Johnson’s great society legislation caused debate over the role of the with regard to the poor.

The correct answer is the role of the federal government with regard to the poor.

One of the biggest goals of Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency was to fight a "War on Poverty." Johnson felt that a civilized nation like the United States should not have people in poverty. In his mind, he wanted the federal government to help solve this problem. This would include programs that help people in poverty. This includes things like Medicare and Medicaid.