Deck 3: Understanding Public Policymaking

Question 1

The policymaking stage during which new issues are identified as problems for government to address is called ______.

A) policy formulation
B) policy implementation
C) policy evaluation
D) agenda setting

Answer 1

D

Question 2

When the government encourages you to buy a home and allows you to take a deduction for the mortgage interest, it is using this form of government action ______.

A) taxing and spending
B) regulating
C) educating
D) charging fees

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the sequence of the policymaking process presented by the Kraft/Furlong policy process model?

A) policy formulation, policy evaluation, agenda setting, policy implementation
B) agenda setting, policy formulation, policy implementation, policy evaluation
C) policy evaluation, policy implementation, policy formulation, agenda setting
D) policy implementation, policy formulation, policy evaluation, agenda setting

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Market mechanisms as tools or instruments of policy are defined as ______.

A) those that rely upon the laws of supply and demand
B) regulating how transactions are conducted in the market
C) using forms of persuasion and education
D) government management of individuals or corporations

Question 5

The policy instrument of ______ refers to government attempts to convey important information to citizens in order to influence their behavior.

A) analysis
B) formulation
C) education
D) privatization

Question 6

Which statement describes the importance of theories in helping us to understand policymaking?

A) Theories help us understand why certain policies are adopted.
B) Theories describe relationships between political actors.
C) Development of theories helps to engage citizens in policymaking.
D) Theories must be developed before effective policymaking can occur.

Question 7

The ______ theory of policymaking emphasizes the formal and legal parts of governmental structure.

A) elite
B) group
C) institutional
D) rational choice

Question 8

A ______ policy collects revenues from one group and spends it on services for a different group.

A) redistributive
B) market-based incentive
C) regulatory
D) salient

Question 9

The policymaking stage that is considered to be the most critical is ______.

A) policy implementation
B) policy evaluation
C) policy formulation
D) agenda setting

Question 10

The ______ theory of policymaking draws heavily on economics to explain the actions of voters and also of elected officials as attempts to maximize self-interest.

A) elite
B) group
C) institutional
D) rational choice

Question 11

During the ______ stage of policymaking, legislators rely on policy analysts to develop and study possible policy alternatives for them to consider.

A) legitimation
B) agenda-setting
C) policy formulation
D) program evaluation

Question 12

______ refers to the occasion when the public is aware of and discussing an issue even though politicians may not be discussing the issue.

A) Institutional agenda
B) Systemic agenda
C) Political agenda
D) Government agenda

Question 13

The ______ theory of policymaking empathizes how the values and preferences of smaller unrepresentative groups of people shape public policy.

A) political
B) economic
C) rational
D) elite

Question 14

Legitimation is the stage of policymaking in which ______.

A) proposals are developed for actions that could be taken to resolve a problem
B) programs are implemented and funds expended
C) legal force is given to a policy proposal and the public accepts the policy
D) problem definitions are analyzed to determine their legitimacy

Question 15

The ______ refers to what might be done about the problem.

A) systemic force
B) policy stream
C) underlying condition
D) political system theory

Question 16

Political systems theory explains policymaking as a process of ______.

A) interaction among the government institutions and the larger social, economic, and cultural context in which they operate
B) moving from the stage of agenda setting to policy formulation to implementation
C) rational decisions made by individuals
D) interactions among political leaders

Question 17

Which of the following combinations of saliency and conflict provide the greatest opportunity for an issue to be placed on the government's agenda?

A) low saliency, low conflict
B) high saliency, high conflict
C) low saliency, high conflict
D) high saliency, low conflict

Question 18

The policymaking stage during which money is spent, regulations are adopted, and the policy is carried out is called ______.

A) policy evaluation
B) agenda setting
C) policy implementation
D) policy formulation

Question 19

A regulation is ______.

A) the government levying taxes on certain goods
B) use of the budget process to encourage or discourage behavior
C) the government providing information, so citizens can make their own choices
D) the rule that governs the operation of a particular government program

Question 20

The primary assumption of elite theory is that in shaping public policy, ______.

A) the public plays a central role through feedback processes
B) the values and preferences of the general public are less influential than those of a small group of experts or leaders
C) elites, such as interest groups and the public, are most influential
D) at the early stages of policymaking, the public plays a stronger role, while elites decide on policy

Question 21

Why is the policymaking process cyclical?

Question 22

Which of the following policymaking theories might include consideration of the role of prominent and outspoken celebrities such as U2's Bono, Bill Gates, and Oprah?

A) elite theory
B) group theory
C) executive theory
D) rational choice theory

Question 23

College research grants, weapons procurement, agricultural subsidies, and highways and bridges are examples of ______ policies.

A) distributive
B) redistributive
C) buoyancy
D) regulations

Question 24

Policy analysis is used most heavily during which stages of the policymaking process?

A) agenda setting, policy formulation, and policy evaluation
B) problem analysis and capacity development
C) capacity development and legitimation
D) policy evaluation and regulation development

Question 25

______ is the policymaking theory that posits that policymaking occurs in a pluralistic way through a dynamic struggle among a variety of policy actors, interest groups, government officials, and the public.

A) Institutional theory
B) Rational choice theory
C) Group theory
D) Pluralistic theory

Question 26

The authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to issue radio and television broadcasting licenses is an example of a ______ policy.

A) salient
B) redistributive
C) distributive
D) regulatory

Question 27

During the later years of the Obama administration, the Democratic Party controlled the presidency and Senate, while the Republican Party controlled the House of Representatives. As a result, gridlock occurred, and it was difficult for the policymaking process to enact policies to address important issues of the day such as immigration, gun control, or environmental legislation. Which policymaking theory might attribute this failure to the formal way our government is structured and the procedures for how bills become law?

A) group theory
B) elite theory
C) institutional theory
D) rational choice theory

Question 28

Explain agenda setting.

Question 29

The Census Bureau projects that the U.S. population (about 325 million in 2016) is likely to rise to nearly ______ million by 2050.

A) 100
B) 200
C) 300
D) 390

Question 30

These types of policies have "winners" and "losers." In other words, some groups benefit at the expense of others.

A) salient
B) redistributive
C) distributive
D) competitive regulatory

Question 31

______ portrays public policy as the product of a continuous struggle among organized interest groups.

A) Group theory
B) Rational choice theory
C) Institutional theory
D) Elite theory

Question 32

An example of ______ is farmers, agricultural equipment makers, and bureaucrats at the U.S. Department of Agriculture working together to promote particular policies.

A) an elite organization
B) an advocacy coalition framework
C) the policy cycle
D) an institutional agenda

Question 33

Welfare is an example of a ______.

A) regulatory policy
B) redistributive policy
C) distributive policy
D) pork barrel project

Question 34

What can hinder the implementation of a policy?

Question 35

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration spells out the kinds of things that business and industry must do to protect workers. This is an example of what type of policy?

A) competitive regulation
B) rational choice
C) protective regulation
D) market mechanisms

Question 36

______ are tools that policy makers have available to use during the policymaking process.

A) Policy typologies
B) Policy evaluations
C) Policy processes
D) Policy instruments

Question 37

Why is policy and program evaluation important?

Question 38

Why is policy analysis utilized during the policy formulation stage?

Question 39

What takes place during the policy legitimation stage?

Question 40

______ branch agencies implement most public policies within the United States.

A) Legislative
B) Judicial
C) Executive
D) Local

Question 41

Explain the advocacy coalition framework (ACF).

Question 42

Explain both the simple and complex views of policy legitimation.

Question 43

Discuss how elite theory is applied to development of policy. Include in your discussion a definition of who/what are elite(s), why elites vary according to policy issue, and how elites influence policy.

Question 44

Identify and discuss Kingdon's three streams that flow through society.

Question 45

Who is involved in policy formulation?

Question 46

Identify the best known policy instrument.

Question 47

Discuss the difference between a systemic agenda and an institutional agenda and give an example of an issue that exemplifies each.

Question 48

What is a policy instrument and why are they important?

Question 49

Discuss the purpose of having theories or models of policymaking. How does having a theory or model help policy makers? Give an example.

Question 50

Discuss the problem-definition and agenda-setting stages of policymaking. What are the factors that shape how a problem may be defined? Discuss an example of a public problem that has been framed in varying ways by opposing groups. Second, the authors state, "the mere existence of a problem is no guarantee that it will attract government attention." What facilitates the movement of certain issues onto the agenda?

Question 51

What is pork barrel spending?

Question 52

What is a focusing event?

Question 53

Provide an example of each of the policy typologies.

Question 54

Explain the policy process model presented by Kraft and Furlong. What does it show? Describe what takes place during each stage.

Question 55

List the six basic stages of the policy development process, in order.

Question 56

Identify some of the barriers to policy legitimation.

Question 57

How do the saliency and conflict associated with an issue affect how or if it gets on the government's agenda? Explain your answer.

Question 58

Why is providing information to the public also referred to as a capacity-building tool?

Question 59

Explain the main premise of each of the following policymaking theories and give an example that illustrates policymaking from that particular theory's perspective.

Question 60

Discuss why the problem-definition stage of the policy process is so influential on the making of public policy.