Chapter 11, 12, 13, 14 Quiz - Texas Government - Governing Texas Chapter 11, 12, 13, 14

Suppose you are attracted by the curriculum offered at a charter school and decide to send your children to it rather than the existing public school in your neighborhood. What will be different about how the charter school is funded?

Nothing; charter schools are funded by public monies just like public schools.

While many of the sources of revenue in Texas are dedicated to specific purposes, designated as "nondedicated," or come from the federal government, there are some funds that are not included in the specific budget categories. Where do we classify these funds?

Other Funds

The origins of modern welfare policy lie in

President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal.

The Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) is also known as the

Rainy Day Fund.

________ refers to the idea that policy makers have formulated and implemented policies that address problems in an optimal or efficient manner.

Rationality

Which of the following statements about testing in Texas public schools is accurate?

Testing has decreased.

Why is the price of oil important for the budget of the State of Texas?

Texas collects tax revenue on all oil removed from the ground based on a percentage of the market value of a barrel of oil. Higher prices raise more revenue, and lower prices less revenue.

Responding to the Supreme Court decision on national health care legislation of 2010, Governor Perry announced that

Texas would refuse to participate in the expanded Medicaid program.

________ is a nondedicated revenue account and is the state's primary operating fund.

The General Revenue Funds budget

________ calls for wealthy districts to transfer funds to poorer districts in order to equalize funds available to all public schools across the state.

The Robin Hood plan

When the federal government reimburses Texas for monies spent in program such as Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, these reimbursements go into which fund?

Federal Funds

How does being convicted of a felony in Texas impact your ability to vote?

Felons are allowed to vote upon full discharge of their sentences.

Individuals who cannot afford an attorney have a constitutional right to have one appointed to them. Which Supreme Court case was instrumental in guaranteeing this right?

Gideon v. Wainwright

In 1949 which legislation increased state funding and established the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which carries out the state's educational program?

Gilmer-Aikin Laws

Universities that are not eligible to receive funding from the Permanent University Fund (PUF), are eligible for funding from the

Higher Education Fund (HEF)

Which statement about the Texas budget is true?

It covers a two-year period.

Why must the Texas legislature maintain a balanced budget?

It is required by the Texas Constitution.

The Sandra Bland Act requires which of the following?

Jail deaths must be investigated by an independent agency.

When we use the term "sanctuary cities" what are we talking about?

Localities where sheriffs do not notify federal immigration authorities when undocumented immigrants are arrested.

In 2018 the Trump administration announced a "zero tolerance" policy designed to deter people from crossing the southern border illegally. Which of the following was a consequence of this policy?

Many minor children were separated from their parents for extended periods of time.

Why is the San Antonio v. Rodriguez case important?

The U.S. Supreme Court found that Texas can use property taxes to fund public education.

Which of the following is the best definition of public policy?

The expressed goals of a government body that are backed by sanctions or incentives.

What happens if money needs to be transferred from one agency to another and the legislature is not in session to authorize this transfer?

The governor can propose the transfer and the LBB can approve the proposal.

Which statement about the Texas prison population is accurate?

The number of people incarcerated in Texas state prisons is higher than any other state.

Why would a defendant decide to accept a plea bargain?

The plea bargain could include the prosecutors reducing the number and severity of the charges, as well as a reduction in the severity of the sentence that could be imposed.

Which of the following statements about poverty in Texas is accurate?

The poverty rate in Texas is higher than the national average.

The licensing of police officers in Texas is regulated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. How are the nine members of this commission selected?

They are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

Why did Texas build reservoirs through the state?

They are used help control flooding and to better distribute water during droughts.

What effect have drug and alcohol treatment programs had on the Texas prison system?

They have had so little effect on the prison system that the legislature began scaling back prison alternatives in 2007.

What happens if members of the Texas National Guard who are deployed at the border see someone illegally crossing the border?

They have to notify the Border Patrol to make the arrest. The Texas National Guard is part of the military, and members of the military cannot generally arrest anyone.

Which agency is responsible for monitoring land crossings between Texas and Mexico?

U.S. Border Patrol

The generally accepted standard by which poverty is measured in the United States is the

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty index.

Which of the following make it unlikely that Texas will enact a personal income tax in the near future?

Voters approved constitutional amendments in 1993 and 2019 that would make it extremely difficult to create a personal income tax in Texas.

Which of the following arguments would a supporter of school vouchers for private school tuition make?

Vouchers allow parents more choice for their children.

Water policy in Texas is based on

a complicated system of private property rights.

Today, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the prison system. Who runs this agency?

a nine-member board that is appointed by the governor

It is through what process that the legislature legally authorizes a government agency or body to spend up to a particular amount of money?

appropriations

In 1978, the Texas Constitution was amended (Article 8, Section 22), so that if the economy of the state shrinks,

appropriations have to shrink as well.

More than one-half of the water used in Texas comes from

aquifers.

Which of the following is a challenge facing education policy in Texas?

low level of public spending per pupil

Under the separate but equal doctrine in the 1920s and 1930s, the amount of money Texas spent on Black students was ________ the amount spent on White students in public schools.

lower than

Unless legally exempt, in order to receive benefits through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, recipients must

make sure their children go to school, participate in an employment services program, attend parenting classes, get their children vaccinated, and agree not to use drugs or alcohol.

i_00000_ri_00000_rIn National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012)the Supreme Court found that

states could not be forced to expand their Medicaid programs.

The Select Committee on Public Education (SCOPE) presented 140 recommendations to the legislature in 1984, including one known as "No Pass, No Play" which stated that

students who did not pass a class with a grade of 70 could not participate in extracurricular activities for the next six-week grading period.

A person convicted of a third felony can be sentenced to life imprisonment based on

the "three strikes" provision.

Under the Gilmer-Aikin Laws,

the State Board of Education was established to supervise public education in Texas.

Overall, the tax system in Texas is generally considered to be regressive, which means that

the tax burden consumes a greater percentage of income received by lower-income individuals.

One of the most controversial issues facing police in Texas and across the United States involves

the use of force.

i_00000_rWhich of the following was one of the goals of the Affordable Care Act of 2010?

to increase access to health insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions

The majority of individuals on Medicaid in Texas are

under the age of 20.

Which universities are eligible to receive monies from the Permanent University Fund (PUF)?

universities that are part of the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was program that

used federal and state funds to assist children who met certain qualification standards and was replaced by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program in 1996.

During the 1980s a growing number of critics alleged that welfare programs

were helping to create a dysfunctional underclass of people who depended upon them for survival.

The key issue at stake in Edgewood ISD v. Kirby was

whether the phrase "an efficient system of free public schools" from the Texas Constitution could be fulfilled through funding by local property taxes.

If there is a budget deficit during the biennium, then money can be used from the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF)

with the approval of three-fifths of the members of both the Texas House and Texas Senate.

Constitutional carry

would not require gun training classes or any licensing process before someone could legally carry a weapon in public.

If you are convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time at a state jail, then your sentence can be no longer than

2 years.

In 2019 approximately how many students were enrolled in public schools in Texas?

5.4 million

In Texas, the state and local governments can both levy sales taxes. These general state and local sales taxes can combine to reach a rate of _________ percent.

8.25

It is often quite difficult for people to readjust to life after the average Texas prison because

family members may have moved, died, or cut off communications, thereby removing a support network.

A serious criminal offense that subjects a person to state prison punishment is a(n)

felony

The three main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas over the last 50 years have been

funding, desegregation, and educational excellence.

In 2016 the Texas Supreme Court held that the existing system for funding public schools met the minimum constitutional provisions for

general diffusion of knowledge.

If sentenced by a judge to probation, then you would most likely have to do which of the following?

have a steady job, report to your probation officer on a regular basis, abstain from drug and alcohol use, and pay any fines or restitution

Suppose the Texas legislature wants to deal with concerns about college affordability. They pass a law that gives every resident in Texas two free years of college education at public colleges and universities—enough to earn an associate's degree. Which stage of the policy making process would determine the agency responsible for carrying out this policy?

implementation

In the 1972 case of Ruiz v. Estelle, the U.S. federal court determined that

inmates' constitutionally guaranteed rights had been violated in Texas prisons.

Which of the following accounts for both the length of the road and the width of the road, as indicated by the number of lanes?

lane miles

Texas has a reputation of being a ________ state.

"low service, low tax"

According to Texas Constitution (Article 3, Section 51a), Texas cannot spend more than _________ of the state budget in any two-year period to help needy dependent children or their caretakers.

1 percent

In Texas, felony juries are composed of ________ people and misdemeanor juries are composed of ________.

12; 6

If someone is granted probation, or community supervision, by a judge, what are the consequences of either compliance or violating the probation requirements?

A person in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to one-third of the term, while a criminal in violation may be sent to jail or prison for the remainder of his or her sentence.

In the state of Texas, which group is most overrepresented, relative to the Texas population, on death row?

African American men

If you want to get the overall picture of revenue for the State of Texas, then you should look at which of the following?

All Funds

What is the difference between an assigned counsel and a public defender?

An assigned counsel is a private attorney who is appointed by a judge to represent people who cannot afford an attorney and a public defender is paid a salary by the government to represent indigent defendants.

Suppose you are a juror on a felony case. How many members of the jury would need to vote the same way to render a decision?

Any decision needs to be unanimous.

Which U.S. Supreme Court case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson,ruling that state-imposed segregation in schools violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?

Brown v. Board of Education

Which program provides coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid?

Children's Health Insurance Program

In the 2017 legislative session,

legislation was passed that would grade schools on three dimensions: student progress, student achievement, and a "closing the gaps" measure.

In Texas, the legal standard of proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" is used in which type(s) of cases?

both felony and misdemeanor cases

Nondedicated funds

can be used for any purpose.

The most serious felony is ________, for which the penalty can be death or life imprisonment without parole.

capital murder

Taken together, the sprawling cities and ________________ make it difficult to develop public transportation in most areas in Texas.

car-centric culture

Felony cases in Texas are often prosecuted by

district attorneys.

A ________ is a method commonly used by prosecutors to maintain high conviction rates.

plea bargain between the defendant and the state

Public education in Texas gets the majority of its funding from which two sources?

property taxes and general revenue funding from the state

In 1965, Congress created the Medicaid program, a state-federal program, to

provide health care for the poor.

In terms of per capita spending on education, Texas

ranks near the bottom in the country.

If you are elected to serve as the county attorney, then your office is in charge of

representing the state in misdemeanor criminal cases.

Texas relies on ____________ taxes more than any other source of revenue to fund the government.

sales

As a result of criminal justice reforms in Texas, if prosecutors want to use testimony from jailhouse informants, they must also

share with the defense attorneys the criminal history of the jailhouse informant and anything offered to the informant in return for his or her testimony.

Most federal expenditures in Texas go to education and health and human services. However, in order to receive these funds, Texas must

spend state money in these areas first.

Compared to other states, Texas tends to spend a relatively small amount of money on programs that are jointly funded by the state and federal governments. Because of this,

the amount of money that Texas receives in matching funds and grants from the federal government is relatively low as compared to other states.

One significant component of the budget process that is relatively unique to Texas is

the constitutional mandate that Texas legislators write a budget every two years.

While the Texas Constitution does require that the state maintains a balanced budget, the state is allowed to carry debt as long as

the debt payments are not more than 5 percent of the state's revenue.

Efforts to expand the civil rights of women, African Americans, and other groups within Texas and the United States have been rooted in which part of the U.S. Constitution?

the equal protection clause in the Fourteenth Amendment

When thinking about the system of public financing through these various budgets and funds, it is important to remember that

the legislature does not have direct control of most of the money in the state budget.

In theory, Texas has a dual-budget system, meaning the budget authority is shared by the governor and the legislature; however, in practice, the primary player(s) in the budget is/are

the legislature.

The Legislative Budget Board is chaired by

the lieutenant governor.

Welfare reforms are measured along which two dimensions?

the number of people on welfare and the success of getting people into the workforce