History Flashcards

Which 1960s federal legislation created the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) as the primary agency overseeing Community Action Agencies?

Answer: Economic Opportunity Act of 1964

The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 established the OEO, which administered the Community Action Program and funded local CAAs.

The 'maximum feasible participation' requirement in the Economic Opportunity Act was controversial because it:

Answer: Mandated that low-income residents have meaningful input in program governance

Maximum feasible participation required low-income community members to have real decision-making roles in CAAs, which challenged existing power structures.

The Green Amendment of 1967 to the Economic Opportunity Act primarily affected CAAs by:

Answer: Shifting control of CAAs from communities to local elected officials

The Green Amendment allowed local governments to take over governance of CAAs, reducing community control and empowering elected officials.

Which president's administration impounded Community Action Program funds and worked to dismantle the Office of Economic Opportunity in the early 1970s?

Answer: Richard Nixon

President Nixon impounded OEO funds and gradually dismantled the agency, transferring its programs to other departments between 1973 and 1974.

The Community Services Administration (CSA), which succeeded the OEO, was abolished in which year?

Answer: 1981

President Reagan eliminated the CSA in 1981 as part of budget cuts, replacing it with the Community Services Block Grant administered by states.

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) differed from prior OEO/CSA funding primarily because it:

Answer: Gave states discretion in distributing funds rather than direct federal-to-CAA grants

CSBG routed federal funds through state governments, giving states flexibility in allocation and reducing direct federal oversight of individual CAAs.

Which organization, founded in 1971, became the primary national membership association advocating for Community Action Agencies?

Answer: National Community Action Foundation (NCAF)

The National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) was established in 1971 to advocate for CAAs at the federal level and support the network.