Deck 12: Public Policy

Question 1

Which of the following is a step in the policy-making process?

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

Answer 1

B

Question 2

_________________ occurs when public policies are reviewed to determine if they are effectively meeting their goals.

A) Evaluation
B) Assessment
C) Implementation
D) Program review

Answer 2

A

Question 3

In terms of per capita spending on education, Texas

A) ranks near the bottom in the country.
B) ranks in the middle in the country.
C) ranks near the top in the country.
D) has always spent a consistent amount per student.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The debate over public education in Texas goes back to the

A) Constitution of 1876.
B) first decade of the twenty-first century.
C) post-World War II era and the returning military service members.
D) break with Mexico.

Question 5

Since policy-makers do not have enough time or resources to make a fully rational or optimal decision, they may therefore try to ______________.

A) expunge
B) rationalize
C) satisfice
D) table

Question 6

The term _____________ refers to the expressed goals of a government institution, supported by either punishments or rewards.

A) legislative enactment
B) policy review
C) rational policy-making
D) public policy

Question 7

Which of the following steps in the policy-making cycle occurs first?

A) formulation
B) problem identification
C) evaluation
D) agenda setting

Question 8

In 2018, approximately how many students were enrolled in public schools in Texas?

A) 5 million
B) 3 million
C) 8 million
D) 1 million

Question 9

Under the Gilmer-Aikin Laws,

A) the State Board of Education was established to supervise public education in Texas.
B) the State Board of Education was abolished for being redundant and in competition with the federal Department of Education.
C) the Religious Antidiscrimination Act was repealed.
D) the State Board of Education members are appointed, not elected.

Question 10

Which of the following is a challenge facing education policy in Texas?

A) high level of public spending per pupil
B) low dropout rates
C) high teenage pregnancy rates among Hispanic students
D) changing demographics of students enrolled in Texas schools

Question 11

Which U.S. Supreme Court case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that state-imposed segregation in schools isolated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

A) San Antonio v. Rodriguez
B) Edge ISD v. Kirby
C) Brown v. Board of Education
D) Mendez v. Westminster

Question 12

In 1949, which law increased state funding and established the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which carries out the state's educational program?

A) No Child Left Behind
B) Gilmer-Aikin Laws
C) Top 10 Percent Plan
D) Texas Educational Framework

Question 13

The three main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas over the last 50 years have been

A) income taxes, federal regulation, and teachers' salaries.
B) labor unions, civil rights, and school district lines.
C) funding, desegregation, and educational excellence.
D) desegregation, access to the Internet, and urbanization.

Question 14

Charter schools are funded by

A) state monies and sometimes privately raised funds.
B) a combination of public funds and tuition payments.
C) tuition payments made by parents of students attending the schools.
D) a combination of tuition payments and work study agreements.

Question 15

Under the separate but equal doctrine in the 1920s and 1930s, the amount of money Texas spent on black students was ________ the amount spent on white students in public schools.

A) the same as
B) much higher than
C) lower than
D) rapidly catching up to

Question 16

Which of the following in the policy-making cycle occurs last?

A) policy adoption
B) policy implementation
C) problem identification
D) policy evaluation

Question 17

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

A) invalidated state-imposed racial segregation in Texas.
B) validated the election of State Board of Education members.
C) overturned the Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court case of 1954.
D) validated state-imposed racial segregation in Texas public schools.

Question 18

________ refers to the idea that policy will be developed that will maximize the output of government with a minimum commitment of resources.

A) Systemic agenda
B) Optimality
C) Individual rationality
D) Legitimation

Question 19

Which of the following occurred during the 2017 legislative session?

A) The legislature passed a law requiring that the state boost per capita spending on education to remain ahead of inflation.
B) The legislature introduced new requirements mandating additional training post-bachelor's degree to receive a permanent teaching certificate.
C) The legislature shifted more of the responsibility for education funding onto local governments.
D) The legislature proposed the creation of a new dedicated budget fund for capital improvements for school districts.

Question 20

________ refers to the idea that policy-makers have formulated and implemented policy that addresses problems in an optimal or efficient manner.

A) Rationality
B) Bounded rationality
C) Policy accountability
D) Systemic agenda

Question 21

The Robin Hood plan was found unconstitutional because it required

A) approval from school superintendents and teachers.
B) approval from the school board and voters.
C) approval from individual cities.
D) local voter approval of property tax levies and it prohibited a state property tax.

Question 22

In Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, the key constitutional issue was

A) whether the Brown v. Board of Education decision applied to Texas students.
B) whether the phrase "an efficient system of free public schools" included school financing.
C) de facto segregation.
D) the continuing effects of Roe v. Wade on public education.

Question 23

Among the most important findings of the 1983 report A Nation at Risk were that

A) graduation rates were improving and dropout rates were increasing.
B) dropout rates were increasing and test scores were improving.
C) test scores were declining and functional illiteracy was increasing.
D) functional illiteracy was decreasing and test scores were improving.

Question 24

One effective way to improve public education in Texas that a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and Tea Party supporters would accept is

A) literacy tests for teachers.
B) issuing vouchers.
C) reducing the number of required end-of-course tests from 15 to 5.
D) increasing pay for teachers.

Question 25

Which of the following helps explain why the push to use testing and accountability as tools to reform the educational system in Texas was successful?

A) the influence of teachers in the political culture of Texas
B) the influence of business groups in the political culture of Texas
C) the influence of parents in the political culture of Texas
D) the influence of dual federalism-these steps were required by the federal government

Question 26

________ calls for wealthy districts to transfer funds to poorer districts in order to equalize funds available to all public schools across the state.

A) The equalization plan
B) The Edgewood IV plan
C) The Robin Hood plan
D) Senate Bill 7

Question 27

Since the late 1960s, de facto segregation

A) has been completely eliminated.
B) continues to be a problem, particularly in urban public schools with large minority populations.
C) has been ruled illegal and, therefore, is no longer an issue in public education.
D) has resulted in all federal funds being withheld from the public schools in Texas.

Question 28

How do policy-makers define poverty?

A) when an individual or family does not have the resources necessary to meet their basic needs including food, shelter, health care, transportation, and clothing
B) when an individual or family does not have the resources necessary to meet their survival needs including food and water
C) when an individual or family does not have the resources necessary to meet their fundamental needs including food, shelter, and clothing
D) when an individual or family does not have the resources necessary to meet their vital needs including food, water, and shelter

Question 29

Which of the following educational reforms was passed during the 1995 legislative session?

A) In certain circumstances, students in low-performing schools could transfer to high-performing schools in the same district.
B) The TEAMS test replaced the TAAS test.
C) Teachers were required to demonstrate proficiency in their field every 10 years.
D) Students were required to complete end-of-course exams in 15 courses to graduate.

Question 30

In Brown v. Board of Education, segregated school districts were ordered to

A) double the funding for African American integrated schools.
B) desegregate their schools within the next 10 years.
C) desegregate their schools "with all deliberate speed."
D) appoint a commission to study the Texas school system and make recommendations to the governor.

Question 31

Supporters of vouchers argue that ____________________________; while opponents argue that ___________________________.

A) if parents do not think a public school is working for their child, they should be able to send their child to a private school and take their funding with them; vouchers will drain money from public schools and leave only poorer children in these schools.
B) they will encourage highly qualified teachers to come to Texas because they offer better pay; the vouchers will create an unsustainable situation because they require a very low student-to-teacher ratio.
C) they are the most cost-efficient way for the state to be in compliance with the regulations imposed by the No Child Left Behind Act; they are an expensive unfunded mandate forced upon the state by the federal government.
D) they are essential to ensure that all Texans can attend the college or university of their choice; they end up driving up the cost of attendance for all students.

Question 32

Texas determines which children are eligible for reduced-price or free lunch at school based on

A) the tax rates assessed by each county designated for non-instructional educational funding.
B) guidelines presented by the LBB before the biennial budget is passed by the legislature.
C) the proportion of students living in poverty in the school district.
D) federal poverty guidelines.

Question 33

Dropout rates in Texas are

A) about the same for all demographic groups.
B) highest among Latinos and African Americans.
C) highest among the Asian student population.
D) lowest among minorities.

Question 34

In the 1973 San Antonio v. Rodriguez case, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states such as Texas

A) are required to subsidize poorer school districts under the equal protection clause.
B) are not required to subsidize poorer school districts under the equal protection clause.
C) are required to equalize funding to public and private schools.
D) are not required to subsidize wealthy school districts under the equal protection clause.

Question 35

In 2016, approximately what percentage of Texans lived below the poverty line?

A) 15
B) 21
C) 28
D) 10

Question 36

The origins of modern welfare policy lie in

A) the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.
B) President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal.
C) President Truman's post-World War II reforms.
D) President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs.

Question 37

The generally accepted standard by which poverty is measured in the United States is the

A) U.S. Department of Labor unemployment index.
B) U.S. Department of Agriculture caloric intake index.
C) U.S. Treasury index of income inequality.
D) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty index.

Question 38

In the 2017 legislative session,

A) legislation was passed that would grade schools on three dimensions: student progress, student achievement, and a "closing the gaps" measure.
B) teacher pay was increased by statuary formula to include biannual cost of living raises.
C) the "no pass, no play" rule was eliminated for nonathletic extracurricular activities.
D) legislation was passed requiring the STAAR test in only nine courses.

Question 39

In 2016, the Texas Supreme Court held that the existing system for funding public schools met the minimum constitutional provisions for

A) fairness.
B) efficiency.
C) general diffusion of knowledge.
D) acceptability.

Question 40

The Select Committee on Public Education (SCOPE) presented 140 recommendations to the legislature in 1984, including one known as "no pass, no play" which stated that

A) students who did not pass more than one class with a grade of 70 could not participate in extracurricular activities for the next three weeks, but could still attend athletic practices.
B) students who did not pass a class with a grade of 70 could not participate in athletic/sports activities for the next six-week grading period.
C) students who did not pass a class with a grade of 70 were required to attend after school tutoring sessions.
D) students who did not pass a class with a grade of 70 could not participate in extracurricular activities for the next six-week grading period.

Question 41

What is the State of Texas Access Reform (STAR) program?

A) a program managed by the Texas Education Association to provide guidance to school districts regarding improving student performance
B) a program established by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to assist those on public assistance find employment opportunities
C) a managed care program run by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to provide health care to poor populations in various parts of Texas
D) an agency that has been created to ensure that the policy-making cycle is fully completed to ensure any policy made is given legitimacy

Question 42

In National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012) the Supreme Court found that

A) healthcare should be regulated by the state governments.
B) employers must provide contraception coverage in the insurance plans offered to their employees.
C) states could not be forced to expand their Medicaid programs.
D) small businesses should be allowed to join together to offer association health care plans.

Question 43

Public policy refers to the outputs of governmental institutions.

Question 44

During the 1980s, a growing number of critics alleged that welfare programs

A) had nearly eliminated poverty.
B) were helping to create a dysfunctional underclass of people who depended upon them for survival.
C) were being abused, mostly by the wealthy.
D) benefited only the middle class at the expense of the poorer class.

Question 45

Responding to the Supreme Court decision on national health care legislation of 2010, Governor Perry announced that

A) Texas agreed with the Supreme Court's decision.
B) Texas would increase funding for Medicaid by borrowing substantial sums of money on Wall Street.
C) the Texas legislature would happily increase taxes to fund the expanded Medicaid program.
D) Texas would refuse to participate in the expanded Medicaid program.

Question 46

Which of the following was a goal of the Affordable Care Act of 2010?

A) to increase access to health insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions
B) to create a single payer healthcare system across the United States
C) to eliminate private insurance companies
D) to ration expensive healthcare services in order to make healthcare more affordable for the country as a whole

Question 47

Around three-quarters of individuals on Medicaid in Texas are

A) between the ages of 18 and 45.
B) under the age of 20.
C) over the age of 65.
D) under the age of 10.

Question 48

Welfare reforms are measured along which two dimensions?

A) the number of people receiving welfare and the crime rate
B) waste and fraud within each welfare program
C) the number of people on welfare and the success of getting people into the workforce
D) the number of welfare recipients who continued receiving welfare benefits for more than five years versus those who received benefits for a shorter period of time

Question 49

Which agency is responsible for administering and coordinating the major welfare and antipoverty programs in Texas?

A) Texas Health and Human Services Commission
B) Texas Social Services Commission
C) Texas Assistance Commission
D) Texas Department of Health and Rehabilitation

Question 50

One factor that works against rationality is the fact that the government tends to work incrementally.

Question 51

Which program provides coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid?

A) Children's Health Insurance Program
B) Federal Medical Assistance Program
C) Affordable Care Act
D) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Question 52

One of the controversies arising out of the Medicaid Women's Health Program in Texas involved

A) religious restrictions imposed upon welfare recipients.
B) state monies being used to subsidize groups supporting abortion.
C) the funding for having a child in state clinics paid for by Texas taxpayers who were opposed to the procedure.
D) health care for poor, unwed mothers.

Question 53

Unless legally exempt, in order to receive benefits through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, recipients must

A) agree to repay the money after they gain employment, since it is a federal loan.
B) not accept any other form of government assistance, including Medicaid.
C) make sure their children go to school, participate in an employment services program, attend parenting classes, get their children vaccinated, and agree not to use drugs or alcohol.
D) register to vote, attend any jury summons sent, and fulfill all civic duties requested of them by the state and county.

Question 54

In March 2010, Congress passed ________, substantially altering the nation's health care system.

A) No Child Left Behind
B) the Affordable Care Act
C) the National Women's Health Act
D) the Dream Act

Question 55

In the 1960s, welfare policy in Texas reflected

A) a policy of minimizing the cost to Texas while maximizing the use of federal dollars.
B) a policy of maximizing welfare benefits paid by the state of Texas.
C) very generous state-funded benefits.
D) noncompliance with all federal welfare programs.

Question 56

In 1965, Congress created the Medicaid program, a state-federal program, to

A) direct cash payments to citizens living in poverty.
B) provide welfare benefits to the general public regardless of income.
C) assist Texans with their prescription medications.
D) provide health care for the poor.

Question 57

Which government entity administered and determined the benefit levels for Aid for Dependent Children, Old Age Assistance, and Aid for the Blind?

A) federal
B) local
C) state
D) county

Question 58

Toll road policy enabled legislatures to get access to funding without raising the gasoline tax.

Question 59

Federal money for Medicaid programs

A) comes to the states as a block grant without any significant restrictions.
B) is tied to the number of adults on the welfare rolls in order to reduce the cost of program redundancy.
C) is accompanied by federal rules and regulations, which states must comply with to maintain federal funding of the program.
D) is administered automatically by the federal government to avoid punishing program recipients.

Question 60

In an attempt to stem the rising tide of illegitimacy rates and single-parent families among the poor, which act mandated two-parent coverage for all state AFDC programs?

A) the Family Support Act in 1988
B) the Supplemental Security Income
C) the Affordable Care Act
D) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

Question 61

One of the challenges facing education policy in Texas is high dropout rates.

Question 62

In 1957, the Texas legislature passed laws encouraging school districts to resist federally ordered desegregation, although then-governor Price Daniel Sr. chose to ignore such laws.

Question 63

The San Antonio School District became one of the first school districts in Texas to comply with the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954.

Question 64

The "No Pass, No Play" rules were reformed in 1995 so that if a student failed a course he or she must sit out of extracurricular activities for the next three weeks.

Question 65

The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) test focused on minimum skills in biology, physics, and computer science in the tenth grade.

Question 66

According to a 2015 study by the Episcopal Health Foundation, Texas has registered more people for Affordable Care Act coverage than any other state.

Question 67

The number of children without health insurance in Texas is far below the national average.

Question 68

The Supplemental Security Income program provides assistance to individuals in need who have disabilities or are aged.

Question 69

Since the program's creation, Medicaid's participation rates have remained fairly constant throughout the nation and in Texas.

Question 70

The Texas case Edgewood ISD v. Kirby involved the funding of schools using the property tax system.

Question 71

The 1983 report by the National Commission on Education had no effect on Texas because of its existing excellent system of public education.

Question 72

The 2011 legislative session achieved a balanced budget without raising taxes and without any cuts in primary and secondary education.

Question 73

The constitutionality of using property tax revenues in school finance has been an issue in terms of providing equal opportunities for Texans.

Question 74

Policy makers often are constrained by bounded rationality and tend to engage in satisficing decision making.

Question 75

Plessy v. Ferguson overturned the doctrine of separate but equal.

Question 76

Poverty among children in Texas is about the same as the national average.

Question 77

A strong-and well-funded-policy to take care of the poor in Texas would be supported by the traditionalistic-individualistic political culture in Texas.

Question 78

Under the concept of federalism, welfare policy is largely separate from federal programs and policy-making.

Question 79

The program known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children was modified because its work requirements were too strict and the courts ruled it unconstitutional.

Question 80

In the United States, welfare is currently considered a local issue and responsibility.