Test Bank for An - Process Theories, Concepts, and Models of Publi...

Test Bank for An Introduc�on to the Policy Process Theories, Concepts, and Models of Public Policy Making 3 rd Edi�on By Thomas Birkland (All Chapters, 100% Original Verified A+ Grade) MCQs and True False with Answers.Short Ques�ons Without Answers. 1 / 4

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Chapter 1 Introducing the Policy Process Multiple Choice

• Birkland’s book is most closely associated with which tradition in policy studies?
• Case studies
• Policy analysis
• *Policy process studies
• All of the above
• When newspapers and other media talk about “playing politics” with an issue, they usually mean

that

• A policy issue is undergoing careful scientific analysis.
• *Various interests are competing, often in seemingly self-interested ways, to gain their goals

at the expense of others.

• An election is being held.
• The president recommends a new policy initiative.
• Which of the following is not a feature of most definitions of public policy?
• Policy is made in response to some sort of problem that requires attention.
• Policy is made on the “public’s” behalf.
• *Public policy is made by individuals acting in a free market.
• Policy is oriented toward a goal or desired state, such as the solution of a problem.
• Policy is what the government chooses to do or not to do.
• Why doesn’t everyone engage major issues of public policy all the time?
• *No one can be concerned about all issues all the time.
• Public policy study is boring.
• Public policies are too confusing for citizens to understand.
• Public policies don’t really affect most people.
• People study the policy process because
• They are interested in theories of how policy comes to be.
• They want to be more effective advocates for particular policies.
• They may be called upon to address policy matters that directly affect their communities and

professions.

• *All of these are reasons to study the policy process.
• Anecdotal evidence is based on
• Careful scientific analysis of public problems and solutions.
• *Individual stories and examples of problems and solutions.
• Evidence collected in scientific laboratories.
• The accumulated knowledge of an academic discipline.
• The DARE program lost federal funding, and many school districts dropped it, because
• *There is extensive scientific evidence of its ineffectiveness.
• Because a competing group put together a better national program.
• Because the government doesn’t agree that there’s a drug problem.
• Because parents and students didn’t like the program.

Short Answer

• Define the term “public policy.” Explain your definition.
• Give two reasons to explain why people study public policy.
• Explain why theories of the public policy are as important as knowing about the substance of

public policy.

• Explain why “politics,” as defined by social scientists, is central to the study of public policy. 2 / 4

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• What is a policy?
• Explain another academic discipline other than political science that contributes to the study and

understanding of public policy.

• Explain why anecdotal evidence or “stories” can be useful in policy debate, despite their weak

foundation in science.

• What arguments do defenders of the DARE program use to justify the program’s potential

effectiveness, despite the scientific evidence that suggests that it is ineffective?True False

• (T)Decisions made by courts are statements of public policy.
• (T)In policy debates, the position backed by the best scientific evidence does not always “win”

the debate.

• (T)Public policy is whatever government chooses to do or not to do.
• (T)The central approach of this textbook is in policy process studies based primarily in political

science.

• (T)The study of public policy is firmly grounded in the study of politics.
• (T)There is no one shared sense of the “public interest” in most policy debates.
• (F)Anecdotal evidence is the product of rigorous scientific analysis.
• (F)The central approach of this textbook is in policy analysis focusing on the rigorous application

of economic analysis.

• (F)The Federalist Papers were written to promote the Declaration of Independence.

10 (F)Theories of public policy making ignore real-world policies and processes.11 (F)There is one distinct and clear set of principles that govern the study of public policy.12 (F)There is one true definition of public policy.

Chapter 2 An Overview of the Policy Process Multiple Choice

• In the mid-1960s, David Easton first pioneered a model that states that the public policy process

is a product of a system. The public policy process is influenced by and influences the environment in which it operates. This model is known as the

• bi-linear model.
• *systems model.
• linear model.
• Dave’s model.
• analysis model.
• Power in the United States is said to be fragmented because
• there are 50 states.
• there are three branches of government.
• there are a large number of units of government at all levels.
• * all of the above.
• none of the above.
• In a systems model of the policy process, the demands on the policy making system to do

something about a problem are called

• outputs.
• *inputs.
• initiatives.
• demographics. 3 / 4

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• Which of the following is not a part of the policy environment in the systems model?
• social environment
• political environment
• structural environment
• *public environment
• All of the above are part of the policy environment.
• Which of the following is one of the stages in the Stages Model of the policy process?
• evaluation
• enactment
• issue emergence
• alternative selection
• *All of the above are stages in this model.
• Which of the following is not one of the stages in the Stages Model of the policy process?
• evaluation
• *public approval
• enactment
• issue emergence
• alternative selection
• The main critique of the “stages” model of the policy process is that it
• is too complicated.
• *assumes a linear and orderly policy process.
• ignores politics.
• fails to account for the shortcomings of Congress.
• The largest broad racial or ethnic category into which Americans are classified is
• African American
• Hispanic
• Asian
• *Caucasian
• The fastest growing racial or ethnic category into which Americans are classified is
• African American
• *Hispanic
• Asian
• Caucasian

10 Which category of family has the highest median household income in the United States?

• Married couple families
• *Married, wife in paid labor force
• Female householder with no husband present
• Wife not in paid labor force

11 Which category of family has the lowest median household income in the United States?

• Married couple families
• Married, wife in paid labor force
• *Female householder with no husband present
• Wife not in paid labor force

12 Since the mid-1960s, the most important issue cited by respondents to opinion polls has been:

• Defense
• *The economy
• Energy
• Health care
• International relations

13 What pattern best characterizes the relationship between public approval of Congress and of the president?

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