The Personal Reponsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 : the continual changes to policy that change who benefits : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

The purpose of this paper is to develop an understanding of The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PL 104-193). This legislation is important because changes that were made in its enactment reflect changing social beliefs about the impoverished and an appropriate policy response to them.There are important features in understanding The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PL 104-193). The first point is understanding that politics and policy is a continual and gradual process that evolves through time. The second point is that in The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 reflects the government devolution of administrative power from the National level to the state and local levels. Third, the effects of this enactment has implications for who benefits and who loses. Change in the administration of policy has consequences for substance of policy.This paper develops these points by explaining the history of welfare in the United States. With an historical backdrop, this paper will inquire into the certain titles and select passages of the Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Given these changes, three states will be examined to understand how they are administering their programs. Third, a critical evaluation will be made of the Act to determine if the net effect of the passage of this bill on society.Honors CollegeThesis (B.?.