Federal Government

What is the most controversial goals of social policy?

Attempts to alleviate poverty

The governments use of taxing and spending is called:

fiscal policy

Taxing or spending in such a way as to reduce disparities of wealth between the lowest and highest income tax bracket is called:

redistribution

______ economic theories argue that the government should spend money to stimulate the economy

Keynesian

What is an example of a contributory program?

Social security

Which type of financial aid is generally most preferred by College students

Pell grants

What group has the most political influence?

The elderly

On November 7, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy signaled that flight cancellations could grow to _______ if the government shutdown continues

20 percent

New York’s mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, said on Nov. 5 the city’s residents were facing twin crises:

Affordability and President Donald Trump

The U.S. Navy’s newest and most powerful aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is expected to reach the Caribbean early this week, marking a dramatic escalation in the American military buildup near __________________ amid growing speculation over possible U.S. strikes against drug cartels and the Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

Venezuela

Two types of law are:

criminal and civil

Which of the following is not included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

Cases involving challenges to the constitutionality of state laws

The size of the U.S. Supreme Court is determined by:

Congress

President Trump nominated ___________ to the U.S. Supreme Court

Brett Kavanaugh

The Supreme Court established power of judicial review in the case of:

Marbury v. Madison

Which government official is responsible for arguing the federal government’s position in cases before the Supreme Court?

The solicitor general

The doctrine that previous court decisions should apply as precedents to similar cases is known as:

Stare decisis

A judicial philosophy when a court goes beyond the words of the Constitution or a statute to consider the broader societal implications of it’s decisions.

Judicial activism

Indiana state Senator Michael Bohacek said he will vote no on a redistricting plan because a President Trump took aim at Minnesota's Somali community that gangs patrol the streets and  “the ______________________ Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both.”

seriously retarded

The entertainment industry’s seemingly losing battle to stop music from being illegally copied and shared in the digital age hits the _________________ on Dec. 1 in a case both sides say could have huge consequences for both the industry and internet users. 

Supreme Court

The goals of foreign policy would NOT include:

National debt reduction

The second Trump Administration’s foreign policy can best be associated with:

Attempts to end wars

U.S. Involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq after September 11th, 2001 started the:

Bush Doctrine

Congress cannot:

negotiate treaties

International development aid, cultural diplomacy, and student exchange programs, are referred to as _____ power

soft

In 2015 the United States signed on the ___ agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. President Trump ended U.S. participation in it in 2017 and 2025.

Paris

The United States is most concerned with nuclear proliferation in:

Iran

Last week, President Donald Trump declared that the airspace around _____________ should be considered closed.

Venezuela

At the last Cabinet meeting for 2025 on Tuesday, President Donald Trump noted that our country:

Is the “hottest country in the world.”

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday in reference to a follow-up strike that killed survivors on a suspected drug boat:

Insisted they were not aware what the military had done after the first strike.

At what income level do we say a family of four is living in poverty?

Under $31,200

The U.S. Supreme Court has persuaded public opinion to support the death penalty for mentally disabled killers.

False

When reviewing the expansive policymaking role of the U.S. Supreme Court, the court ruled that:

Employment discrimination because of sexual orientation is prohibited.

If the only income earner works minimum wage in Texas, the family is out of poverty

False

Which branch has the authority over the right to bear arms & pregnancy termination?

Judicial

Marxism is one end of the 2 economic theories where economies are centrally planned & everything is decided by the govt

True

The largest source of revenues for the U.S. Government comes from:

Individual income taxes

Which is NOT 1 of the 3 arguments for the Supreme Court being an imperial court (most powerful in the world)

The selection of justices by presidents and confirmed by the Senate

John Adams had a loose interpretation of the constitution while Thomas Jefferson had a strict interpretation

True

In which stage of the public policy process model does the government’s bureaucratic machinery go into effect?

Policy implementation

We have full employment if the unemployment rate is between 3% and 4%

True

The two goals of the Food Stamp Act of 1964 were to feed the poor & improve agricultural lands.

True

Which Supreme Court case did Judicial review come out of?

Marbury v. Madison

Alexander Hamilton said in Federalist No. 78 that the Supreme Court was the least dangerous branch of govt because

They had no power of sword or the purse

During her confirmation hearing, Judge Katanji Brown Jackson said

I do not believe in the concept of the living constitution

Which one of the following presidents took us out of the Paris Agreement?

Trump

What is NOT an example of a Supreme Court case that came out of the Rehnquist Court?

Engel v. Vitale (School prayers)

During the Trump Administration, diplomacy with Kim Jung-Un eased tensions between the U.S. and North Korea

True

Legal traditions such as precedent, reputation and public opinion prevent the Supreme Court from being an imperial court.

True

During Oval Office Press Conference SNL Cold Open 11/8, which real-world issue did it reference?

Rising grocery prices, drug price negotiations and mayoral election outcome

The end of the federal government shutdown last month:

funds SNAP, or food stamps, until September 2026.

Our economy is currently in a recession

False

FY 2025 starts on January 1, 2025 and ends December 30, 2025

False

What does the gross domestic product measure?

Goods and services produced?

When the government accountability office (GAO) evaluates the nursing home care in America, they use ____ measurements

Systemic

Since 1790, over 60,000 laws were made and less than 160 were declared unconstitutional

True

Sales tax is an example of a regressive tax, because it is the same for everyone & effects the poor the greatest

True

Jesus would tell you to pay your taxes.

True

When would you like Tax Freedom Day in 2025?

April 1

The U.S. has the highest goods trade deficit with who?

China

Another name for demand-side economics is ________

Keynesian Economics

Laissez-Faire economics is one where government should be “hands-off”

True

Demand-side Economics is simply the government spending money that it may not have.

True

Which is not one of the three components of fiscal policy?

Changing Federal Fund Rates

What are the three components of fiscal policy?

Taxing, Deficit/Surplus levels, and Spending.

Discretionary spending priorities are things that you can live without (fast food).

True

Individual income tax rates are determined by how much money you make (Progressive)

True

The Supreme Court can only set it’s agenda with a case

True

The basic function of the Supreme Court is to interpret the Constitution.

True

Former President Biden nominated which SCOTUS judge?

Ketanji Brown Jackson

SCOTUS heard oral arguments in a case of local government fining homeless people as violating the

Eighth amendment’s protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

“Giant Sucking Sound Going South” was warned by presidential candidate:

Ross Perot

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution, like abortion rights, would overturn Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org (2022)

True

President Trump’s meeting with President Xi Jinping included a commitment by China to increase imports of U.S. soybeans

True

What is the health of the U.S. economy?

We don’t know. It changes frequently.

What is the political economy?

When politics affect the economy?

What is economic globalization?

The increasing interconnectedness and interdependence of national economies.

The U.S. has 4.4% of the population, 22% of the world’s economy.

True

Goals of policy making include:

Controlling the National Debt, GDP Growth, Unemployment w/ Job Growth, Proper Inflation, Reasonable interest rates, Manageable Consumer Debt, Trade Balance, Oil prices, etc.

How many people are currently unemployed in America?

7.4 million

Inflation is always at 3%

False

Prime rate affects other things like what?

Home mortgages, Credit Cards, + Used vehicles

How much debt is the U.S. in over student loans?

1.7 trillion

How much is oil per barrel?

$58.86 per barrel

What is judicial review?

The power of the Supreme Court to declare actions of other branches of govt unconstitutional.

Judicial Review is detailed in the Constitution.

False

We elect people into the Supreme Court

False - They’re appointed by the President

Who won the election of 1800?

Thomas Jefferson

What laws have been held as unconstitutional?

Flag Protection Act (1969), Defense of Marriage Act (2012), Obergefell v. Hodges (2015).

How many amendments have there been to the constitution?

27 amendments

The court follows what doctrine?

Judicial activism.

What is a Writ of Certiorari?

When 4 judges call up a case (Rule of 4)

What happened in Atkins v. Virginia (2002)?

A man committed murder but could not remember killing the person. The court determined that mentally challenged individuals could not be sentenced to the death penalty.

Level of Courts

1. Local Courts

2. Appellate Courts

3. Supreme Court — 8 justices, 1 chief justice, 9 total.

Expansion of the Court’s authority requires a constitutional amendment.

True

What is Public Policy?

A purposive course of governmental action designed to meet a goal, need or problem.

What are the stages of the Public Policy Process?

1. Problem Formation

2. Policy Agenda

3. Policy Formation/Formulation

4. Policy Adoption

5. Policy Implementation

6. Policy Evaluation