Public Policy and Administration Flashcards
6 cards from real BSocSc Bachelor of Social Science practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Public Policy and Administration flashcards as text
The U.S. Congressional Budget Office (CBO) primarily serves which function?
Answer: Providing nonpartisan economic and budgetary analysis to Congress
The CBO is a nonpartisan agency that provides objective economic and budgetary information to Congress, including scoring the fiscal impact of proposed legislation, to support informed policy decisions.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?
Answer: To assess the potential environmental consequences of major federal actions before they occur
NEPA requires federal agencies to prepare an EIS for major actions that may significantly affect the environment, forcing consideration of environmental consequences and alternatives before project approval.
The concept of 'incrementalism' in public policy, as described by Charles Lindblom, suggests that policy-making is typically:
Answer: A process of making small, marginal adjustments to existing policies rather than comprehensive reforms
Lindblom's 'muddling through' model argues that real-world policy-making involves negotiating small adjustments to current policy rather than comprehensive rational analysis, because of political constraints and limited information.
The term 'social equity' in public administration refers to:
Answer: Ensuring fair distribution of government services and resources across all population groups
Social equity in public administration focuses on ensuring that government services are administered fairly and that marginalized communities receive services adequate to their needs, which may require unequal distribution to achieve equitable outcomes.
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) differs from its predecessor AFDC primarily because TANF:
Answer: Imposes time limits and work requirements on recipients and gives states block grant funding
The 1996 welfare reform replaced the open-ended federal entitlement AFDC with TANF, which limits most recipients to 60 months of federal assistance, requires work participation, and provides states block grants with broad discretion in program design.
In the context of U.S. public policy, 'unfunded mandates' refer to:
Answer: Federal requirements imposed on state or local governments without providing funds to cover the cost
Unfunded mandates occur when Congress requires states, localities, or private entities to implement programs or comply with standards but does not provide commensurate funding, shifting costs downward.