Study guide 611The roots and goals of
social policy
Explain what we mean by social policy and how the
national government’s role in social policy has evolved.
(Pages 575–578)Summary
“Social policy” is the catchall term for government programs that
are designed to achieve a general social goal. While the early federal
government took little responsibility for social welfare, the federal
government has gradually expanded its role since the late nineteenth
century. Today it plays a significant part in ensuring the welfare of
its people.Key terms
social policy (p. 575)
welfare (p. 575)
New Deal (p. 576)Great Society (p. 577)
ownership society (p. 578)Practice Quiz Questions
- The first significant example of broad federal involvement in
social policy is.
a the New Deal
b aid to Civil War veterans
c the Great Society
d aid to Mexican-American War veterans
e unemployment compensation in the 1890s - Social Security was established under the ; Medicare
was established under the.
a New Deal; Great Society
b New Deal; New Deal
c Great Society; Great Society
d Great Society; New Deal
e New Deal; Opportunity Society
3. The principle of the “ownership society” is that.
a the government has responsibility for the people’s social welfare
b the government has responsibility for the poor’s social welfare
c the government has responsibility for health care but not
education
d the rich have responsibility for the poor’s social welfare
e people have responsibility for their own welfare
Poverty and income inequality
Examine the problem of poverty as a target of social
policies. (Pages 579–582)Summary
Most social programs have an impact on poverty, either directly
or indirectly. There is a growing gap between the top income
levels and the incomes at the bottom. Government policies tend to
disproportionately favor the wealthy, largely based on the type of
social policies the government chooses to implement.Practice Quiz Questions
- The primary motivator for social policy is.
a intergenerational equality
b poverty
c the deficit
d care for the elderly
e gender inequality - Under Democratic presidents, the incomes of working poor
families than/as under Republican presidents.
a increased faster
b increased slower
c stayed the same
d decreased slower
e decreased faster
The key players in social
policy making
Describe the roles played by each branch of the national
government and by the states in making and implementing
social policy. (Pages 583–586)Summary
At the federal level, social policy is shaped by Congress, the president,
and the bureaucracy. Other groups play a role in social policy as
well: policy concerning the elderly is particularly affected by interest
groups, whereas state governments focus on policy concerning
welfare and education.STUDY
GUIDE
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