Texas GOVT 2306 final exam review

Often referred to as Austin's oldest profession

lobbying

Percentage share of Texas budget consumed by Medicaid

25%

Ranking of Texas in admittance to the Union

28th

Percent of students who attend a JC/community college that graduate with a degree in 6 years

29%

Texas national birthrate ranking

2nd

Percent of sales over the internet

3%

Number of Texas citizens on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

3.5million

Percent of federal grant money as a portion of total state revenue in 1990

33.7%

Number of live births in Texas

405,242

Medicaid percentage paid for by the state

42%

6 year graduation rate for students attending a university

57%

Medicaid percentage paid by the federal government

58%

State sales tax rate

6.25%

The state income tax rate for Texas

6.25%

Percent increase for health and human services between 1990 and 2010

60%

Federal government's percentage share of Medicaid

7%

Distance from Beaumont to El Paso

740 miles

Number of political offices held by Republicans throughout the state in 1974

75

Distance from Beaumont to Chicago

770 miles

Number of abortions in Texas

78,330

Number of states having a sales tax rate higher than Texas

8

Lyndon Johnson's winning vote margin in the 1948 U.S. Senate election

87

Percent of federal grants that are categorical grants

90%

Approximate percentage of criminal cases that result in plea agreements

97%

State with the largest constitution

Alabama

Symbol of Texas independence

Alamo

Appropriation Bill

Also known as running bill or supply bill, is a legislative motion that authorizes the government to spend money

Imminent Domain

right of the government to take private property for a public purpose, usually with just compensation of the owner

Agricultural related items not subject to sales tax

seeds, fertilizers, etc

State gasoline tax in 2011

$0.20/gallon

Amount the TRS trust fund held in 2011

$108.2billion

Amount tobacco companies agreed to pay Texas over 25 years to avoid a trial/lawsuit

$17.3 billion

Monetary size of the 2012-2013 state budget

$172.3 billion

Amount the ERS trust fund held in 2010

$20.7billion

Suspected cost to state and local governments in annual sales tax revenue due to internet commerce

$600 million

The figure in percent above the poverty level where Medicaid extends coverage

133%

State national ranking for cattle production

1st

Percentage amount local governments can add to the sales tax rate

2%

Number of political offices held by Republicans throughout the state in 2006

2,353

Election cycle for the Texas State House of Representatives

2-year cycle

Appropriation process

Annual procedure through which Congress legislatively provides money for a particular amount of money

4th and final president to serve the Republic of Texas

Anson Jones

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Article 4, all states are to honor the legal preceding and of other states

Individual credited with writing the Texas Declaration of Independence

George Childress

1st governor to be elected to two consecutive four-year terms

George W. Bush

Economic Triad

Houston, San Antonio, Dallas; contains 60% of population

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Legislation passed in 1990 the prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in any public setting such as employment, transportation, or government activities

Another common name for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Obamacare

New Deal

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1930's programs to stimulate the national economy and provide relief to victims of the Great Depression

Individual who defeated Edmund Davis in the 1872 election for governor

Richard Coke

Longest serving governor in the history of Texas

Rick Perry

Fiscal year

September 1st-August 31st

Biennium

Specified period of two years

Houston-based national group that seeks to ensure voter confidence in the election process

True The Vote

Clean Air Act

United States federal law designed to control air pollution on a national level

Early Voting

a procedure that allows voters to cast ballots during the two week period before the regularly scheduled election date

Foundation School Program

accounts for the largest portion of state and local funding, helps bring financial equality to local districts despite the vast differences

Federal Preemption of State Authority

act of Congress adopting regulatory policies that overrule state policies in a particular regulatory area

Home-Rule City

amendment to the state constitution grants cities, municipalities, and/or counties the ability to pass laws to govern themselves as they see fit

Grand Old Party (GOP)

another name for the Republican Party

Budget Execution Authority

authority granted by the governor and Legislative Budget Board to make transfers of appropriations between agencies and items within the adopted budget

Police Power

authority to promote the health, welfare, and safety of the people

General Fund

budget refers to the expenditures and revenues associated with the delivery of services by county agencies funded with property taxes, income taxes, charges and fees, and state shared taxes

Interstate Commerce Clause

clause states that the United States Congress shall have power to "regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states and with Indian Tribes"

Dual School System

combines apprenticeships in a company and vocational education at a vocational school in one course

Federal Grant Program

economic aid issued by the U.S. government out of the general fund revenue

Recession

economic downturn with rising unemployment lasting between 15-18 months

Sales tax

levy on the retail sale of taxable items

Tax elasticity

extent to which tax revenues increase as personal incomes rise

Medicaid

federal and state program financing medical services to low income people

Categorical Grant Program

federal grant-in-aid program that provides funds to state and local governments for a fairly narrow, specific purpose

Matching Funds Requirement

federal monies going to a state based on state spending for a program

Block Grant Program

financial aid package that grants federal money to state and local governments for use in social welfare programs

State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

for children of families with incomes too high to qualify for medicaid in Texas

Federal System

form of government that divides political power between a central government with authority over the whole nation and a series of state governments

Dedicated Funds

fund in the state treasury, or separate account, that by law is dedicated for a specific object or purpose

Dedicated Highway Fund

funds only dedicated for the highway

Entitlement Programs

government program that guarantees certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population

Debt Service

money spent by the state to pay off debts

Incumbent

official currently holding office

Federal Mandate

orders that induce "responsibility, action, procedure, or anything else that is imposed by constitutional, administrative, executive, or judicial action" for state and local governments

Interest Group

organization established to influence the government's programs and policies

Federal government costs states estimate have been shifted to state expenses over past 5 years

over $17.3 billion

Amount of state revenue generated from the lottery since it began in 1992

over $18 billion

Percentage of Texans now living in metropolitan areas

over 80%

Sunset review

periodic evaluation of state agencies by the legislature to determine whether they should be reauthorized

Sovereign

possessing supreme political authority within a geographic area

Line-item Veto

power of the executive to veto specific provisions of an appropriations bill passed by the legislature

Urbanization

process by which people move from rural areas to cities

Robin Hood plan

reform of the states school finance system designated to increase funding for poor school districts by redistributing from wealthy districts

Rainy day fund

state savings account funded by a portion of oil and gas production revenues

Budget Deficit

status of financial health in which expenditures exceed revenue

Local Governments

sub-units of states

Pari-mutuel wagering

system for gambling on horse racing and dog racing

Performance-based budgeting

system of budget preparation and evaluation to which policy makers identify specific policy goals, set performance targets for agencies and measure results

Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax

tax on the number of miles you have driven

Sin tax

tax on tobacco, alcohol , or items such as those

Drugs and medicine are exempt from sales tax

true

Restaurant food is charged with a sales tax

true

Number of times a governor can run for office in Texas

unlimited