AP GOPO- Chapter 14: Section 4.10 Ideology and Social Policy

What is social welfare?

Support for disadvantaged people to meet their basic needs.

What do liberal views on social policy advocate?

The government should provide a safety net for people in need and fund it with higher taxes.

What are entitlements?

Government services promised by law to citizens, designed to help those in need.

What are some examples of entitlements?

Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, block grants, financial aid, food stamps.

What is a critique of entitlements?

They are major contributors to annual deficits and the overall debt.

What is mandatory spending?

Spending defined by Congress that is legally required to provide cash to individuals or groups.

What is the largest entitlement program in the United States?

Social Security.

When was Social Security passed?

Amid the Great Depression (1929-1939).

What is the official name of Social Security?

Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI).

How much do employed citizens contribute to Social Security?

12.4 percent of their income, split evenly between employer and employee.

What proportion of the federal budget does Social Security contribute?

20%.

Why is Social Security referred to as the 'third rail of politics'?

Because touching it can lead to severe political backlash and constituent disapproval.

What is Medicare?

A government-run insurance program for citizens over 65.

How is Medicare funded?

Through a payroll tax of 1.45 percent paid by both employer and employee.

What does Medicaid provide?

Health care for impoverished individuals who cannot afford necessary medical expenses.

What percentage of the federal budget do Medicare and Medicaid represent?

Nearly 20%.

How do conservatives and libertarians view government spending on programs like Medicaid?

They oppose expensive government programs.

What did Reaganomics emphasize?

Lowering taxes and supporting free-market activity.

What does the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aim to do?

Expand government regulation of health insurance and make services more affordable.

What is the conservative view of organized labor?

It is seen as a negative influence.

What do liberals believe about organized labor?

It is a force lifting workers into a position of power through collective bargaining.

What major labor protections were passed during the liberal governance era?

Minimum wage laws, overtime pay requirements, and rules against unfair labor practices.

What is a closed shop?

A company policy requiring all employees to join a local union.

What do conservatives think about government regulation of private personal matters?

They believe the government need to protect core values even if it intrudes on individual freedoms.

What do liberals believe regarding government regulation of private matters?

They believe the government shouldn’t regulate private, personal matters.

What is the difference between liberal and conservative views on government surveillance?

Liberals favor stricter limits on surveillance, while conservatives are more supportive of it.

What is required for requests of information under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act?

Approval by a court.

How do conservatives feel about educational vouchers?

They argue that they provide freedom to choose educational environments.

What is a concern liberals have about educational vouchers?

They worry that vouchers could weaken an already challenged public school system.

What do conservatives think about government interference in religious practices?

They are opposed to government interference in their religious beliefs.

What do both liberals and conservatives agree on regarding government requests for information?

That they need to be approved by a court.