs -quottas -trade agreements -exchagne rates |
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Term
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Definition
tax on an imported good this makes imported goods cost more relative to their american competitors |
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Term
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Definition
limiting certain kinds of imports by volume at one point, this was placed on automobiles |
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Term
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Definition
can be multi national or bi national ex: north american free trade agreement (NAFTA) between US, canada, and mexico |
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Term
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Definition
| the value of our dollar compared to other nations |
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Term
| how much of the federal budget is uncontrollables? |
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Definition
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Term
| key actors in the federal budget |
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Definition
-agencies -OMB -president -congress (especially key $$$ committees) |
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Term
| what date does the fiscal year for 2009 begin and end? |
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Definition
| october 1, 2008 - september 30, 2009 |
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Term
| when does the president usually propose the federal budget and how does it get approved? |
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Definition
-proposed after the state of the union address - in january, the president's proposed budget for the year goes to congress for approval |
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Term
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Definition
someone is automatically eligible to certain benefits if they meet certain benefits set by the law ex: 42% of budget goes to social security, medicare, and medicaid |
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Term
| goals of the social welfare policy |
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Definition
- -redistribution
- subsidizing certain groups or activities
- - access
- programs that provide equal access to college, healthcare, etc
- -security
- retirement, disability benefits, unemployment insurance
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Term
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Definition
-services or income based on contributions -people are able to draw benefits based on prior contributions - means-tested |
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Term
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Definition
| eligibility for programs is based on economic circumstances |
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Term
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Definition
| trends in the poverty rate indicate that the poverty rate has gone up b/c population has grown, but overall has gone down since the 1960's |
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Term
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Definition
- age
- largest = people under 18
- seniors make up less than 10% of total
- race
- largest = whites (42%)
- 25% black, 25% hispanic
- education
- less education = more poor
- geography
- higher in central cities
- lowest in suburbs
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Term
| what did the new deal set up? |
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Definition
-prior efforts: savings, private charity, family, states, federal pensions for veterans -social security act 1935 -umemployment compensation -supplementary security income (SSI) 1972 -public housing |
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Term
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Definition
-old age and survivors disability insurance was originally sold like pension meaning that it was funded by you and your employer through taxes -average monthly benefit in the $900 range |
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Term
| unemployment compensation |
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Definition
varies from state to state you usually get 1/3 of what you would have been making at your job |
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Term
| aid to families with dependent children (AFDC) and temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) |
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Definition
-money is half federal, half state -lifetime limits placed on benefits -law also created penalties dealing with conduct |
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Term
| why was the supplementary security income (SSI) added in 1972? |
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Definition
| it was discovered that there are a number of people who draw social security and are still poor |
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Term
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Definition
-pay 30% of income in rent -if you are economically successful you are kicked out |
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Term
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Definition
| preschool program where most of the kids come from families that make under $15,000 annually |
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Term
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Definition
| makes it easier for people to afford college |
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Term
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Definition
-medical healthcare for the elderly and disabled -provides hospital care, doctor visits, etc -doesn't directly give users the money |
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Term
| medicare is a __________ type of assistance, meaning that those who recieve medicare have....? |
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Definition
medicare is a contributory type of assistance, meaning that those who recieve medicare have paid into a fund prior to receiving the benefits
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Term
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Definition
medical healthcare for the poor |
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Term
| medicaid is a _________ type of assistance, meaning that those who recieve these benefits have....? |
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Definition
medicaid is a non-contributory type of assistance, meaning that those who recieve these benefits have not paid into a fund prior to receiving the benefits
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Term
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Definition
in kind / non-contributory -the average monthly recipients receive $93 |
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Term
| controversies and problems with social welfare policies |
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Definition
-growth in entitlements -social security demographics -health care cost and access -education |
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Term
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Definition
| finding an indicator like the consumer price index (CPI), and entitlements are designed to match the economy. this allows change to become automatic so that congress need not vote before passing the changes |
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Term
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Definition
| rather than giving american's a check, the govt allows you to deduct certain things from you taxes |
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Term
| middle class benefits / the other "welfare" |
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Definition
-subsidies: the govt tends to provide to people who are middle class or better -HOPE grant in GA: basically a form of middle class welfare, subsidizing individuals who aren't necessarily needy |
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Term
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Definition
| government subsidizing business |
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Term
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Definition
established the "Lemon test", which details the requirements for legislation concerning religion. - The government's action must have a secular legislative purpose;
- The government's action must not have the primary effect of either advancing or inhibiting religion;
- The government's action must not result in an "excessive government entanglement" with religion.
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Term
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Definition
-determined that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and require its recitation in public schools -determined moment of silence ok -context comes from NY state law where kids had to begin their school day with prayer -the issue was that it was mandatory and directed to children |
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Term
| Edwards v. Aguillard (1986) |
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Definition
if school taught evolution, they had to also teach intelligent design -public universities can offer religion courses though b/c they are not advocating for a particular religion |
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Term
| Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) |
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Definition
-disputed by the Amish -they believed that they were a seperate group who shouldn't have to attend school for an extended period of time -it was decided that all adolescents must attend school at least until the 8th grade |
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Term
| medical treatment conflicts with 1st ammendment rights |
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Definition
-typically deals with Christian science dealing with forced medical treatment, such as transfusions -courts would allow govt to override the right to free exercise in the case of minors regarding certain medical treatments |
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Term
| possible conflict between the two religion clauses |
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Definition
-students in missouri wanted to meet in the state funded student center, and the school turned them down on basis of the establishment clause -however, the students brought up the free exercize clause and stated that the school wasn't being neutral -the courts sided with the students |
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Term
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Definition
-the court is dealing w/ laws that prohibit certain language and other forms of expression -these were to be regulated by st. paul, minnesota -the court overturned this law arguing that you can't sue someone just because their language is offensive -argues that hate crimes involve action and hate speech does not |
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Term
| court cases dealing with symbolic speech |
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Definition
- Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District
- arm bands to protest the vietnam war
- Texas v. Johnson (1984)
- flag burning is a form of expression and does not violate the 1st amendment
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Term
| speech that is not protected |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
-ruled that obscenity was not protected under 1st amendment and established the Miller test for determining what constitutes as obscenity 1. average person, applying contemporary standards, must find that the work as a whole appeals to prurient interests 2. state law must explicitly define what is obscene |
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