SS8A Unit 4 Exam Review

The president of the United States wanted to address global climate change. An international agreement is proposed to reduce carbon emissions. This plan includes a new foreign policy for the environment. After several months, the president and other world leaders signed the agreement. Based on this, how are foreign policies typically made?

• The president, Congress, and foreign leaders must work together to create foreign policies. They negotiate and approve plans and also create international agreements.

• The president makes foreign policies and has the power to create international agreements. The president does not need input from other countries or the House or Senate.

• Congress creates foreign policies. It makes decisions about international relations. Congress does this without consulting the president.

• Foreign governments decide foreign policies. The United States only responds to these decisions and does not participate in making the policies.

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights that foreign policies are made through collaboration between the president, Congress, and foreign leaders, emphasizing the need for negotiation and approval of international agreements.

Explain how government policies are made. Match each step of the policymaking process with its actions or characteristics. Move one answer to each box.

• adoption

• The policy is reviewed for effectiveness.

• agenda setting

• Experts and officials develop possible solutions.

• formulation

• Lawmakers vote to make the solution official.

• evaluation

• Government agencies carry out the new policy.

• implementation

• The problem is identified and put on the government’s agenda.

Which of the following best describes the task of a student advisor to the US Department of State regarding policy evaluation?

• Evaluate a recent domestic and foreign policy decision, describe each, and assess their effectiveness.

• Write a fictional story about US policy decisions.

• List all US domestic and foreign policies without evaluation.

• Create a diagram of the US Department of State's organizational chart.

Answer explanation

The correct choice involves evaluating and assessing the effectiveness of recent policy decisions, which aligns with the role of a student advisor in analyzing and providing insights on US domestic and foreign policies.

Classify each government action as domestic policy or foreign policy. Move each statement to the correct column.

• Foreign policy

• increasing funding for public education

• Domestic policy

• implementing national healthcare reforms

• Foreign policy

• setting interest rates for federal loans

• Domestic policy

• negotiating trade agreements with other countries

• Domestic policy

• participating in international climate agreements

How do national and international laws differ in their reach, and how are they enforced?

• National laws apply to every country throughout the world. On the other hand, international laws apply only to countries that are part of international organizations.

• National laws can only be enforced by international organizations. On the other hand, governments of individual countries enforce international laws.

• National laws apply within a country and are enforced by its government. International laws apply between countries and are enforced by international organizations.

• National laws apply only to economic matters. International laws cover all aspects of global relations, including trade and diplomacy.

Answer explanation

National laws govern within a specific country and are enforced by that country's government. In contrast, international laws regulate relations between countries and are enforced by international organizations.

Match each punishment to the correct type of law. Move one answer to each box.

• A homeowner must pay damages for a broken window.

• Civil Law

• An adult is given jail time for theft.

• Juvenile Law

• Community service is assigned to a 15-year-old.

• Criminal Law

Which correctly describes the full process of how a bill becomes a law?

• A. A group introduces a bill. The bill goes to a committee. The committee debates the bill. The bill is voted on in both chambers and then sent to the president.

• B. A bill is created. The president reviews it. Then, it goes to Congress for debate. Congress votes on the bill. Finally, the president signs it into law.

• C. A bill is introduced. Lawmakers discuss it. They amend the bill. They vote on it in one chamber. Then, they send it to the president.

• D. A person in the House or the Senate introduces a bill. The bill goes to debate in that chamber, which then votes on it. Finally, the bill is sent to the president.

Answer explanation

Choice A correctly outlines the full process: a bill is introduced, goes to committee for debate, is voted on in both chambers, and then sent to the president for approval.

A bill has passed both the House of Representatives and Senate. However, the president disagrees with it. What happens after the president vetoes a bill?

• The Supreme Court evaluates the bill. It decides if it should become law. Its decision is based on if the law is constitutional.

• The bill is rejected permanently. Congress must start the process over again from the first step.

• Congress can override the bill. They need to vote with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

• The bill must be reviewed again by both chambers. Once it is amended, the bill goes back to the president for a second review.

Answer explanation

After the president vetoes a bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers, allowing the bill to become law despite the president's disagreement.

A city passes a law requiring all businesses to recycle plastic waste. Which question would best help assess whether the law is effective?

• How many citizens have heard about this new law?

• Do business owners think this law is fair to them?

• Has the amount of plastic waste in the city gone down?

• Was this law discussed and passed quickly enough?

Answer explanation

The effectiveness of the recycling law is best assessed by measuring the actual outcome: whether the amount of plastic waste in the city has decreased. This directly indicates the law's impact.

Why is it important to assess the effectiveness of a law?

• It costs less to change a law than to make a new one.

• Government officials should be punished if they enact a bad law.

• A law may solve one problem but create new issues.

• A law has the same benefits and drawbacks in any community.

Answer explanation

Assessing a law's effectiveness is crucial because while it may address one issue, it can inadvertently create new problems. This highlights the need for ongoing evaluation to ensure laws serve their intended purpose without negative consequences.