Question

6.5) select two facts about gross domestic product (gdp).
□ it is a measure of the number of unemployed workers in the nation.
□ it is a measure of the overall production within the country.
□ it is a measure that indicates the level of energy needs the nation lacks.
□ it is a measure that correlates with the overall standard of living.
6.6) ______ how does the federal government get money whenever it needs to borrow money?
a. offering shares of stock in the government
b. borrowing it from commercial banks
c. borrowing it from foreign nations
d. selling federal securities, such as treasury bills and bonds
6.7) ______ what is the biggest barrier to cutting government spending?
a. arcane laws that make budget cutting difficult
b. the two - thirds of the budget that is mandatory spending and requires a change in law to cut
c. politicians who have no understanding of finances
d. the threat of a presidential veto
6.8) select three reform proposals for improving the federal budget process.
□ increase tariffs on imports
□ replacing the progressive tax system with a flat tax
□ balanced budget amendment
□ ordering the treasury to print more currency
□ placing a limit on annual increases in expenditures
□ granting the president the power of the line - item veto
6.9) ______ what is pork - barrel spending?
a. money appropriated for government agricultural spending
b. spending on projects that are never finished
c. spending attached to a bill by a lawmaker that will benefit and gain the favor of one’s constituents
d. money set aside for lawmakers’ personal expenses
6.10) select two reasons some people oppose the line - item veto.
□ it gives the president too much power to push an agenda.
□ congressmen would be able to use the veto to pass pork - barrel - spending bills.
□ it would increase tension between the president and lawmakers.
□ it has proven to be a failure at the state level.

Explanation:

6.5

GDP measures a nation's total domestic production, and higher GDP generally links to better living standards. Unemployment and energy needs are not GDP metrics.

6.6

The U.S. federal government borrows by selling treasury securities to investors, which is its primary method of raising borrowed funds.

6.7

Mandatory spending (e.g., Social Security, Medicare) makes up most of the U.S. federal budget, and cutting it requires changing existing laws, creating the largest barrier to reducing spending.

6.8

Balanced budget amendments, expenditure growth limits, and line-item veto power are all targeted at reforming the federal budget process to improve fiscal discipline or efficiency. Tariffs, flat tax, and currency printing are not budget process reforms.

6.9

Pork-barrel spending refers to localized, often unnecessary, projects added to bills by lawmakers to gain support from their home constituents.

6.10

Critics argue the line-item veto gives excessive power to the President to advance their policy agenda, and it would escalate conflicts between the executive and legislative branches.

Answer:

6.5)

• It is a measure of the overall production within the country.
• It is a measure that correlates with the overall standard of living.

6.6) D. selling federal securities, such as treasury bills and bonds

6.7) B. the two-thirds of the budget that is mandatory spending and requires a change in law to cut

6.8)

• balanced budget amendment
• placing a limit on annual increases in expenditures
• granting the President the power of the line-item veto

6.9) C. spending attached to a bill by a lawmaker that will benefit and gain the favor of one's constituents

6.10)

• It gives the President too much power to push an agenda.
• It would increase tension between the President and lawmakers.