AP US GOVERNMENT & POLITICS UNIT 5 REVIEW SHEET
Public Policy: Ch. 18, 19, 20; 5-15% of AP Exam
Public Policy: Court decisions, executive actions,
administrative rules, and laws that a govt makes in a particular
area of public concern. Four types of politics:
Distributed
Benefits
Concentrated
Benefits
Distributed Costs
MAJORITARIAN
POLITICS
Appeals to large
blocs of voters
Ex. Social Security,
national defense
CLIENT POLITICS
Often easy to pass
Ex. farm subsidies,
welfare
Concentrated Costs
ENTREPRENEURIAL
POLITICS
Difficult to pass without
policy entrepreneur
Ex. auto safety laws,
antipollution laws
INTEREST-GROUP
POLITICS
Fought-out by organized
groups
Ex. NRA vs. gun control
ECONOMIC POLICY
Fiscal Policy (interest rates & money supply): Federal Reserve
Monetary Policy (taxing & spending):
 Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Made budgetary
process stricter; stopped impoundment; established CBO &
budget calendar: JAN: President submits OMB budget.
FEB: CBO analyzes it. MAR-APR: Budget Committees
submit budget resolution that proposes total budget & area
ceilings. MAY: Congress adopts budget resolutions by May
15 (signed by Pres) as guide to area committees. JUNOCT: Congress passes appropriations for 13 various areas
over the late summer (signed by Pres). SEPT: Congress
adopts second resolution by Sept 15 to reconcile actual
appropriations. OCT: Start of fiscal year Oct 1
 Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Balanced Budget Act of 1985.
Automatic budget cuts until deficit is 0. Set declining budget
caps from 1986-1991. If Congress & President could not
agree: sequesters (automatic across-the-board percentage
cuts). In 1990 under Bush, no agreement could be reached;
Bush had to break “read my lips, no new taxes” promise
 Top Budget Line-Items (Federal Budget $2T in 2002)
1) Social Security (OASDI). $488 billion in 2002.
2) Other Entitlements. (medicare, food stamps,
unemployment, veterans) $430 billion in 2002.
3) Interest on debt. $390 billion in 2001.
4) Defense. $350 billion in 2002
 Controllable (discretionary spending) – specific line items
like environmental protection programs, military equipment,
aid to education that can be cut at any time
 Uncontrollable (mandatory spending) – built into public
programs when Congress created them; required by law,
contracts. 80% of budget – interest on debt, social security
FOREIGN & MILITARY POLICY
State Department. President’s right arm in foreign affairs.
Secretary of State ranks first on Cabinet.
Defense Department. Civilian Control. Secretary of Defense
advises pres, heads Pentagon. Joint Chiefs of Staff advise.
CIA. Works under direction of NSC. Coordinates information
gathering of State, Defense. Conducts espionage
Homeland Security. Newest cabinet department. Coordinates
security activities of all federal/state/local agencies like: Coast
Guard, Secret Service, INS (now ICE), FEMA, NTSB, Customs
Limits on Presidential Power: War Powers Resolution,
Intelligence Oversight by Congress (CIA must notify
intelligence committees of actions, Congress can block with
legislation, lack of funding, GAO audit, etc.)
SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY
Aid to Families w/ Dependent Children (AFDC) 1950. Funded
by open-ended matching program to states
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 1996.
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation
Act (PRWORA) of 1996: Funded by block grant to states.
“Work, not welfare.” Bipartisan--Clinton and 1994
Republicans (CWA). Parents must work within 2 years of
benefits; 5-year lifetime limit for federal aid. Cut off food
stamps and SSI for legal immigrants. 5.1 million families on
welfare in 1994; 2.7 million families on welfare in 1999.
Entitlement Programs =Mandatory Spending. Laws
automatically require funding UNLESS Congress changes
eligibility (social security, medicare)
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
 Primary agencies: Council on Environmental Quality (in
EOP); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Required
environmental impact statement (EIS) before construction
projects begin using federal funds. Proponents say helps
environment; opponents say unnecessary red tape;
convenient way for opponents of development to stall.
 Air Quality Act of 1967 and Clean Air Acts (1960s-90s).
Establish emissions standards for cars, factories.
Automakers must cut emissions in new car designs (thus
the hybrid). Plants must cut bubble standard to average 12
cleanest facilities (may use offsets). Government may shut
down big polluters. Phases out CFCs, sulfur dioxide (acid
rain). Compliance costs $25 billion/year. Permits selling of
pollution allowances.
CIVIL RIGHTS POLICY
 14th Amendment: no state can deny any person “equal
protection of the laws” – can’t discriminate unreasonably
 strict scrutiny doctrine – must show compelling interest in
order to allow racial distinction
 Brown v. Board (1954, 1955) limited to law-imposed (de
jure) segregation (ended “all deliberate speed” by 1970)
 Civil Rights Act of 1964. Longest debate in Senate history;
cloture stopped filibuster. Bans discrimination in public
places on basis of race, origin, or religion (commerce).
Prohibits employment discrimination on all of above plus
sex. Allows affirmative action, Created EEOC.
 Voting Rights Act of 1965. Suspended literacy tests. More
federal control monitoring elections in southern states.
 Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Open Housing Act): Banned
housing discrimination against same classes in CRA
 Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board (1971): sanctioned
(but does not require) busing to limit de facto segregation
 Bakke v. UC Regents (1978) outlawed quota-based
affirmative action; race can be used, but not as ONLY factor
 Equal Pay Act of 1963. Requires employers to pay men
and women the same wages if they perform the same jobs;
Women today still earn average of 80 cents on dollar of men
 Reed v. Reed (1971) – struck down ID law giving fathers
preference over mothers in estate administration. Sex is
quasi-suspect class; can be distinction if compelling interest.
 Title IX of Education Act of 1972: Prohibited gender
discrimination in public education (protects girls sports)
 Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: Bans job
discrimination if “reasonable accommodation” can be made.
Requires access to facilities for handicapped. Unfunded
mandate (paid for by localities)