Public Policy & Foreign Affairs Lecture

107 vocabulary flashcards covering agenda setting, social policy, fiscal and monetary concepts, foreign policy theories, and U.S. grand strategy.

Agenda Setting

Process of identifying issues that gain public and media attention.

Focusing Event

A major occurrence that draws intense media attention to specific issues.

Policy Agenda

The set of issues prioritized by the media, public, and political leaders.

Framing

Defining a problem’s causes, stakes, and potential governmental responses.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Evaluation comparing projected costs of a policy with its anticipated benefits.

Policy Window

A limited opportunity during which legislation on a proposal can advance.

Policy Implementation

The execution and enforcement of adopted public policies.

Top-Down Delivery

Policy implementation directed primarily by central authorities.

Bottom-Up Delivery

Policy execution shaped significantly by local actors and street-level officials.

Policy Evaluation

Assessment of how effectively a policy meets its stated goals.

Ex Post Evaluation

Review of actual outcomes after a policy has been implemented.

Social Policy

Government programs designed to protect against risk and expand opportunity.

American Welfare State

The government’s role in promoting citizens’ economic well-being.

Old Age Insurance

Social Security program providing retirement income.

Unemployment Benefits

Financial support for individuals who are out of work.

Medicare

Federal health-insurance program for people aged 65 and older.

Medicaid

State-managed health assistance program for low-income individuals.

Federal Poverty Line

Income threshold determining eligibility for many federal assistance programs.

Entitlement Program

Government benefit that recipients are legally guaranteed to receive.

Social Spending Focus

U.S. emphasis on assisting the middle class through policy.

Great Depression Impact

Economic crisis that brought social policy to the forefront of U.S. politics.

Political Controversy

Ongoing debate over social policy goals and methods of implementation.

Fiscal Policy

Government use of taxing and spending to influence the economy.

Monetary Policy

Central-bank actions to manage employment, inflation, and the money supply.

Federal Reserve

The U.S. central bank that regulates monetary policy.

Interest Rates

Cost of borrowing money, influenced by central-bank policy.

Treasury Securities

Government debt instruments bought or sold to affect the economy.

Required Reserves

Minimum cash banks must hold, set by the Federal Reserve.

Stable Markets

Consistent economic conditions that encourage consumer and investor confidence.

Economic Prosperity

Sustained economic growth and stability.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Total value of goods and services produced within a country.

Full Employment

Economic condition with minimal unemployment consistent with stable prices.

Low Inflation

Stable, modest rise in prices that preserves purchasing power.

Federal Budget Deficit

Shortfall when government expenditures exceed revenues in a fiscal year.

Budget Proposal

Annual spending plan the President submits to Congress.

Fiscal Year

Federal budget period running from October 1 to September 30.

Office of Management and Budget

Executive agency that coordinates federal budget proposals and oversight.

Discount Rate

Interest rate the Federal Reserve charges on loans to banks.

Federal Funds Rate

Interest rate on overnight loans between banks.

Open Market Operations

Fed’s buying or selling of government securities to control money supply.

Regulatory Agencies

Organizations that enforce compliance with laws and regulations.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Agency that promotes investor confidence and oversees financial markets.

Economic Growth

Increase in GDP over time indicating an expanding economy.

Congressional Budget Resolution

Joint House–Senate agreement setting broad federal budget targets.

Budget Resolution

Document specifying spending, revenue, and deficit goals for a fiscal year.

Appropriations Committee

Congressional committee that allocates funds to federal departments and programs.

Discretionary Spending

Annual spending on programs subject to congressional approval, excluding entitlements.

Continuing Resolution

Legislation extending current funding levels when a new budget is not passed.

Military Primacy

Doctrine advocating for unparalleled U.S. military strength worldwide.

Primacy

Concept that the United States should retain unrivaled military capabilities.

Realism

International-relations theory that nations pursue power for survival.

Security Trap

Idea that using force can provoke backlash against the United States.

Liberalism

Theory emphasizing international cooperation and institutions over force.

Soft Power

Influence achieved through culture, values, and commerce rather than coercion.

Hard Power

Influence exerted through military force and coercive means.

Foreign Aid

Financial assistance provided to other nations to advance security or development.

Trade Deficit

Economic condition where a country’s imports exceed its exports.

Economic Superpower

Nation possessing significant global influence through economic strength.

Gross National Income

Total income earned by a nation’s residents, domestic and abroad.

International Reserve Currency

Currency widely held by governments for international transactions and reserves.

National Power

A country’s influence derived chiefly from economic might rather than military force.

U.S. Foreign Aid

America’s status as the world’s largest donor, giving under 1% of its GNI.

Economic Decline

Period when a nation’s economic performance and influence diminish.

English Language Dominance

Prevalence of English as the primary language of global affairs.

China's Economic Rise

Rapid growth making China a major competitor to the U.S. economy.

Free Trade

Unrestricted movement of goods and services across borders.

Protectionism

Policies shielding domestic industries from foreign competition.

Fair Trade

Trade framework that incorporates environmental and labor protections.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

International body that administers and enforces global trade agreements.

Economic Embargo

Government restriction on trade flow into a target country.

Boycott

Refusal to purchase goods from a particular country as pressure.

Divestment

Withholding or withdrawing investments from another nation.

Freezing Assets

Seizure of foreign nationals’ financial assets held within the U.S.

American Exceptionalism

Belief that the United States is unique in its democratic ideals and destiny.

Theory of Democratic Peace

Hypothesis that democracies are less likely to fight one another.

War Powers Act (1973)

Law requiring presidential military actions to gain congressional approval within 60 days.

State Department

Executive department managing diplomacy and treaty negotiations.

Department of Defense

Largest U.S. government agency in charge of the armed forces.

National Security Council

Body that advises the President on national security and foreign policy.

Congress

Legislative branch that declares war and ratifies treaties.

President

Commander-in-chief who directs the military and oversees foreign relations.

Economic Weapons

Tools such as boycotts and embargoes used to influence other nations.

Social Displacement

Negative community impacts resulting from economic or trade policies.

Volatile Markets

Unstable economic conditions that can disrupt trade and investment.

Energy Consumption

U.S. use of approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day.

Middle East Wars

Conflicts often tied to securing access to vital oil reserves.

Intelligence Agencies

Fifteen U.S. bodies with overlapping jurisdictions gathering national security information.

Interest Groups

Organized entities seeking to influence foreign policy decisions.

Public Opinion

Collective attitudes of citizens that affect government action.

Media Influence

Press’s role in shaping public perceptions of foreign policy.

Foreign Policy Fragmentation

Chaotic, unpredictable nature of U.S. foreign-policy making.

Presidential Role

President’s capacity to resolve foreign-policy stalemates through decisive action.

Grand Strategy

A nation’s overarching vision guiding foreign policy choices.

Standing Alone

Period of U.S. isolationist policy from 1918 to 1939.

Wilson's League of Nations

Post-WWI proposal for an international cooperative body.

Isolationism

Policy of avoiding involvement in foreign conflicts and alliances.

The Cold War

Era of geopolitical tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

Multilateralism

Cooperation among multiple countries to achieve shared goals.

Containment

Cold-War strategy to prevent the spread of communism.

Troop Strength in Europe

U.S. military presence on the continent following World War II.