GOVT 9-11

In its role as a small claims court, the justice of the peace court may hear civil law cases involving amounts of no more than what?

$10,000

Even if the state legislature hit its maximum limit, how much of the state's budget could be spent on help for impoverished children and those who care for them?

1 percent

Which of the following are reasons judicial elections have become more expensive over time?

Judicial races have low visibility. Television advertising is expensive. Competitive judicial races require money.

Complete the following statement.

Many counties in Texas have replaced the office of county treasurer with a county auditor who receives and disburses county funds.

Inferring from the information in the chapter, which of the following best describes the intention of public employee pension plans?

Pension plans incentivize individuals to be long-term employees of local governments.

Under the governorship of Greg Abbott and the state legislature, how has the autonomy of local government changed?

The Republican legislative leaders and Governor Abbott have sought to limit many decisions of local government.

Which statement best explains the relationship between all the independently elected county officials and the county commissioners' court?

The departments and offices of all county officials are dependent on the commissioners' court for funding.

Under the budget-execution authority granted in a 1985 constitutional amendment, in which ways can appropriations be changed between legislative sessions?

The governor or the Legislative Budget Board can propose to transfer money from one agency to another. Either the governor or the Legislative Budget Board can propose to direct an agency to stop spending money appropriated to it in the budget. Either the governor or the Legislative Budget Board can propose that the purpose of an appropriation to an agency be changed.

Complete the following statement.

The state of Texas has one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation at 6.25 percent. This regressive tax can have another 2 percent added to it to help fund county and local governments.

Which statement best characterizes the standard of "beyond a reasonable doubt" required to convict a defendant in a criminal case?

There is no other physical way that any other person could have committed the crime.

What factors make capital appreciation bonds (CABs) a controversial method for local governments to finance projects?

They are a way to get around state limitations on the property tax rates local governments may charge. Local governments generally end up repaying far more than the amount borrowed.

Texas uses nonpartisan elections to select state judges.

false

What is the term for the process of revising, editing, changing, and drafting the budget, or any other proposed bill, while in committee?

markup

What is the best way to categorize the tax structure depicted in the table below?

progressive tax structure

Suppose you are a county judge in rural Texas. How would your duties differ from those of a county judge living in a more urban area?

As a rural county judge, you are more likely than an urban county judge to play a judicial role in addition to an administrative role.

Study the figure on the budget-making process, and then determine which of the following statements are accurate.

Both chambers of the legislature process the budget at the same time. The final stage of the budgetary cycle is with state agencies.

Which of the following reasons explain why cities struggle to meet their pension obligations?

City pension fund managers have made risky investments. Public employees may qualify for pensions at a younger age than their private sector counterparts.

The office of constable has changed significantly in some parts of Texas. Critics of constables often make which two of the following points when talking about the expansion of their roles?

Constables face little oversight from other officials. Constable offices can become semi-militarized fiefdoms.

Which option is the most likely explanation for the differences between the demographics of the state's population and the demographics of district judges in Texas?

Correct choiceRepublicans are more likely to win in Texas than Democrats, who are often women and candidates of color.

Complete the following statement.

County officials like sheriffs, tax assessor-collectors, and district clerks are elected at large, while other county officials like commissioners, justices of the peace, and constables are elected in precincts.

Study the table below on the caseloads of various courts in Texas. According to the data, which of the following statements is true?

Courts with original jurisdiction have significantly higher caseloads than those with appellate jurisdiction.

Which of the following is a unique feature of special purpose districts that differentiates them from other types of government?

Each kind of special purpose district serves only one function.

Complete the following statement.

Even though a large majority of Texans live in home-rule cities, more than two-thirds of Texas cities are general-law cities.

Historically, Texas has spent a large amount of money on jointly funded state-federal programs to boost public welfare, subsequently bringing in large amounts of federal matching funds.

FALSE

Lawyers who charge a contingent fee are paid whether or not they win their case.

FALSE

Texas has a reputation for being a "low service, high tax" state.

FALSE

All public universities in Texas that are outside the University of Texas or Texas A&M get most of their funds through which of the following?

Higher Education Fund (HEF)

Study the infographic below on the levels of taxation of different economic groups in Texas, and then determine which of the following statements are accurate.

In terms of dollars, the top 1 percent of Texans pay the most in taxes. As a portion of their income, the bottom 20 percent of Texans pay more than do the top 20 percent.

Complete the following statement.

In theory, preparing the initial budget is the responsibility of the governor and the legislature. In practice, preparing the budget is primarily the responsibility of the legislature.

Though the state lottery was approved by Texas voters over 30 years ago as a way to create revenue for the state, it is often criticized for what reason?

It is seen as a "tax" on those who can least afford it.

Which of the following laws requires judges to recuse themselves from a case if they have received campaign contributions from one of the parties involved in the case?

Judicial Campaign Fairness Act

Although Congressman Beto O'Rourke narrowly lost the U.S. Senate election in 2018, his statewide popularity had which of the following impacts?

Judicial candidates were successful in more Democratic areas of the state.

Based on the data presented in the infographic, which of the following statements are true?

Less than 20 percent of the states select judges the same way Texas does. Over half of the nation uses some form of gubernatorial appointment for judges. The use of a nominating commission to choose potential judicial appointments is the most popular form.

In this quote, the authors refer to a reduction in the "recidivism" rate. Judging from the context of the excerpt, what is likely the greatest benefit to taxpayers of a reduction in the recidivism of drug offenders?

Lower recidivism means that taxpayers will spend less on housing and caring for people who keep returning to the jails for the same types of offenses.

Liberty Park High School has received funding from the Texas Education Agency to fund a new career technical training program for students obtaining a certification in architecture, construction, and manufacturing. Place in order the path that the funds for the new curriculum licenses took from the state to the high school.

Permanent School Fund Available School Fund Instructional Materials Fund

Which of the following is perhaps the greatest obstacle to getting the best-qualified individuals to run for judgeships and to stay on the bench in Texas?

Private law practice can bring much more money.

Evaluate the information in the chart about the change in the demographic composition of judges in Texas district courts, and select the answer choice that best explains the difference in composition between 2018 and 2020.

Record-high Democratic voter turnout led to the election of a greater proportion of women and people of color as judges.

Since the late 1980s, the courts in Texas have become more favorable to defendants in civil cases than to plaintiffs. Why?

Several tort reform laws were passed during the early 2000s that limited damages against defendants. In general, more conservative than liberal justices have been elected. More Republican than Democratic justices have been elected.

Why do state district courts have such a disproportionate number of cases in comparison to the other state courts listed?

State district courts are the state's primary trial courts.

The structure of the main governing body in each Texas county is identical.

TRUE

Which of the following statements about Texas local government is accurate?

Texas has more local governments than most states in total, but fewer local governments per capita.

Place the following steps of the budgeting process in the correct order.

The Legislative Budget Board (LBB) develops a budget based on requests from state agencies .The legislature drafts the budget. The comptroller certifies the budget. The governor signs or vetoes the proposed budget.

Why would students and leaders of universities in the University of Houston or Texas State University system not be excited about an unexpected increase in the revenues in the state's Permanent University Fund (PUF)?

The fund doesn't affect them.

Which of the following best describes the conflict between judicial candidates competing in partisan elections and the idea that judges should be above partisan disagreement and special interests?

The necessity of raising money and seeking endorsements gives the appearance of favoritism or bias.

How do conservative supporters of state preemption justify this intervention in local affairs?

They believe local policies may violate the interest and values of the state.

Suppose counties drew the boundaries of their four commissioner precincts to reflect equal landmass rather than an equal number of voters. Which of the following would be likely effects?

Voters in some areas would find it more difficult to cast their votes because of population differences. The votes in some areas of the county would functionally have more value than in other areas.

Though many counties in Texas have such a small population that they cannot operate efficiently and effectively, the number of counties is unlikely to change for which of the following reasons?

Voters may fear losing their identity and their control of the county government. County officeholders are resistant because they fear consolidation might eliminate their positions. Consolidation of counties requires a constitutional amendment.

Read the following excerpt of the Texas Constitution in order to determine which requirement must be met before the state can take on new debt.

Voters must approve any debt proposed by the state legislature.

Which of the following statements about representation on city councils in Texas are accurate?

White residents are over-represented on most city councils

Many, if not most, Texans are unaware of the municipal utility districts (MUDs) they live in and who operates them. Critics often argue that this lack of knowledge makes MUDs more prone to which of the following?

abuse of power

Which process does the legislature use to authorize spending money on programs and services?

appropriations

Academic calendars, setting of budget and tax rates, approval of textbooks, determination of course offerings, student handbooks, employment contracts, and school zoning are all decisions that are the responsibility of which part of school district leadership?

board of trustees

If you take a road trip and stop at a gas station to refuel your vehicle, part of your payment for each gallon of fuel you put in your vehicle goes to build and maintain Texas roadways as well as what other important state function?

carry out public education

The Coastal Plains region of Texas faces increasing threats from hurricanes and other damaging weather associated with climate change. Which of the following would most likely be tasked with the planning and execution of emergency management plans, as well as coordination of intergovernmental efforts to build a network of evacuation routes from the area?

councils of government (COGs)

Match each public service to the type of local government that most often provides that service.

county government: issue marriage licenses sheriff's law enforcement city government: annex adjacent lands enforce zoning ordinances special district: public schools flood control

If an economic crisis were to occur that caused a significant decline in the projected tax revenue for the biennium, the state legislature would likely deal with the shortfall by taking which steps?

cuts in spending use the Rainy Day Fund delay payments

According to the information in the table, which state has the most equitable taxing structure between its lowest 20 percent of earners and its top 1 percent of earners?

delaware

Which issues will likely continue to dominate public finance in Texas over the next biennium?

economic recovery and transformation following the pandemic an increasing population and related needs for increased services growing antigovernment feeling encouraging cuts in services

Match each Texas court to its correct jurisdiction.

intermediate-level appeals for civil, juvenile, and criminal cases courts of appeal jurisdiction over probate cases, less serious misdemeanors, and civil cases involving relatively low amounts of money at the local level county courts final appellate jurisdiction in state civil and juvenile casesTexas Supreme Court ultimate jurisdiction in state criminal cases Texas Court of Criminal Appeals general jurisdiction over a broad range of civil and criminal cases, mostly at the local level district courts

Over the years, many reformers have advocated numerous changes to the Texas judiciary, including which proposals listed below?

merit selection increasing diversity on the bench restructuring the judiciary to make it more efficient

If you are a resident of Odessa, Texas, you are simultaneously governed by which of the following forms of government?

nonschool special district city government county government federal government state government school district

Regulations enacted by city government, and under the jurisdiction of municipal courts, are often referred to as which of the following?

ordinances

County judges rarely have to hear legal cases. However, in situations in which a county judge has to hear cases, they are most likely to have to make a decision on what kinds of cases?

probate

When it comes to a budgetary surplus, most conservative legislators would recommend which course of action?

reducing taxes

If an economist was arguing that it would be fairer for everyone in society to pay the same percentage of their income in taxes rather than pay taxes at different percentages based on income levels, the economist would be making the case for which kind of tax?

regressive

While a few elected officials who break the law could face criminal charges, which of the following is the most common method for keeping county official accountable?

regular elections

Which city reform has made city government more politically representative of its residents?

single-member district elections of council members

Who among the following has the most influence over how much money will be spent by the state government over the course of a biennium?

state comptroller

Which of the following courts have the ability to hear cases involving both civil and criminal law?

state district courts state courts of appeal

The increased use of state preemption of local policy reflects which major conflict within Texas politics?

the clash between more liberal policy preferences in more populous urban areas and the conservative ideologies of Republican leaders and rural areas of the state

Match each office with the responsibilities or tasks that it carries out in the budgeting process.

the comptroller of public accounts -collect state taxes -certify appropriations bills the Legislative Budget Board -prepare fiscal notes regarding costs and impacts of proposed legislation -prepare a general appropriations bill the governor -develop a strategic plan for the state -exercise a line-item veto after an appropriations bill is passed

Federal restrictions on how the state can spend federal funds are one major constraint on the state's budgeting process. Which of the following is the other major constraint?

time

What is the purpose of a capital appreciation bond?

to allow local governments to quickly generate revenue

What is the primary role of councils of government (COGs)?

to promote coordination and planning for local government

At which points does the state of Texas collect revenue from oil produced in the state?

when it comes out of the ground when it goes into a vehicle