Amendment Make Up

Constitutional Amendment #13
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Summary- Slavery is illegal unless it is as a punishment for a serious crime, such as forced labor in prison.

This is very important because it ended the enslavement of African Americans in the United States and furthered our economic and human rights growth.

Country Health Care Notes

United Kingdom:
- socialized medicine
- spend 8.3% GDP
- government run National Health Service
- citizens pay health care taxes
- more choices and becoming more competitive
- youth and elderly exempt from drug co-pays

Japan:
- social insurance model
- 8% GDP
- ave. family premium $280.00/month employers usually pay ~1/2
- co-pay 30% procedure cost capped based on income
- assistance for poor
- can go to any specialist as often as they like
- gov negotiates prices with physicians
- spends too little on health care many hospitals don't make enough
- Japan spends the least, has the healthiest people, and has the most technology

Germany:
- social insurance model
- 10.7% GDP
- ave. family premium $750.00/month capped by income
- co-pay 10 euro/ 3 months, pregnant exempt
- birthplace of social insurance, similar to Japan
- can buy their insurance from one ore more of 200~ non-profit "sickness funds"
- poor receive assistance
- can not deny coverage b/c of preexisting conditions
- "sickness funds" bargain with doctors as a group
- compete for members
- single payment system, leaves some doctors underpaid
- rich can opt out for U.S. style profit insurance

Taiwan: 
- National Health Insurance
- 6.3% GDP
- $650/yr family of 4
- all citizens have insurance through one gov insurer
- co-pay 20 percent of the cost of drugs up to $6.50; up to $7 for outpatient care; $1.80 for dental and
traditional Chinese medicine exemptions for major diseases, childbirth, preventive services, and for
 the poor, veterans, and children
- working people pay premiums 1/2 from employers, non working pay flat rates with gov help
- similar to Canada's
- can see any doctor w/out referal
- lowest administrative costs in the world
- not taking enough money to cover what it provides

Switzerland:
- Social insurance
- 11.6% GDP
- $750.00/month for families, gov subsidies for poor
- co-pay 10% of the cost
- required that you are part of the nation's social insurance
- universal coverage
- no favoritism in the system
- capitalist competitive system
- no gate keeper doctors
- drug prices slightly higher

All of the countries have pretty much the same life expectancy rate at birth but Japan has the highest.


 

Groups and Bureaucracy

1.a)  Freedom of speech and press protect individuals who want to have their voice heard. The
government may not restrict anyone from saying or writing what they want. However, if  something
extremely crude or violating others safety is written or said they may be punished, but not prevented.

b) Interest groups may take many routes in an effort to influence public policy through grass roots mobilization, lobbying and litigation. They may influence policy through grass roots mobilization by organizing citizens to try to speak out and try to make a difference. They do so through lobbying by directly contacting policy makers and offering information while trying to convince them to support policy in their favor. Litigation can be used to get your way by using cases and amicus curiae briefs.

c) One specific federal regulation on interest groups are campaign finance laws and prohibition of bribery.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_q1.pdf

2.a) The merit system is a way if hiring based on ability and experience.

b). The structure of the bureaucracy contributes to bureaucratic independence because it is hard to control such a large, specialized system. The complexity of public policy problems also contribute to their independence because they are so specialized and they have discretionary authority.

c)   Congress can check the bureaucracy using appropriations, if you are not doing a good job you don't get the money.  The courts can regulate by judicial review. Interest groups can check them using freedom of speech and other provisions in the first amendment.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap10_us_govt_politics_q2.pdf