Deck 2: Theories of Public Policy -How Choices Are Made

Question 1

According to the textbook, a good scientific theory is able to

A) refute normative perspectives.
B) predict.
C) explain.
D) Both b and c

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is the third step in the rational-comprehensive approach?

A) Political discourse
B) Identifying problems
C) Choosing solutions
D) Describing future needs

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a problem with using the rational-comprehensive approach?

A) Failure to think through problems and solutions
B) Time limitations
C) Potential for disagreement
D) High costs

Answer 3

A

Question 4

"Successive limited comparisons" is one of the strengths of

A) game theory.
B) public choice theory.
C) incrementalism.
D) the rational-comprehensive approach.

Question 5

According to Yehezkel Dror, one of the problems with incrementalism is it

A) requires too much time and money to be a workable approach.
B) ignores the past in the decision making process.
C) promotes radical and unworkable policy change.
D) tends to be value neutral in application.

Question 6

According to public choice theory,

A) voting is a way of influencing tax costs.
B) public goods do not exist.
C) citizens choose the size of government.
D) Both a and c

Question 7

Public choice helps to explain the role of interest groups in society.

Question 8

Public choice theory tends to be closely associated with which philosophy of government?

A) Lockean classical liberalism
B) Etzioni's communitarian principles
C) Rawlsian modern liberalism
D) None of the above

Question 9

When an interest group seeks benefits solely for its members, it is focusing on

A) public goods.
B) selective benefits.
C) generalized benefits.
D) Both a and b

Question 10

The free-rider problem is most commonly associated with which of the following policy models?

A) Public choice
B) Game theory
C) Systems theory
D) Group theory

Question 11

According to Anne Schneider and Helen Ingram, public policy is frequently shaped by

A) international events.
B) political and social values.
C) economic circumstances.
D) activist judges.

Question 12

According to Ted Lowi,

A) liberal democratic policy making can be distorted by interest group activity.
B) civil liberties have forever altered the nature of Lockean modern liberal society.
C) Adam Smith's model of capitalism leads to economic equality.
D) there is no need for public policy in the modern world.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a key element of systems theory?

A) Input
B) Environment
C) Enthalpy
D) Feedback

Question 14

According to Easton's model, the "black box" is a generic way of describing

A) a method of recording of policy knowledge.
B) American public policy.
C) political systems.
D) public opinion.

Question 15

The "nationalization" of politics and policy is often attributed to evolving application of the constitutional powers described in

A) Article I.
B) Article IV.
C) Article II.
D) None of the above

Question 16

Based on elite theory, Bono could be best described as a member of

A) the social elite.
B) the political elite.
C) mass public.
D) Both a and b

Question 17

Elite theory tends to be

A) inductive.
B) deductive.
C) predictive.
D) destructive.

Question 18

Using ideas from the textbook, budget battles between the president and Congress could be viewed as a

A) competitive game.
B) waste of time.
C) cooperative game.
D) blame game.

Question 19

Neo-institutionalism is different from institutionalism in that

A) neo-institutionalism incorporates key concepts from elite theory.
B) institutionalism solves the collective benefits dilemma.
C) neo-institutionalism incorporates key concepts from behavioralism.
D) institutionalism explains the prisoner's dilemma.

Question 20

The textbook identified which of the following models as the best approach to describing domestic public policy?

A) Neo-institutionalism
B) Game theory
C) Group theory
D) None of the above