social welfare policy
government programs designed to improve quality of life
Social Security Act
A 1935 law that established old-age insurance and assistance for the needy, children, and others, and unemployment insurance
public policy
an intentional course of action followed by government in dealing with some problem or matter of concern
agenda
a set of issues to be discussed or given attention
systemic agenda
all public issues that are viewed as requiring governmental attention; a discussion agenda
governmental (institutional) agenda
the changing list of issues to which governments believe they should address themselves
agenda setting
the constant process of forming the list of issues to be addressed by government
policy formulation
the crafting of appropriate and acceptable proposed courses of action to ameliorate or resolve public problems
policy adoption
the approval of a policy proposal by the people with the requisite authority, such as a legislature
policy implementation
the process of carrying out public policy through governemntal agencies and the courts
policy evaluation
the process of determining whether a course of action is achieving its intended goals
non-means-based program
program such as Social Security where benefits are provided irrespective of the income or means of recipients
means-tested program
income security program intended to assist those whose incomes fall below a designated level
entitlement program
income security program to which all those meeting eligibility criteria are entitled
medicare
the federal program established in the Lyndon B. Johnson administration that provides medicla care to elderly Social Security recipients
medicaid
an expansion of medicare, this program subsidizes medical care for the poor