Deck 10: Public Policy in California

Question 1

Part of the reason that infrastructure repair and upkeep are not more pressing concerns in California is due to

A) interference from the federal government.
B) the fact that few repairs are needed.
C) the political system, with two- and four-year terms, taking a short-term approach.
D) the high cost of public education.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Most people without health insurance in California

A) work full-time jobs.
B) do not work full time.
C) work, but only part-time jobs.
D) do not work.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The Affordable Care Act has had what effect in California?

A) during the first six months over a million people purchased health insurance
B) little or no impact
C) less people have health insurance now than in 2012
D) driven the cost of health insurance down by over 50 percent

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The two major sources of water for California are

A) the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay.
B) by pipeline from Oregon and Santa Monica Bay.
C) surface water and groundwater.
D) mountain well springs and Boulder Dam.

Question 5

What is a major reason why some residents of Duroville cannot live in a public housing project?

A) The project requires residents to participate in an alcohol rehab program, and many residents fail to complete the program.
B) The project requires residents to have homeowner's insurance and many residents cannot afford the monthly premiums.
C) The project requires residents to be in the U.S. legally, and many residents of Duroville are not.
D) The project requires residents to have a minimum monthly income of $2,000 to qualify and many residents do not have jobs that issue tax forms.

Question 6

The 2013-2014 drought in California

A) had little effect on large cities.
B) caused the state to declare a statewide emergency.
C) is likely to end quite soon.
D) led to increased water usage.

Question 7

Ethnically, most people without health insurance in California are

A) African American.
B) Caucasian.
C) Asian American.
D) Latino.

Question 8

Medicaid does NOT pay for medical treatment for

A) the poor.
B) U.S. citizens.
C) undocumented immigrants.
D) couples without children.

Question 9

In 2013, the percentage of California's bridges that were deficient or obsolete was

A) 11.1 percent.
B) 22.8 percent.
C) 31.0 percent.
D) 37.3 percent.

Question 10

Urban water usage in California has been constant over the last two decades because

A) of much higher rainfall than normal.
B) there has been a series of droughts.
C) penalties for overwatering landscaping have been instituted.
D) water districts have instituted water conservation programs.

Question 11

In the city of Los Angeles, it was determined that water rates were too low to keep up maintenance because

A) the California Supreme Court overturned rate increases.
B) the city council, not a water agency, set rates.
C) the state continued to take local funds due to the continuing budget crisis.
D) rate increases must be approved by the voters.

Question 12

The biggest problem facing groundwater in California is

A) evaporation.
B) underutilization.
C) soil erosion.
D) contamination.

Question 13

One proposal to deal with the problem of California being a "land of contrasts" was to

A) secede from the union.
B) divide California into six states.
C) appeal to the United Nations.
D) file more law suits.

Question 14

The largest group of people without health insurance in California are

A) senior citizens.
B) U.S. citizens.
C) illegal aliens.
D) children.

Question 15

In California, approximately what percentage of people do NOT have health insurance?

A) 9.8 percent
B) 16.3 percent
C) 19.6 percent
D) 23.1 percent

Question 16

Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, is characterized by its

A) high cost per beneficiary and the large proportion of persons in the state covered.
B) high cost per beneficiary and the small proportion of persons in the state covered.
C) low cost per beneficiary and the small proportion of persons in the state covered.
D) low cost per beneficiary and the large proportion of persons in the state covered.

Question 17

In California, why is it a challenge for Medi-Cal beneficiaries to get access to doctors?

A) Many medical practices limit the number of Medi-Cal patients.
B) Many medical practices prefer Medi-Cal patients, which causes limited availability for appointments due to the high number of patients.
C) Many medical practices are using advanced technology for procedures not covered by Medi-Cal.
D) Medi-Cal can only be used for emergency medical situations.

Question 18

Where is Duroville located?

A) Los Angeles County
B) San Francisco
C) Riverside County
D) Sacramento

Question 19

From 2013 to 2014, the number of people without health insurance in California

A) increased.
B) decreased.
C) remained the same.
D) was not reported by the federal government.

Question 20

Proposition 98 guaranteed that the public schools in California would

A) be rebuilt after 35 years of use.
B) receive at least 40 percent of the general fund each fiscal year.
C) receive a 20 percent increase in personnel.
D) have all maintenance deferred for at least 10 years.

Question 21

What are some of the proposed solutions to the growing shortage of water in California?

Question 22

What does groundwater management entail, and what are the problems that are currently being encountered in California?

Question 23

What is public policy? What are some of the challenges California faces in creating and implementing public policy?

Question 24

Why do levees pose a major problem in California? How has the state dealt with the problem?

Question 25

The Indian Gambling Regulatory Act of 1998

A) required Indian casinos to pay all state costs in regard to overseeing the operation of casinos in California.
B) placed the governor in charge of Indian casino operations.
C) allowed the state legislature to determine how many casinos could operate in California.
D) required California to have a compact with the tribes specifying the type of gambling permitted on Indian lands.

Question 26

Currently, Indian tribes pay what percentage of their revenues back to the state to help other tribes that do not have gaming operations?

A) 0 percent
B) 2 percent
C) 5 percent
D) 8 percent

Question 27

What is the condition of California's infrastructure? What can be done about it?

Question 28

In 1999, the California Supreme Court struck down Proposition 5, which dealt with

A) same-sex marriage.
B) Indian gaming.
C) public school funding.
D) health care.

Question 29

Indian tribes in California who operate casinos

A) have "sovereign immunity" from lawsuits if you are injured on the casino property.
B) all cover their employees for worker compensation.
C) pay property and sales tax on the casino property.
D) will routinely grant you the right to sue them if you are injured on the casino property.

Question 30

The company that rebuilt the stretch of the Bay Bridge that connects San Francisco and Oakland was a(n)

A) American company.
B) Chinese company.
C) Canadian company.
D) Swedish company.