EXAM 3 0-50
In 2014, _____ percent of Texans (4,270,218 people) lived below the poverty line
17.4%
The Constitution of the Republic of Texas required a public system of education, but a bill actually establishing a public school system did not pass the legislature until
1854
Generally, community supervision can run up to _______ year(s) for misdemeanors and up to ________ years for felonies
2, 10
13) The Texas Constitution specifies that state payments for assistance to needy children and their caretakers shall not exceed ____ % of the states' budget in any biennium.
20%
The poverty rate for children under 18 in Texas is _____, while it is _____ in the United States as a whole.
24 percent; 21 percent
Appeals at the level of the court of appeals are typically heard by panels of how many justices?
3
Special sessions last how many days?
30
Special sessions last ________, but there is no limit to the number of special sessions a governor can call.
30 days
According to the Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act, what dollar amount is a law firm limited to when donating to any statewide judicial candidate?
30,000
In the Texas legislature the senate has how many members?
31
What percentage of the Texas state budget comes from the federal government?
34 percent
The average age of an inmate in a Texas prison is _____ years old.
37
_______ percent of state funding is allocated to public education
37%
As of 2014, ________ percent of appellate judges in Texas were women, and ________ percent of district judges were women.
42, 40
Which U.S. constitutional amendment prohibits "unreasonable" searches?
4th amendment
Public education
50% of hispanic students in this, 30% white, 12.7% african american, 3.6% asian or pacific islander. 16.9% were considered limited english proficiency. 59% were considered poor. 47.2% were considered at risk. lower performance in tests. High drop out rates. Texas spends below national average on students. Teachers have low salaries
Texas senator term
6 years
There is a high sales tax in Texas of ____ percent.
6.25
There is a high sales tax in Texas of ________ percent
6.25
How many states do not have any form of personal income tax?
7
On average, what percentage of state and local government revenue across the country comes from state and local sources?
75 percent
The Texas Supreme Court consists of __________ justices
8
What is the combined state sales tax in TX?
8.25%
Each senator represents over how many constituents?
811,000
Texas's water consumption is projected to increase by ______________ percent in 2010-2060
82 %
Texas's water consumption is projected to increase by
82 percent in 2010-2060
For the 2016-2017 biennium, an estimated ____ billion in state General Revenue Funds went to public education a) $41.3 b) $51 c) $10.2 d) $19
A
What was the effect of Dallas shifting from an at-large to a single-member district system in 1991? a) the change was responsible for the election of a significant number of African American and Hispanic council members b) the city lost its status as a home-rule city for five years c) at-large districts benefited the local Democratic Party d) it was challenged in court but found to be constitutional by the Texas Supreme Court
A
Which program provided coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid? a) Children's Health Insurance Program b) Federal Medical Assistance Program c) Affordable Care Act d) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
A
National Commission on Excellence in Education
A 1983 report by the "", called A Nation at Risk, identified a number of crises that were beginning to grip the nation's educational system. Test scores were declining and functional illiteracy was on the rise. Students were simply not equipped with the intellectual skills required in the modern world. If steps were not taken soon to reform education in the United States, the report argued, the nation was at risk of falling behind other countries in the rapidly changing world of international competition.
A 1983 report by the National Commission on Excellence in Education was called
A Nation at Risk
Regarding the rules of community supervision (probation) requirements, what are the results of compliance versus violation?
A criminal in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to one-third the term, while a criminal in violation may be sent to jail for the remainder of her or her sentence.
In regards to the rules of community supervision (probation) requirements, what are the results of compliance versus violation?
A criminal in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to one-third the term, while a criminal in violation may be sent to jail for the remainder of his or her sentence
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
A federal program that provides a minimum income to seniors and the disabled who do not qualify for social security.
Medicaid
A health care payment program sponsored by federal & state governments
When the Texas governor strikes out particular spending provisions in an approriations bill, it is called
A line-item veto
A 1983 report by the National Commission on Excellence in Education was called _____.
A nation at risk
In the 1960s, welfare policy in Texas reflected this.
A policy of minimizing the cost to Texas while maximizing the use of federal dollars.
New Deal
A series of reforms enacted by the Franklin Roosevelt administration between 1933 and 1942 with the goal of ending the Great Depression.
What is it called when the legislature grants a particular corporation an exemption from a state law?
A special bill
What action forced the legislature to bring the 2012-2013 state budget into balance
A special session of the Texas legislature voted for a balanced budget.
Which factor(s) related to public finance will work against a return to highly regulated tuition and fees? State political leaders want costs held down, but few want to return all decision making about tuition back to the legislature. The legislature has been unwilling to allocate more general revenue monies directly to fund higher education, even in an era of rapidly escalated costs in the industry. Most political leaders recognized that if Texas wants to build high-quality universities, someone has to pay for them. All of these are correct.
All of these are correct.
Which city is located in the Great Plains region of Texas?
Amarillo and lubbock
How common are special sessions?
An average of once a year since 1876
The 1983 report by the National Commission on Excellence in Education was called
" A Nation at Risk"
poverty
"" remains one of the most intractable problems facing the state. is the condition under which individuals or families do not have the resources to meet their basic needs, including food, shelter, health care transportation, and clothing.
San Antonio v Rodriguez dealt with the _____.
"Education was a fundamental right under the constitution." They said it was up to the states to fix the property tax system of funding.
Texas has a reputation of being a ________ state. "high service, high tax" "low service, low tax" "no services, low tax" "low service, high tax"
"low service, low tax"
The highest fine an individual can receive upon criminal sentencing is
$10,000
In the past thirty years, the costs of prison construction and maintenance have risen from approximately _____ to approximately ______
$147 million; $3 billion
Wrongfully convicted individuals in the state of Texas can receive a lump sum of ________ for each year they wrongfully served prison time, plus some additional yearly payments of up to ________ per year.
$80,000 $80,000
Wrongfully convicted individuals in the state of Texas can receive a lump sum of ________ for each year they wrongfully served prison time, plus some additional yearly payments of up to ________ per year
$80,000,$80,000
important facts of the 1827 Constitution of Coahuila y Tejas, established when Texas was part of Mexico?
- a unicameral legislature. - attempted to restrict the spread of slavery. - divided the state into three separate districts. - established Catholicism as an official religion.
...
...
Article III-Section 49a
...
National Research University Fund (NEUF)
...
One of the most notable effects of bicameralism in the Texas legislature is that it
...
Since its creation, Medicaid as _____.
...
The current Texas Constitution has been amended less than four hundred times.
...
Urban business interests had the greatest role in writing the Texas Constitution of 1876.
...
all funds budget
...
appropriations
...
debt service
...
economic stablilization fund (ESF or the Rainy Day Fund)
...
federal funds budget
...
general revenue dedicated funds budget
...
general revenues fund budget
...
higher education fund
...
other funds budget
...
permanent school funds
...
permanent university trust fund
...
progressive matching funds
...
regressive
...
state highway fund
...
TX spending on a per capita basis is...
...much lower than the national average
What are the top 4 Government programs?
1. Education programs 2. Health and Human Services Programs 3. Transportation Programs 4. Housing and Community Development
Which items were included in the 1984 landmark education legislation known as House Bill 72 that was spearheaded by Ross Perot?
1. Raised teacher pay 2. Limit class size 3. Required pre-kindergarten classes for disadvantaged 4 year olds 4. Required students to pass a basic skills test before graduating form high school 5. Required school district to provide tutorial services for failing students
What rules applies to filibustering in Texas?
1. There is no eating or drinking during a filibuster 2. Senators must stand, not lean, sit, or use their desk in any way. 3. Remarks must be confined to the issue under consideration.
c) Texas can apply for a waiver with the federal government, enabling it to create programs directed toward particular clients.
10. Which of the following statements is true about Medicaid in Texas? a) Medicaid is a program that was part of the New Deal. b) Texas policy makers make all the major decisions regarding the principles and standards directing Medicaid in Texas. There is no federal oversight. c) Texas can apply for a waiver with the federal government, enabling it to create programs directed toward particular clients. d) Medicaid employs doctors and nurses as members of the Department of Health and Human Services hired to provide medical care to the poor. e) Medicaid is funded entirely by the state.
For fiscal year 2015, the Texas state budget was about $___ billion.
100
b) provide medical care to an increasing number of Medicaid clients in Texas.
11. Managed care programs a) are not found in the Texas Medicaid program. b) provide medical care to an increasing number of Medicaid clients in Texas. c) provide medical care to a small number of Medicaid clients in Texas. d) provide direct fee-for-service care for Medicaid recipients. e) have declined in popularity since the 1990s
A grand jury consists of how many individuals to possibly hear a case?
12
In Texas, felony juries are composed of ___________ people and misdemeanor juries are composed of ___________.
12, 6
In Texas, felony juries are composed of ________ people and misdemeanor juries are composed of ____
12;6
In the past 20 years, the costs of prison construction and maintenance have risen from approximately ________ to approximately ________.
147 mil, 3 bil
equal protection clause
14th amendment clause that prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law, and has been used to combat discrimination
The percentage of Texans living in poverty is approximately _____.
15 percent
In the Texas legislature the house has how many members?
150
In the Texas legislature, the House has ________ members and the Senate has ________ members.
150, 31
In the Texas legislature, the House has ________ members and the Senate has ________ members.
150:31
Each member of the Texas House represents approximately how many constituents?
168,000
An estimated _________ of Texans were uninsured in 2014, compared to ___________ of the U.S. population
17 percent; 10 percent
In Texas who can write a bill?
Anyone at all
In Texas, who can write a bill?
Anyone at all
60, irrigation
Approximately 59 percent of the water used in Texas comes from aquifers (underground pools of water), the vast majority of which ("" percent) is used in "", the artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops, particularly in the arid Panhandle region
Most of the water used in Texas comes from _____.
Aquifers
Family Support Act
At the national level, the deadlock over welfare reform was broken with the passage of the "" in 1988. In the attempt to stem the rising tide of illegitimacy rates and single-parent families among the poor, the act mandated two-parent coverage for all state AFDC programs. It also established a number of new "workfare" programs whose goals were to get people off welfare and into the workforce. New standards were also developed requiring parents to participate in these workfare programs or lose their benefits.
Ross Perot was appointed by Governor Mark White to chair a committee on education. As committee chair, he was particularly scornful of ______.
Athletic Programs
In large Texas counties, the ______ prepares the county budget
Auditor
Which two Texas metropolitan areas are national centers for the high-tech industry?
Austin and san marcos
In 2014, ____ percent of Texans lived below the poverty line. a) 15.9 b) 17.2 c) 15.0 d) 35.4
B
In smaller counties, state law allows the sheriff to act as a) the justice of the peace b) the tax assessor/collector c) the constable and court officer d) the medical examiner
B
In the 1973 San Antonio v. Rodriguez case, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states such as Texas a) are required to subsidize poorer school districts under the equal protection clause b) are not required to subsidize poorer school district under the equal protection clause c) are required to equalize funding to public and private schools d) are not required to subsidize wealthy school districts under the equal protection clause
B
San Antonio operates under which style of city government? a) mayor-council b) council-manager c) commissioner d) council-mayor
B
The commissioner form of city government was developed as a response to the a) end of Reconstruction in 1876 b) hurricane at Galveston in 1900 c) Great Depression of 1929 d) discovery of oil in 1901
B
The most persistent social problem facing Texas is a) severe droughts b) poverty c) crime d) environmental degradation
B
Underlying water policy in Texas is a) federal law mandating all aspects of water use in Texas b) a complicated system of private property rights c) the fact that Texas has no major rivers, lakes, or aquifers d) fear that Texas is in permanent state of drought
B
What is an at-large election? a) an election for offices that receive no official salary b) an election in which voters elect officials from entire geographical area rather than from a smaller district within the area c) an election held under the commission system of city government d) an election in which one or more candidates are under criminal indictment
B
______ refers to the idea that policy will be developed that will maximize the output of government with a minimum commitment of resources a) Systemic agenda b) Optimality c) individual rationality d) legitimation
B
The debate over public education goes back to the
Break with Mexico
Which U.S. Supreme Court case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that state-imposed segregation in schools isolated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Brown v. Board of Education
was still a problem in urban public schools with large minority populations
By the late 1960s, de facto segregation
Family suport act
By the mid 1980's a new critique of welfare programs had begun to emerge. observers believed that the skyrocketing amount of poor children and unwed mothers was result of a perverse set of incentives created by welfare programs, the passsage of the F"" in 1988 helps this.
Federal money for Medicaid programs a) comes to the states as a block grant without any significant restrictions b) is tied to the number of adults on the welfare rolls in order to reduce the cost of program redundancy c) is accomplished by federal rules and regulations, which states must comply with to maintain federal funding of the program d) is administered automatically by the federal government to avoid punishing program recipients
C
In 2016, the Texas Supreme Court held that the existing system for funding public schools met the minimum constitutional provisions for a) fairness b) efficiency c) general diffusion of knowledge d) acceptability
C
Most of the water in Texas is for a) national defense purposes b) home consumption by households c) irrigation d) additional water supplies for neighboring states
C
The mayor and city council members are subject to recall if _____ percent of the qualified voters in a district sign a petition or recall and a recall election is successful a) 15 b) 20 c) 10 d) 5
C
Which of the following states does NOT have a higher incarceration rate than Texas?
California
Which of the following states had the highest taxable resources per capita in 2011?
California
The chief financial officer for a city is called the
City controller
The Higher Education Fund and the National Research University Fund completely excludes funding for:
Community/Junior Colleges
17) ____ monitors state agencies to ensure that they comply with the state budget.
Comptroller
Who prepares the BRE
Comptroller
Federal funds appropriated in Texas generally are
Concentrated in a few state agencies
15) Appropriations bills work their ways through both the House and the senate simultaneously. When there is disagreement on two versions of a bill, the bill is reconciled by?
Confidence committee
Dallas operates under which form of city government?
Council-Manager style
San Antonio operates under which of city government?
Council-Manager style
In Texas, what official presides over the county commissioners court?
County judge
A 1983 report by the National Commission on Excellence in Education was called a) Waiting for Superman b) Only in America c) No Child Left Behind d) A Nation at Risk
D
The generally accepted standard by which poverty is measured in the US is the a) unemployment index b) caloric intake index c) index of income inequality d) US Department of Health and Human Services poverty index
D
What is the composition of the county commissioner's courts? a) 5 county commissioners, with 1 member appointed by county judge b) 3 judge panel and 4 county commissioners c) 1 district clerk and 4 county commissioners d) 1 country clerk and 4 county commissioners
D
Which of the following statements about counties in Texas is INCORRECT? a) counties are an administrative arm of the state government b) there are over 250 counties in Texas c) each county has 4 county commissioners d) all counties have approximately the same number of people
D
The main trial courts in Texas are called
District Courts
highest among minorities
Dropout rates in Texas are
How is the speaker of the house chosen?
Elected by members of the house.
What is the Religious Viewpoint Antidiscrimination Act?
Ensured religious-oriented clubs the same access to school facilities and protected students who expressed religious beliefs.
T/F All large cities in Texas have structures of government that give strong executive powers to the mayor
F
T/F In the US, welfare is currently considered a local issue and responsibility.
F
T/F Poverty among children in Texas is about the same as the national average.
F
T/F The law of capture works in support of conservation efforts
F
T/F Under the concept of federalism, welfare policy is largely separate from federal programs and policy making.
F
The law of capture works in support of conservation efforts. T/F
F
Because the budget process in Texas operates on a two-year cycle, Texas legislators have adequate time to gather information, carefully analyze it, and craft a detailed and accurate state budget. True False
False
For a bill to be passed into law by the Texas legislature only one house must pass the bill by 50 plus one.
False
George W. Bush was the first Republican governor of Texas since Reconstruction.
False
In order to deal with budget shortfalls Texas has had a state income tax which dates from the era of the Republic of Texas.
False
In the Senate, the Speaker controls legislative debate by selecting who speaks and how long the debate will last.
False
Members of the Texas House of Representatives are permitted to speak on the House floor for as long as they wish.
False
One of the perverse effects of public welfare is that it encourages fathers to stay connected to their families and help raise their children. True False
False
Poverty among children in Texas is about the same as the national average. True False
False
Similar to the U.S. president, the governor has the power of the pocket veto.
False
Special sessions last 30 days and there is a limit to the number of special sessions a governor can call.
False
Texas's 6.25 percent sales tax is the highest in the nation. True False
False
Texas's General Revenue Dedicated Fund serves as the states' main operating fund.
False
Texas, because of its widespread support for public education, has a long-standing history of spending more per pupil than most states do. True False
False
The 2010 legislation passed under the Obama administration, dealing with national health care, has enjoyed unusually high levels of bipartisan support. True False
False
The Rainy Day Fund is more properly known as the National Research University Fund. True False
False
The Texas Constitution permits the election to the Texas legislature of persons who are not U.S. citizens but who have been legal residents of Texas for at least 10 years.
False
The Texas House of Representatives is responsible for both impeaching government officials and holding the trials after impeachment.
False
The lieutenant governor is also a member of the Texas House of Representatives.
False
The structure of the Texas executive branch is centralized, with much formal authority allocated to the governor.
False
There are approximately 20 state boards and commissions within the Texas plural executive.
False
Under Texas's budgetary system, there is NO power to shift monies between agencies or programs when the legislature in NOT in session. True False
False
Under the concept of federalism, welfare policy is largely separate from federal programs and policy making. True False
False
Unlike the U.S. Senate, the Texas Senate does not permit filibusters.
False
When combined states and local sales taxes in Texas are more than 10% if the individual purchase price.
False
The permanent school fund and the Permanent University Trust Fund were provided for through a complex system of state income taxes.
False it comes from the sale of state owned land
In an attempt to stem the rising tide of illegitimacy rates and single-parent families among the poor, which act mandated two-parent coverage for all state AFDC programs?
Family Support Act
What are federal matching funds?
Federal Election Campaign Act provides for public funding of presidential candidates.
Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)
Federal funds, administered by the states, for children living with persons or relatives who fall below state standards of need; revoked in 1996.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Federal legislation that replaces Aid to Families with Dependent Children and whereby government welfare assistance to poor parents is limited to five years for most families with most adult recipients required to find work within two years.
In the state of Texas, what is the policy for felon's right to vote?
Felons are allowed to vote upon full discharge of their sentence
The system of distributing powers between states and a central, national government is called
Feudalism system
The governor of Texas has
Few formal powers, so the office is one the weakest chief executives in the United States
What were some solutions to the rising cost of tuition?
Flat tuition rates, cheaper rates for seniors, cheaper rates for classes schedule during off peak times
The TWDB's State Water Plan in 2012 proposed a strategies for meeting water needs
Focus on conservation Expand and develop available surface water and expand production of groundwater
50
For the next "" years, educational policy in the state would work through the institutional framework established by the Gilmer-Aikin Laws.
Texas House member term
Four years
The main purpose of the Permanent School Fund is to
Fund primary and secondary schools in the state
3 main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas during the last 50 years
Funding* Desegregation Educational excellence * Under the separate but equal doctrine in the 1920s and 1930s, the amount of money Texas spent on black students was lower than the amount spent on white students in public schools
The three main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas during the last fifty years are
Funding, desegregation, and educational excellence
The three main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas during the last 50 years are......
Funding, desegregation, and educational excellence.
The _____ budget is one composed of funds for dedicated revenues that target money for specific funds
General Revenue-Dedicated Funds
Individuals that 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
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 law increased state funding and established the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which carries out the state's educational program?
Gilmer-Aikin Laws
1949
Gilmer-Aikin Laws education reform legislation passed in "" that supplemented local funding of education with public monies, raised teachers' salaries, mandated a minimum length for the school year, and provided for more state supervision of public education
The agenda for special sessions in the Texas legislature is set by the...
Governor
2008
Great Recession that began in what year?
What is the name of the current Texas Governor?
Greg Abbott
The United States Supreme Court, in a 2003 ruling on a case involving the University of Michigan, effectively overturned Hopwood v. Texas by holding that ________. What was the name of the court case? What was Abigail Fisher v. UT Austin about? What was the Supreme Court ruling?
Grutter v Bolinger said . supreme court said Uof M was not guilty and there were other means to decide the acceptance of its students
Which bill instituted tuition deregulation? List the alternatives available to rising tuition costs at institutions of higher education?
HB 3015. they are required by law to spend at least 20% of the revenue generated from the increase in tuition on financial aid, they must also spend at least 25% to hire more student workers and award additional loans to students who may be strapped for cash, 5% of the 25% must go to a state pool that funds the be on time student loan program, which was established by the Texas legislature.
3) Federal money is an important part of the Texas budget, but monies that Texas receives from the federal government_____.
Have strings attached, if legislators want federal dollars they must spend state dollars.
The high school graduation rates in Texas are ____.
Highest in the nation
Which of the following statements about partisanship in the Texas legislature is correct?
Historically, partisanship has been rather low, but in recent years the legislature has moved into a more partisan era.
Problem Identification:
Identifying a systemic agenda, in which issues are commonly perceived as involving matters within governmental authority Example: the problem of poverty
What is the ultimate check on the governor?
Impeachment
What stage of the policy-making process involves instituting incentives or sanctions?
Implementation
Plessy v. Ferguson
In "" (1896), the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the validity of state- imposed racial segregation through the now-infamous "separate but equal" doctrine. In Texas, as elsewhere across the South, segregated schools may have been separate, but they were far from equal. In the 1920s and '30s, for example, the length of the school term for black schools was only about four days shorter than that for white schools, but Texas spent an average of $3.39 less per student (about one-third less) on the education of African American students than
March 2010
In ", ", Congress passed two bills, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Reconciliation Act of 2010, which together became known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), often referred to as Obamacare.
Gilmer-Aikin Laws
In 1949 the state legislature tried to address some of these problems by passing the "" , under which school districts were consolidated into 2,900 administrative units, state equalization funding was provided to supplement local taxes, teachers' salaries were raised, and a minimum 175 teaching days school year was established. In addition, the laws established the Texas Education Agency (TEA), originally known as the State Department of Education, to supervise public education in the state.
1
In 1981 the constitutional ceiling on welfare spending was replaced with a more flexible standard. Instead of having a flat cap of $80 million, welfare expenditures could not exceed "" percent of the total state budget.
The Affordable Care Act
In 2010 Congress passed the Affordable Care Act, often known as Obamacare, and transformed the debate over health care policy The ACA requires individuals to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty; and it expands Medicaid A majority of the states challenged the ACA A complicated U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2012 rejected the insurance mandate but upheld the tax penalty; and it held that states could not be forced to expand Medicaid
17
In 2014, __.4 percent of Texans (4,270,218 people) lived below the poverty line. In addition, in October 2013 a total of 3,651,344 people were en-rolled in Medicaid, the federally financed, state-operated program providing medical services to low-income people. Poverty remains one of the most intractable problems facing the state. In 2014 the federal poverty guideline was $11,670 a year for one person and $4,060 a year for each additional person in the family. Over 26 percent of Latinos and 23.8 percent of African Americans in Texas are poor. Of those over age 65 in Texas, 11.4 per cent are poor compared with 9.4 percent in the nation as a whole. Poverty among children under age 18 is much higher in Texas (24.8 percent) than in the United States as a whole (20.8 percent). Texas uses these federal poverty guidelines to determine eligibility for a variety of social programs. For example, a family of three is eligible for reduced-price school meals if the family is at no more than 185 percent of the poverty level. A family of three is eligible for free school meals if the family is at no more than 130 per cent of the poverty level, and is eligible for food stamps (the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program or SNAP) if the family is at no more than 130 per-cent of the poverty level.
desegregate their schools with deliberate speed
In Brown v. Board of Education, segregated school districts were ordered to
4, 3.39
In Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the validity of state- imposed racial segregation through the now-infamous "separate but equal" doctrine. In Texas, as elsewhere across the South, segregated schools may have been separate, but they were far from equal. In the 1920s and '30s, for example, the length of the school term for black schools was only about "" days shorter than that for white schools, but Texas spent an average of $"" less per student (about one-third less) on the education of African American students than
Which statement is true regarding poverty in Texas?
In Texas, the poverty rate among children is much higher than the rest of the United States
Family Support Act of 1988
In an attempt to stem the rising tide of illegitimacy rates and single-parent families among the poor, which act mandated two-parent coverage for all state AFDC programs?
Texas legislature takes office in January...
In even numbered years
are required to subsidize poorer school districts under the equal protection clause.
In the 1973 San Antonio v. Rodriguez case, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states such as Texas
Through what did the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Plessy v. Ferguson?
In the case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson in?
In the case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the US Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public education was unconstitutional.[33] Plessy v. Ferguson was never overturned by the Supreme Court. But, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited legal segregation and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 provided for federal oversight and enforcement of voter registration voting.
What are generally considered to be an example of regressive taxes or fees? (NOT)
Income Taxes
Which of the following is not generally considered to be an example of regressive taxes or fees?
Income Taxes
According to the text, just as the economy began to improve and state revenues started increasing, a new threat arose to threaten the newly balanced budget. It was it?
Increasing health care costs due to recent efforts to reform the health care system.. Obamacare
Policy Formulation:
Institutional agenda-setting
In Texas, why is a governor's post-adjournment veto so powerful?
It cannot be overturned by the legislature.
What is the importance of the Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims and Baker v. Carr?
It declared the constitutional principle of "one person, one vote."
What is the Southwest Border Initiative?
It directed state dollars to upgrade historically Hispanic institutions.
As in the U.S. Congress, the purpose of a conference committee in the Texas legislature is to do what?
It is a committee designed to make differing House and Senate versions of the same bill identical.
As in the U.S. Congress, what is the purpose of a conference committee in the Texas legislature?
It is a committee designed to make differing House and Senate versions of the same bill identical.
What is the function of the "local and consent" calendar?
It is for bills that are uncontroversial or limited to a localized problem. Needs a 100% yes vote to pass.
Why must Texas gubernatorial candidates purchase print and electronic advertisements in 19 media markets to reach every corner of the state?
It is necessary because Texas is such a large geographic area.
2) Why must the Texas legislature maintain a balanced budget?
It is required by the Texas Constitution.
Why must the Texas legislature maintain a balanced budget?
It is required by the Texas constitution
What is the function of the "local and consent" calendar?
It is reserved for uncontroversial bills or bills limited to a localized problem.
What is the function of the "local and consent" calendar?
It is reserved for uncontroversial bills that are not expected to have major opposition.
Why is a budget required?
It is stated in the Tx constitution that the incoming has to equal or succeed outgoing because funds have to carry throughout
What unconventional action did the Texas legislature take in 2003?
It redistricted a second time in a single decade.
What is the purpose of the Sunset Advisory Commission in Texas?
It reviews state agencies every 12 years to see if they are still needed.
_____ is the only Texas governor to be both impeached and convicted
James Ferguson
________ is the only Texas governor to be both impeached and convicted.
James Ferguson
In Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, the key constitutional issue was _____.
Landmark case involving the financing of public schools. Edgewood considered the equity of funding public schools by the existening property tax system in terms of texas constitution. Argued states reliance on local property taxes to fund public edu discriminated against poor.
Who are the two most powerful political leaders in Texas?
Lieutenant governor and speaker of the house.
What would happen if Texas instituted a progressive income tax?
Low income Texans would pay a lower tax rate than wealthy Texans
18) Nationally, what two factors caused the bubble in the real estate market?
Low interest rates supported by Federal Reserve policy along with loose credit standards.
According to our text, what determines the amount of tax revenue generated from oil and natural gas produced in Texas?
Market price and the amount produced
According to our text, what determines the amount of tax revenue generated from oil and natural gas produced in Texas
Market price and the amount produced
What is it called when a blue-ribbon committee selects judicial nominees who are then appointed by the governor and must finally run for the rentention in office?
Merit selection
A minor criminal offense, usually punishable by a small fine or a short jail sentence is a(n)
Misdemeanor
Does Texas have a state income tax?
NO, 1 of 9 states that doesn't
In which case did the majority of the U.S. Supreme Court justices conclude that a tax penalizing people who did not get medical insurance was constitutional?
National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius
Is there a limit to the number of special sessions?
No
24, 2012
On February "", "", the Texas Supreme Court ruled on the case The Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel
rising cost
One major welfare program that has become increasingly costly is Medicaid, a state-federal program that finances health care for the poor. Reforms instituted under the Obama administration have significantly expanded health care coverage for the poor. Texas, however, is not participating in that expansion. The "" of Medicaid is seen by many conservatives to be a growing threat to the financial integrity of the state's budget.
Who does Texas allow to introduce a bill to the Texas legislature?
Only a member of the legislature
One of the most notable effects of bicameralism in the Texas legislature is that it...
Permits more opportunities to kill or significantly modify a bill.
Abigail Fisher v. UT Austin
Plaintiffs Abigail Noel Fisher and Rachel Multer Michalewicz applied to the University of Texas at Austin in 2008 and were denied admission. The two women, both white, filed suit, alleging that the University had discriminated against them on the basis of their race in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
Brown v. Board of Education overturned ____________ ruling that state-imposed segregation in schools isolated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Evaluation:
Policies must be evaluated for effectiveness Good evaluation can allow for a rethinking of the policy and of the strategies employed
8) Who pays the greatest portion of their income in property taxes?
Poor homeowners and renters
Who pays the greatest portion of their income in property taxes?
Poor homeowners and renters
24 21
Poverty among children under age 18 is much higher in Texas, at ________,than in the United States as a whole, which is at ________.
The origins of modern welfare policy lie in
President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal
23) Just as the economy began to improve and state revenues started increasing, a new threat arose to threaten the newly balanced budget. It was the ____.
President Obama's federal reform to health care.
Courts that can review matters relating to the disposition of property of deceased persons are referred to as
Probate courts
In a situation in which the defendant may have committed his or her first offense, the judge is more likely to issue a punishment of
Probation
For which type of offense are Texas prison inmates least likely to be imprisoned?
Property
What are the main sources of revenue for special districts in Texas?
Property and user fees
the historic characteristics that make up Texas political culture?
Provicialism preference for limited government The Dominance of Democratic Party The Dominance of business interests
In 1965, Congress created the Medicaid program, a state-federal program, to
Provide health care for the poor
11) The main purpose of the Permanent School Fund (PSF) is to ____?
Provide monies for primary and secondary schools
Setting local telephone and electric rates is the responsibility of the
Public Utilities Commission
Put the stages of the policy process in the correct order? How does Thomas Dye define a public good?
Public policy defined by Thomas Dye as whatever government chooses to do or not to do.
Implementation:
Public policy put into effect by government Identifying the appropriate agency to implement a program is crucial at this stage, and budgetary policy plays a major role
The economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) is commonly known as the
Rainy Day Fund
The Economic Stabilization Fund is also known as the......
Rainy Day Fund.
Big Bend is found in what region of Texas?
Range Province
4) Texas spending on a per capita basis is _____.
Ranked 47th- $4,468 per person far below the US Average
_______ refers to the idea that policy makers have formulated and implemented policy that address the problems in an optimal or efficient manner
Rationality
The Texas governor does not have the power to...
Remove the speaker of the house or the lieutenant governor, even with suitable cause.
The religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act of 2007
Required Texas schools to adopt a number of policies that would protect religious speech on campus
What bill must begin in the House of Representatives?
Revenue bills
What is the purpose of the Sunset Advisory Commission in Texas?
Reviewing the effectiveness of state agencies
Who was the longest-serving governor in the history of Texas?
Rick Perry
What is the single largest source of tax revenue for the state of Texas
Sales Tax
Which school district in Texas became one of the first in the nation to comply with the Supreme Court's order in Brown v. Board of Education?
San Antonio
Other important court cases have affected education policy and politics in Texas in the past 30 years?
San Antonio v. Rodríguez, on the constitutionality of using property taxes to fund public schools The question was of equitable funding The district court ruled Texas's school finance system unconstitutional under the U.S.'s equal protection clause; but the decision was overturned on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973
Which school district in Texas became the first in the nation to comply with the Supreme Court's order in Brown v. the Board of Education?
San Antonio, Texas
The governor appoints people to office, but the Texas ________ must also confirm them.
Senate
The legal doctrine in the Plessy v Ferguson case is the
Separate but equal doctrine
15, 4
Since 1949 the State Board of Education has undergone occasional restructuring. Membership was expanded to 24 in 1973 and to 27 in 1981. Following a special legislative session, the board became a 15-member appointed body in 1984. But in 1988 it reverted to an elected body composed of "" members serving ""-year terms.
All Texas legislature are elected using...
Single member districts
Legislative districts in the Texas House and senate are...
Single member districts
The majority of delegates to the Convention of 1836 that drafted the constitution for a newly independent Republic of Texas were from
Southern Slave States
In the Texas legislature, the referral of a bill to a standing committee in the House and the Senate is the job of the
Speaker of the House and lieutenant governor.
If the legislature grants a particular corporation an exception from a state law, it is called
Special Bill
Which of the following statements about special sessions of the Texas legislature is true?
Special sessions are common, held an average of once a year since 1876.
A home rule charter
Specifies the number of members serving on the city's governing body
21) What action forced the legislature to bring the 2012-2013 state budget into balance?
Spending cuts, payment deferments and various "revenue enhancements"
1) Prior to 2003, tuition for public colleges and universities in Texas was set by?
State Legislature
5) Identify the single largest source of tax revenue for the state of Texas?
State Taxes/sales tax
20) The Texas legislature increased ___to help compensate for lower property tax revenues in the 2012-2013 budget cycle.
State corporate franchise tax and cigarette tax
The Texas legislature increased ____________ to help compensate for lower property tax revenues in the 2012-13 budget cycle.
State corporate franchise taxes and cigarette taxes
Which state agency was eliminated in 1996?
State treasurer
Following a legislative decision in 2003 to reduce state funding to higher education, which source of university revenue began to increase most rapidly?
Student tuition and fees
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) did what?
Supreme court case that violated the 14th amendment ; jim crow laws were set up because of this
One of the challenges facing education policy in Texas is high dropout rates. T/F
T
T/F Law enforcement is a responsibility of county government
T
T/F The San Antonio School District became one of the first school districts in Texas to comply with the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954.
T
T/F The Supplemental Security income program provides assistance to individuals in need who have disabilities or are aged
T
The constitutionality of using property tax revenues in school finance has been an issue in terms of providing equal opportunities for Texans. T/F
T
Texas maintains a balanced budget because the State Constitution requires it.
TRUE
Dual-Budget System (primary players)
TX has a dual - budget system meaning the budget authority is shared by the gov and the legislature, in practice the primary player is the legislature
What did Bullock do?
TX will never have a personal income tax in the future because Bullock proposed a constitutional amendment that effectively gave the electorate a veto over any proposal for an income tax
Among the most important findings of the 1983 report were that
Test scores were declining and functional illiteracy was increasing
What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?
Texas Board of Pardons and Parole make a unilateral collective decision
What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?
Texas Board of Pardons and Parole votes on it. Governor can give only 30-day clemency!
Authority over railroads throughout Texas was given to the ________ in 2005.
Texas Department of Transportation
Authority over railroads throughout Texas was given to the ________ in 2005.
Texas Railroad Commission
Education is big business in Texas but continues to face several challenges
Texas ranks 44th on public expenditures per enrolled student low public expenditure per enrolled student the increasingly economically disadvantaged and at-risk student body the demographics are increasingly minority and disadvantaged, and Texas has high dropout rates
In the state of Texas, what is the policy for felons' right to vote?
Texas voting rights are restored after the sentence has been fully discharged
In the state of Texas, what is the policy for felons' rights to vote
Texas voting rights are restored after the sentence has been fully discharged
State Board of Education
The "" became the policy-making body for public education in the state, selecting budgets, establishing regulations for school accreditation, executing contracts for the purchase of textbooks, and investing in the Permanent School Fund. The board also had the power to appoint a commissioner of education, subject to confirmation by the Texas Senate. How much money is available to public education through the PSF is determined by this
Medicaid Women's Health Program
The "" in Texas serves more than 100,000 women and is funded by $35 million from federal funds and $7 million from state funds. Through subsidized clinics located across the state, the program helps pay for birth control, health screening, and family exams for a select group of women on Medicaid. Planned Parenthood offers these services as well as abortion services at its various clinics across the state. Conservatives in Texas, including Governor Perry, were unhappy with any state monies being used to subsidize groups sup-porting abortion and moved to cut program funds from going to these clinics. But federal regulations clearly state that patients in the program, not state officials, decide where money from the program is spent.
The Top 10 Percent Law was in response to what case? What is the primary goal of the Top 10% Law?
The 5th U.S. circuit court of appeals ruled that race based admission policy previous used by UT laws was unconstitutional. In early 1977, Tx attorney general Dan Morales held that Hopwood ruling went beyond the law school prohibited all universities in tx from using race or ethnicity as a preferential factor in admissions, scholarships and other student programs. As a response to this case in 1997, the legislature created the 10% law.
10) Next to revenue generated by state taxes, the second largest source of state revenue comes from _____?
The Federal Government
b) were major educational reforms passed in 1949.
The Gilmer-Aikin Laws a) regulate schools in the Gilmer-Aikin ISD. b) were major educational reforms passed in 1949. c) established an office of elected state superintendent of public instruction. d) allowed for homeschooling of children. e) required that money raised from the poll tax be spent on public education.
What is the Gilmer-Aikin law of 1949 about? What is House Bill 72?
The Gilmer-Aikin law has made major improvements in the administration of public education and significantly boosted funding for public schools (80% of education funding came from the state) but by the 1970 this law ceased to exist. House bill 72 raised taxes to boost education spending. It also did the following: raised teacher pay, limited class size, require pre kindergarten classes for disadvantage four year old, required students to pass a basic skill test before graduating from high school, required school districts to provide tutorial services for failing students, and two provisions of the HB 72 that were controversial: literacy test for teachers and no pass no play, it also replaced the state board of education which held a non reformist approach to education.
budget crisis
The Great Recession of 2008-09 brought a "" to the 2011 legislative session that shook educational policy in Texas to its core. One of the principal ways that the 2011 legislature balanced the budget without raising taxes was by making severe cuts to the tune of $5.6 billion in elementary and secondary education funding.
Under the Texas Constitution, who has the power of impeachment?
The House of Representatives has the power to impeach, while the Senate has the power to try and convict.
True
The San Antonio School District became one of the first school districts in Texas to comply with the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. T/F
Under the Gilmer-Aiken Laws
The State Board of Education was established and became the policy-making body for public education in Texas
What also came of the Gilmer-Aikin Laws?
The State Board of Education was established and became the policymaking body for public education in Texas
Which agency is responsible for managing the Permanent School Fund?
The Texas Board of Education
Which of the following makes the decision to grant parole?
The Texas Board of Pardon and Paroles
What constituted an "efficient system of free public schools"?
The Texas Supreme Court held that the funding system was in violation of the state constitution, touching off a political firestorm
From an overall standpoint, which statement is true? The Texas economy is largely immune to the national economy. The Texas economy is closely tied to the national economy. The Texas budget cycle effectively insulates the state economy from the rest of the world. The Texas economy is much larger than the national economy.
The Texas economy is closely tied to the national economy.
Who has responsibility for redistributing the Texas delegation n the us congress?
The Texas legislature
The Permanent University Fund was established in 1876 with a land grant of 1 million acres. It contributes to the support of this.
The University of Texas and Texas A&M university systems
6) What determines the amount of tax revenue generated from oil and natural gas produced in Texas?
The amount of oil and natural gas produced and market price
The Texas legislature takes office in January... a. on even-numbered years. b. on odd-number years. c. biennially. d. every year. e. every two years.
The answer is NOT c
Which of the following statements about the Texas legislature is INCORRECT? a. The legislature decides the amount of money to be appropriated for every executive agency over a two-year period. b. Only the Senate has the constitutional authority to launch investigations into problems concerning the state. c. Only the House has the power to impeach members of the executive and judicial branches of government. d. Only the Senate has the power to try officials on impeachment charges. e. The House and the Senate can physically force members to attend legislative sessions.
The answer is NOT c.
In addition to the legislators and the governor, there are others involved in the lawmaking process during both regular and special sessions. Which one official has direct involvement in the legislative process, while other players are involved indirectly? a. the public b. the comptroller of public accounts c. the media d. the court e. the lobbyist
The answer is not D
What is the importance of the Supreme Court case Reynolds v. Sims and Baker v. Carr?
The apportionment of state senate districts by population and the deifying of a person
In the Texas legislature, when a committee chair "pigeonholes" a bill, what happens?
The bill is set aside before it is ever discussed in committee
In the Texas legislature, when a committee chair "pigeonholes" a bill, what happens?
The bill is set aside before it is ever discussed in committee.
Who certifies the state budget of Texas?
The comptroller
12) 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
The single most important issue confronting Texas policy makers with regard to Medicaid is this.
The cost
The single most important issue confronting Texas policy makers with regard to Medicaid is_____.
The cost
Which court in Texas has automatic jurisdiction over all death penalty cases?
The court of criminal appeals
Which of the following statements concerning the Texas Department of Insurance is INCORRECT?
The department makes sure that all Texans are covered by health insurance.
de facto segregation
The desegregation of public schools was hampered further by political opposi-tion at both the local and state levels. In 1957 the Texas legislature passed laws encouraging school districts to resist federally ordered desegregation, although then-governor Price Daniel, Sr., chose to ignore such laws. 14 By the late 1960s legally segregated schools were largely a thing of the past. Nevertheless, " " remained a problem, particularly in urban areas with large minority populations. As in many other urban areas across the country, a large number of middle- and upper-income whites in Texas abandoned urban public school systems for suburban public schools or private schools.
41.31
The federal portion of the program is determined every year by comparing average state per capita income to the average national per capita income. Each state thus has its own FMAP (the federal medical assistance percentage). Poorer states receive more federal assistance for the program than richer states. In 2014 the FMAP for Texas was 58.69 percent, which means that "" percent of all Medicaid expenditures were state funded.
The law of capture, as it pertains to water policy in Texas, essentially means this.
The first person to "capture" the water by pumping it out of the ground owns it
Two of the strategies that have been developed by the Texas Water Development Board to meet the long-term needs of Texas include........
The focus on conservation and expanding and developing available surface water
What is the most important bill that applies to all people and property throughout the state?
The general bill
What is the most important role the governor of Texas plays in the judicial process?
The governor has the power to appoint judges to fill any vacancies on the bench for the time period before the elections are held
What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?
The governor must follow the recommendations of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's exercise of senatorial courtesy?
The governor will not appoint someone to office unless that appointee's state senator agrees.
Which of the following is the best example of the Texas governor's exercise of senatorial courtesy?
The governor will not appoint someone to office unless the appointee's state senator agrees
In cases in which the accused cannot provide bail or cannot pay a bondsman, what option may this individual have?
The individual can be released on his or her personal promise to appear
Saved The law of capture, as it pertains to water policy in Texas, essentially means that
The law of capture, as it pertains to water policy in Texas, essentially means that
For the Texas governor, what is the benefit of a post-adjournment veto?
The legislature is prevented from overriding it.
14) 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 players(s) in the budget is/are?
The legislature is prime, the key players are The Legislative Budget Board, The Governor and the Governor's Office of Budget of Planning and Policy, and lastly The Comptroller of Public Accounts
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.
In Texas, if a sitting governor is unable to hold office due to impeachment and conviction, resignation or death, who become governor?
The lieutenant governor
Which of the following about the lieutenant governor in Texas is INCORRECT?
The lieutenant governor's powers are primarily executive, not legislative.
Authorized by voters in 1991, the Texas state lottery generates a sizeable sum for the state budget. Who plays the lottery?
The lottery is played by large numbers of people from all social classes
authorized by voters in 1991, the Texas state lottery generates a sizeable sum for the state budget. Which of the following statements regarding the Texas lottery is true
The lottery is played by large numbers of people from all social classes
Welfare reforms are measured along which two dimensions?
The number of people on welfare and the success of getting people in the workforce
Welfare reforms in Texas have been evaluated along two dimensions:
The number of people receiving welfare The degree to which reforms take people off welfare
Which of the following statements regarding public policy in Texas is true?
The policies of the national government influence Texas, but for the most part, large segments of public policy, such as education, infrastructure, and legal matters, are state and local matters.
One of the controversies arising out of the Medicaid Women's Health Program in Texas involved this.
The program and the costs of birth control, health screenings, and family exams.
For how long does the Texas legislature meet?
The regular legislative session lasts 140 days every two years.
For how long does the Texas legislature meet?
The regular legislative session lasts 140 days in odd numbered years.
For how long does the Texas legislature meet?
The regular legislative session lasts 140 days in odd-numbered years.
What is one of the biggest issues in regard to perpetuating criminal activities in Texas?
The requirements placed on offenders are so difficult to comply with that offenders will likely disregard the requirements and hope to not get caught
is the system, common in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, by which farmers would be lent land and equipment in exchange for part of the profits.
The sharecropping system
How is the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives chosen?
The speaker of the Texas House of Representatives is an elected member of the House who is formally chosen as speaker by a majority vote of the House membership ar the opening of the legislative session, elected by the members of the House of Representatives
Why does it matter who the speaker of the Texas House is?
The speaker sets the legislative agenda
The top four sources of taxation in Texas include all of the following EXCEPT:
The state income tax
Prior to 2003, tuition for public colleges and universities in Texas was set by
The state legislature
Prior to 2003, tuition for public colleges and universities in Texas was set by this group of people.
The state legislature
________ refers to the items that are subject to taxation.
The tax base
7) Overall, the tax system in Texas is generally considered to be regressive, which means that _____.
The tax burden falls more heavily on lower -income individuals
In legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court ruled like this
The tax penalizing people who failed to purchase medical insurance was constitutional
The Texas Supreme Court's decision in Edgewood ISD v. Kirby was that _____.
The texas supreme court ruled in the case that the states system of financing public education violated the texas constitution. The court ordered the legislature to create a system whereby districts with the same tax rate would have roughly the same amount of money to spend per student. They focused on equality of tax revenues rather than equality of expenditures.
What was the central issue in Edgewood v. Kirby?
The texas supreme court ruled in the case that the states system of financing public education violated the texas constitution. The court ordered the legislature to create a system whereby districts with the same tax rate would have roughly the same amount of money to spend per student. They focused on equality of tax revenues rather than equality of expenditures.
A crime defined as "aggravated" involves
The use of some sort of weapon
9) If Texas instituted a progressive tax, who would pay what?
The wealthy
There are certain rules that apply to the filibuster in the Texas Senate that are quite different from those in the U.S. Senate. Which of the following is NOT one of those rules?
There is one seven-minute bathroom break.
Kelo v. City of New London
They argued eminent domain and lost bc they said private company can take claim of the land if it's for public revenue.
Which of the following statements about simple resolutions is correct?
They do not require the signature of the governor.
In the case of Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel (2012), farmers argued that
They had the rights to the water based upon their ownership of the land above it
In the case of Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel (2012), farmers argued that.........
They had the rights to the water based upon their ownership of the land above it.
Why are Texas counties important?
They provide the main form of government in rural areas
What was the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court on San Antonio v. Rodriguez ?
They ruled 5-4 that states such as Texas were not required to subsidize poorer school districts under the equal protection clause of the U.S Constitution.
Appeals at the level of the court of appeals are typically heard by panels of how many justices?
Three
public education
Throughout much of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,"" remained largely a local affair. Schools were funded by local taxes, and decisions such as what to teach and how long the school year would be were made at the local level. Many of the school systems were chronically short of funds, facing such problems as a shortage of supplies and textbooks, inadequate facilities, and poorly trained teachers.
What is the most important function of the Texas governor's staff?
To keep the governor informed about problems and issues
The majority of cases in municipal courts involve
Traffic and parking violations
"No Pass, No Play" stipulated that students could NOT participate in extracurricular activities unless they met certain academic standards.
True
Anyone can write a bill, but only members of the legislature can introduce a bill.
True
Conference committees are designed to make Texas House and Senate bills identical to each other.
True
If the Texas legislature fails to redistrict, the task of redistricting then falls to the federal district courts.
True
In addition to the state sales tax of 6.25 percent, county, city, and metropolitan transit authorities are allowed to impose an additional 2 percent sales tax. True False
True
In the Texas legislature, if the filibustering senator is successfully called on three points of order, a simple majority of the Senate may vote to prevent the senator from continuing his or her remarks.
True
In two prior gubernatorial rankings, the Texas governor continuously ranked forty-ninth out of fifty for gubernatorial authority.
True
No Pass, No Play" stipulated that students could NOT participate in extracurricular activities unless they met certain academic standards. True False
True
Oil and natural gas production taxes are based upon a percentage of the market value of oil and natural gas produced.
True
Public policy refers to the outputs of governmental institutions. True False
True
Texas has historically participated in matching funds at a relatively low rate.
True
Texas is one of a handful of states that does NOT have a state income tax. True False
True
Texas spends less on state-federal programs than most states do.
True
The Legislative Budget Board plays an important role in the budget process in Texas. True False
True
The San Antonio School District became one of the first school districts in Texas to comply with the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. True False
True
The Texas economy is tied to the booms and busts of the national economy. True False
True
The Texas legislature meets in regular session once every two years.
True
The federal government provides Texas with a considerable amount of money to provide for specific programs such as education and transportation
True
The governor makes approximately 3,000 appointments to executive boards and commissions during a single term in office.
True
For a law to be passed by the Texas legislature it must be voted on by
Two deliberative bodies representing different constituencies.
false
Under the concept of federalism, welfare policy is largely separate from federal programs and policy making. T/F
The Texas Supreme Court's decision in Edgewood ISD v Kirby was that
Undue reliance upon property taxes to fund public education violated the Texas constitution
The top four types of programs that are heavily funded by federal money include all of the following except:
University expansion programs
In the state of Texas, what is the policy for felons' right to vote?
Upon full discharge of their sentences
What was Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) about?
Validated state-imposed racial segregation in Texas public schools.
For which type of offenses are Texas prison inmates most likely to be imprisoned?
Violent
by the late 1960s, de facto segregation
Was still a problem in urban public schools with a large minority population
The act that merged various water-rights doctrines into a unified water permit system, expanding the ability of the state to control and manage surface water, was the
Water Rights Adjudication Act.
Describe the water policy in Texas.
Water rights are a complicated matter balancing private property considerations and the public good.
Which statement regarding water policy in Texas is true?
Water rights are a complicated matter, balancing private property considerations and the public good.
In Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, what was the key constitutional issue?
Whether the phrase "an efficient system of free public schools" included school financing.
robin hood plan
________ calls for wealthy districts to transfer funds to poorer districts in order to equalize funds available to all public schools across the state.
A Texas governor can only grant ________ for a convicted felon without the help of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
a 30-day reprieve
The news segment discusses the estimated income of the state of Texas and its expenditures. Such an estimate is called a budget. fiscal probity. fiscal governance. an appropriation.
a budget
Underlying water policy in Texas is
a complicated system of private property rights.
The purpose of the Biennial Revenue Estimate is to provide a detailed forecast of the estimated federal funds the state can expect to receive during the two-year budget cycle. a detailed forecast of expenditures the state expects to be obligated for in the two-year budget cycle. a detailed forecast of total revenues that the state is expected to take in over the next biennium. the governor a detailed estimate of the likelihood of a balanced budget during the two-year budget cycle.
a detailed forecast of total revenues that the state is expected to take in over the next biennium.
Medicaid , 1965
a federal and state program financing medical services to low-income people In "", Congress established this , a state-federal program to finance health care for the poor. President Lyndon Johnson's "War on Poverty" also expanded the number of social service programs available to the poor. Increasingly, it was argued, the solution to alleviating poverty was through expanded federal control over welfare programs.
An individual can receive benefits from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for
a maximum of 36 months.
If the legislature grants a particular corporation an exception from a state law, it is called...
a special bill
the typical texas legislator is most likely to be a
a white affluent business man
The requirements for holding office in the Texas legislature a. Are minimal, in keeping with the idea that office holding should be open to most citizens. b. Are stricter than those in the federal legislature, reflecting the belief that only the most qualified Texans deserve to serve. c. Require on to be a citizen of Texas but not necessarily a citizen of the United States. d. Are the same as in the U.S. Constitution. e. Require one to be a citizen of both Texas and the United States for at least ten years prior to running for office.
a. Are minimal, in keeping with the idea that office holding should be open to most citizens.
What unconventional action did the Texas legislature take in 2003? a. It redistricted a second time in a single decade. b. It extended its regular session by two months. c. It operated without electing a House Speaker. d. It did not overturn a single gubernatorial veto. e. It did not pass a single bill.
a. It redistricted a second time in a single decade.
_______ refers to the idea that policy makers have formulated and implemented policy that address the problems in an optimal or efficient manner. a. Rationality b. Bounded rationality c. Policy accountability d. Systemic agenda e. Legitimation
a. Rationality
The legal doctrine at issue in the Plessy v. Ferguson case is the a. Separate but equal doctrine. b. Privileges and immunities clause. c. Hold and save harmless doctrine. d. Supremacy clause. e. Doctrine of eminent domain.
a. Separate but equal doctrine.
Who has responsibility for redistricting the Texas delegation to the U.S. Congress? a. The Texas legislature b. The governor c. The governor, along with the Texas Senate d. The U.S. Congress e. The Texas Supreme Court
a. The Texas legislature
Which of the following statements about simple resolutions is correct? a. They do not require the signature of the governor. b. They can only concern the internal rules of the Texas legislature. c. They are limited to matters of concern for no more than two House districts. d. They can only be initiated by either the Speaker or the lieutenant governor. e. They are only used to honor the outstanding achievements of Texas residents.
a. They do not require the signature of the governor.
In 1957 the Texas legislature passed laws encouraging school districts to resist federally ordered desegregation, although then-governor Price Daniel Sr. chose to ignore such laws. a. True b. False
a. True
The governor of Texas has the authority to exercise the line-item veto. a. True b. False
a. True
Under the Gilmer-Aikin Laws, a. Various bureaucratic institutions were established to be responsible for public education in the state of Texas. b. Public funding for education was drastically cut because of the lackluster state economy during the 1960s. c. The Texas school districts were subdivided to provide for more local control. d. Public funding for education was raised dramatically to increased profitability in agriculture in industry in Texas. e. The Texas school districts went from small, locally run districts to larger regional districts.
a. Various bureaucratic institutions were established to be responsible for public education in the state of Texas.
Local governments collect and pay for ________ the cost of government in Texas.
about one-half
Which important fact(s) must be noted about this complicated system of public financing through these various budgets?
all of these are correct
Economic Stabilization Fund
also known as the rainy day established by constitutional amendment in 1988 to provide funds for the state during times of financial stress
Almost three-quarters of the states that do not have a personal income tax system are
among the "Terrible Ten."
In Texas, the plural executive is held accountable through all of the following EXCEPT...
appointment by the governor.
59 percent of the water used in Texas comes from
aquifers
Medicaid expenses in Texas
are increasing and threaten to overwhelm the state budget.
A(n) ________ is a lawyer who is appointed by a judge to represent an individual who can't afford legal representation.
assigned counsel
An individual convicted of a nonviolent crime must serve how much of his or her term before being considered for parole?
at least one-fourth or fifteen years, whichever is less
When a person is arrested or a felony or misdemeanor and jailed rather than ticketed, he or she will be arraigned before a judge. What happens next?
at the arraignment the charges will be explained, bail will be set, and he/she will be reminded of due process rights
Texas Comptroller
at the heart of the budget process in TX
The chief lawyer for Texas is the...
attorney general.
Underlying water policy in Texas is a. Federal law mandating all aspects of water use in Texas. b. A complicated system of private property rights. c. The fact that Texas has no major rivers, lakes, or aquifers. d. Fear that Texas is in a permanent state of drought. e. Fierce competition with Mexico over water rights.
b. A complicated system of private property rights.
The 2007 session of the state legislature passed the Religious Viewpoint Antidiscrimination Act, which a. Allowed outside church organizations access to school campuses. b. Ensured religious-oriented clubs the same access to school facilities and protected students who expressed religious beliefs. c. Does not solve the problems of religious discrimination. d. Unintentionally introduced religious bias into the classroom. e. Permitted a neutral method for selecting student speakers at school events
b. Ensured religious-oriented clubs the same access to school facilities and protected students who expressed religious beliefs.
A special legislative session may last as long as it takes to complete the session's agenda. a. True b. False
b. False
Desegregation of public schools was supported from the beginning by Texas law. a. True b. False
b. False
If the Texas legislature fails to redistrict, the task of redistricting then falls to the federal district courts. a. True b. False
b. False
The Texas House of Representatives is responsible for both impeaching government officials and holding the trial after impeachment. a. True b. False
b. False
The Texas constitution permits the election to the Texas legislature of persons who are not U.S. citizens but who have been legal residents of Texas for at least ten years. a. True b. False
b. False
The lieutenant governor is also a member of the Texas House of Representatives. a. True b. False
b. False
Unlike the U.S. Senate, the Texas Senate does not permit filibusters. a. True b. False
b. False
Dropout rates in Texas are a. About the same for all demographic groups. b. Highest among minorities. c. Highest among the Asian student population. d. Lowest among minorities. e. Highest among white females.
b. Highest among minorities.
As in the U.S. Congress, what is the purpose of a conference committee in the Texas legislature? a. It is a committee in which members of both houses meet informally with the governor's representatives to set the agenda for an upcoming session. b. It is a committee designed to make differing House and Senate versions of the same bill identical. c. It is the committee that establishes the rules for floor debate in the House. d. It is another name for a standing committee. e. It is used by each political party to develop its legislative strategy before each session.
b. It is a committee designed to make differing House and Senate versions of the same bill identical.
The origins of modern welfare policy lie in a. The post-Civil War Reconstruction era. b. President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. c. President Truman's post-World War II reforms. d. President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs. e. President Gerald Ford's War on Poverty.
b. President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal.
The stages of public policy making are a. Formulation, identification, implementation, and evaluation. b. Problem identification, formulation, implementation, and evaluation. c. Evaluation, identification, formulation, and implementation. d. Problem identification, evaluation, formulation, and implementation. e. Agenda setting, problem identification, formulation, and implementation.
b. Problem identification, formulation, implementation, and evaluation.
Constituency services provided by Texas representatives may include all of the following EXCEPT a. Giving a speech to a local civic group. b. Providing legal services in court. c. Attempting to influence decisions of government agencies. d. Writing a letter of recommendation for a constituent. e. Legislative activity.
b. Providing legal services in court.
Legislative districts in the Texas House and Senate are a. Based on proportional representation. b. Single-member districts. c. Multiple-member districts. d. Redistricted ever four years. e. Redistricted every six years.
b. Single-member districts.
One of the controversies arising out of the Medicaid Women's Health Program in Texas involved a. Religious restrictions imposed upon welfare recipients. b. The program and the costs of birth control, health screenings, and family exams. c. The funding of abortions in state clinics paid for by Texas taxpayers who were opposed to the procedure. d. The health care for poor unwed mothers. e. Birth control measures for lesbian couples not living in poverty.
b. The program and the costs of birth control, health screenings, and family exams.
By the late 1960s, de facto segregation a. Had been completely eliminated. b. Was still a problem in urban public schools with a large minority population. c. Had been ruled illegal and, therefore, was no longer an issue in public education. d. Had resulted in all federal funds being withheld from the public schools in Texas. e. Was increasing at a rapid rate throughout Texas.
b. Was still a problem in urban public schools with a large minority population.
In Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, the key constitutional issue was a. Whether the Brown v. Board of Education decision applied to Texas students. b. Whether the phrase "an efficient system of free public schools" included school financing. c. De facto segregation. d. The continuing effects of Roe v. Wade upon public education. e. Whether school prayer should be required in grades K-8.
b. Whether the phrase "an efficient system of free public schools" included school financing.
Money that is provided by the defendant to assure his or her appearance in court is referred to as ______
bail
Money that is provided by the defendant to ensure his or her appearance in court is referred to as_________.
bail
Money that is provided by the defendant to ensure his or her appearance in court is referred to as
bail
The funds generated by the Permanent School Fund are distributed to school districts across the state based on what?
based on attendance rates
Prior to 2003, tuition rates for public colleges and universities in Texas tended to be
be low compared to other states
Which of the following is NOT a qualification a person would need to be a viable candidate for governor of Texas?
born in Texas
In Texas, the legal standard of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is used is which type of cases?
both felony and misdemeanor
The debate over public education in Texas goes back to the
break with Mexico
General Revenues Funds
budget is a nondedicated revenue account and is the states primary operating fund includes 3 educational funds: the available school fund the state textbook fund and the foundation school fund
Texas seeks to maintain a favorable environment for
business
The three main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas during the last 50 years are a. Income taxes, federal regulation, and teachers' salaries. b. Labor unions, civil rights, and school district lines. c. Funding, desegregation, and educational excellence. d. Desegregation, access to the Internet, and urbanization. e. Lack of unions, infrastructure of education, and declining school enrollments.
c. Funding, desegregation, and educational excellence.
Most of the water in Texas is for a. National defense purposes. b. Home consumption by households. c. Irrigation. d. Additional water supplies for neighboring states. e. Livestock consumption.
c. Irrigation.
Federal money for Medicaid programs a. Comes to the states as a block grant without any significant restrictions. b. Is tied to the number of adults on the welfare rolls in order to reduce the cost of program redundancy. c. Is accompanied by federal rules and regulations, which states must comply with to maintain federal funding of the program. d. Is administered automatically by the federal government to avoid punishing program recipients. e. Is not tied to any state requirements or administrative procedures.
c. Is accompanied by federal rules and regulations, which states must comply with to maintain federal funding of the program.
A bill in the Texas legislature that would allow a county to establish a new community college would be classified as a a. General bill. b. Special bill. c. Local bill. d. Concurrent resolution. e. Simple resolution.
c. Local bill.
In 2004 and 2005, three special sessions were called in the Texas legislature to deal with a. Tax codes. b. Deregulation of the pharmaceutical industry. c. School finance. d. Criminal law reform. e. Budget crises.
c. School finance.
________ calls for wealthy districts to transfer funds to poorer districts in order to equalize funds available to all public schools across the state. a. The equalization plan b. The Edgewood IV plan c. The Robin Hood plan d. Senate Bill 7 e. The equal protection plan
c. The Robin Hood plan
The law of capture, as it pertains to water policy in Texas, essentially means that a. The state owns the water rights because it is sovereign over Texas residents. b. The federal government has the right to capture water in Texas because of the supremacy clause in the federal Constitution. c. The first person to capture the water by pumping it out of the ground owns it. d. The state can capture and tax any business that uses state water without reporting usage statistics to the state water board. e. Only water captured in surface retaining ponds can be owned.
c. The first person to capture the water by pumping it out of the ground owns it.
When the governor strikes out specific provisions in large appropriations bills, it is called a. Pigeonholing. b. The pocket veto. c. The line-item veto. d. The post-adjournment veto. e. An expenditure veto.
c. The line-item veto.
Which of the following statements regarding public policy in Texas is true? a. Public policy in Texas is not affected at all by national policy. b. Public policy in Texas is crippled by national policy, giving Texas very little control. c. The policies of the national government influence Texas, but for the most part, large segments of public policy, such as education, infrastructure, and legal matters, are state and local matters. d. Public policy making is divided equally between the state and federal governments under the concept and theory of federalism. e. Federalism makes the national government virtually irrelevant to states such as Texas.
c. The policies of the national government influence Texas, but for the most part, large segments of public policy, such as education, infrastructure, and legal matters, are state and local matters.
The most serious felony is ________, for which the penalty can be death or life imprisonment without parole.
capital murder
While a majority of the Medicaid population is ____, a majority of the funds are spent on ____.
children; aged and disabled
Which level of government is most heavily dependent on service charges and fees to finance their services?
city
What types of cases does the Texas Supreme Court hear?
civil appeals
What are plea bargains used to do?
clear a crowded district court docket by negotiating guilty pleas in criminal cases
Rationality
clearly identified goals and the aim of achieving them in an optimal or efficient manner
The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles makes recommendations about
clemency and parole
Federal funds appropriated in Texas generally are
concentrated in a few state agencies
Federal funds appropriated in Texas generally are concentrated to who?
concentrated in a few state agencies.
The job of serving legal papers at the precinct level of a county goes to the
constable
Sales Tax
contribute to the TX treasury
The __________ usually provides legal advice to the county commissioners.
county attorney
The ________ usually provides legal advice to the county commissioners.
county attourney
Which court hears appeals from justices of the peace and from municipal courts?
county courts at law
In Texas, what is the name of the officer who presides over the county commissioners' court?
county judge
Permanent School Fund
created in the 1854 that provides monies for primary and secondary schools managed by the state board of education
The federal block grant program for welfare was
created in the 1990s and called the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
The term creative destruction refers to the theory that
creative new economic and destroy old ones
In Texas, the legal standard of proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" is used in which type(s) of cases?
criminal cases (both felony and misdemeanor cases)
In 2003, what was one way to close the $10 billion budget gap without raising taxes was?
cut higher education funding
In Texas, who can write a bill? a. Only a member of the legislature b. The legislature or someone officially authorized by the legislature c. Any government official d. Anyone at all e. Only the legislature and/or governor
d. Anyone at all
Which of the following is not a legislative power of the Texas governor? a. Calling special sessions b. Signing or vetoing bills c. Setting an agenda in the State of the State address d. Removing, for suitable cause, the Speaker or lieutenant governor e. Visiting with legislators to obtain their votes on a bill
d. Removing, for suitable cause, the Speaker or lieutenant governor
What is the main difference between a bill and a resolution? a. A resolution is just another name for a bill. b. A resolution deals only with issues affecting local government, while a bill deals with the entire state. c. All bills require the signature of the governor, but no resolution does. d. Unlike a bill, a resolution, if passed, lacks the force of a public law. e. A resolution must be passed unanimously: a bill needs only a majority
d. Unlike a bill, a resolution, if passed, lacks the force of a public law.
During the 1980s there were 10 special sessions of the Texas legislature to correct revenue shortfalls. What was the cause of these shortfalls?
declining price of oil
Which of the following is a challenge facing education policy in Texas?
demographics increasingly becoming minority
In Brown v Board of Education, segregated school districts were ordered to
desegregate their schools "with all deliberate speed"
In Brown v. Board of Education, segregated school districts were ordered to
desegregate their schools "with all deliberate speed."
In Brown v. Board of Education, segregated school districts were ordered to do this.
desegregate their schools "with all deliberate speed."
A 1983 report by the National Commission on Excellence in Education was called a. Waiting for Superman. b. Only in America. c. No Child Left Behind. d. Race to the Top. e. A Nation at Risk.
e. A Nation at Risk.
26. What stage of the policy-making process involves instituting incentives or sanctions? a. Formulation b. Agenda setting c. Evaluation d. Problem identification e. Implementation
e. Implementation
All of the following are challenges facing education policy in Texas EXCEPT a. Low public expenditure per enrolled student. b. The increasingly minority and disadvantaged student body. c. The increasingly economically disadvantaged and at-risk student body. d. The high dropout rates. e. The increasing teen pregnancy rate among minority female students.
e. The increasing teen pregnancy rate among minority female students.
Ross Perot was appointed by Governor Mark White to chair a committee on
education
Gilmer-Aikin Laws
education reform legislation passed in 1949 that supplemented local funding of education with state monies, raised teachers' salaries, mandated a minimum length for the school year, and provided more state supervision of public education
In Texas, citizens can be excluded from all of the following for nonpayment, EXCEPT for
education.
In Texas, what is the most important power of the state comptroller?
estimating tax revenues for the legislature
Agriculture accounts for 35 percent of today's Texan workforce.
false
The Texas Constitution makes no requirements for the establishment and upkeep of a public school system.
false
the texas constitution created a unicameral legislature
false
Who/what is the second-largest source of state revenue?
federal gov
Health and human services is funded primarily with
federal grants.
The greatest source of nontax revenue in Texas comes from
fees, fines, licenses, and penalties.
A serious criminal offense that subjects a person to state prison punishment is a(n)
felony
Given the budget structure and constitutional limitations on spending and taxing, legislators seeking to balance the budget are left with only one choice as to how to balance the budget. many choices as to how to balance the budget. few choices as to how to balance the budget. no other option than to borrow heavily, thereby increasing state debt.
few choices as to how to balance the budget.
The governor of Texas has...
few formal powers, so the office is one of the weakest chief executives in the United States.
________ is a kind of talking that is used to stall legislation
filibuster
What is the second-largest source of revenue for Texas state government?
franchise fee
The news segment mentions sales taxes, business taxes, and taxes on the production and regulation of oil and gas as the most important sources of state revenue. Other important sources of state revenue include franchise taxes, tobacco taxes, and taxes on motor vehicle sales and rentals. state income taxes and utility taxes. property taxes. customs duties.
franchise taxes, tobacco taxes, and taxes on motor vehicle sales and rentals.
Nafta established
free trade between Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
National Research University Fund
fund established in 2009 to provide funding to universities seeking to achieve national prominence as research institutions
What is the main purpose of the Permanent School Fund?
fund primary and secondary schools in the state.
The three main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas over the last 50 years have been
funding, desegregation, and educational excellence
The three main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas during the last fifty years are ____.
funding, desegregation, and educational excellence.
What is the Higher Education Fund?
funds for smaller state schools
Robin Hood plan
funds were to be transferred from rich to poor districts
Which is the most important bill that applies to all people and property throughout the state?
general bill
In the case of Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that
glaring disparities in the funding system for rich and poor school districts violated the Texas Constitution.
The agenda for special sessions in the Texas legislature is set by the...
governor
Education reforms instituted in the 1980s and 1990s
have been mixed, with improvements in dropout rates and scores on the state's assessment text, but below-national-average performance in graduation rates and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores.
The revenues flowing from the motor fuels tax are dedicated to all of the following EXCEPT
health and human services
About 60% of the money that Texas receives from the federal government is spent on
health and human services.
In 2012, Texas ranked ______ when compared to other states on per capita federal dollars flowing into the state.
high
How are school districts funding their increased share of the cost of local education?
higher local property tax
Tax shifting could result in any of the following EXCEPT
higher profits to owners.
The domination of Texas politics by Republicans after the Civil War ended
in an armed standoff in the capital between the Republican governor and the Democratic legislature in 1872.
Water consumption is expected to ____ over the next half-century; existing water supplies are expected to ____.
increase by 82 percent; decrease by 10 percent
Which of the following categories of taxes contributed the least to the Texas treasury in 2011-2012?
insurance occupation
Most of the water in Texas is for _____.
irrigation
Which sector in Texas uses the most water?
irrigation
Underlying water policy in Texas is ____.
is a complicated system of private property rights derived from three sources: Spanish Law, traditional English common law, and statutory law
Texas Water Development Board (TWBD)
is in control of flood protection and control projects.
What is meant by public policy?
is of state and local matter and is the expressed goals of a government body backed by incentives or sanctions
What is the argument commonly used by supporters of a state income tax?
it is a fairer and more reliable source of revenue
Why must the Texas legislature maintain a balanced budget?
it is required by the Texas Constitution
According to a report released in July 2012 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, relative to other states, Texas is ranked ____in health care services and delivery.
last
What are other sources of revenue for the state?
license fees, state fees, and the Texas State lottery
The Legislative Budget Board is chaired by______.
lieutenant governor
The Texas Judicial Campaign Fairness Act
limits the amount of campaign contributions a judicial candidate can receive from an individual donor
When the governor strikes out specific spending provisions in large appropriations bills it is called_______.
line item veto
Throughout much of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,"" remained largely a ____ affair.
local
What are the two primary sources of revenue for local government in Texas?
local sales tax and property tax
Prior to 2003, tuition rates for public colleges and universities in Texas tended to be low compared to other states. slightly above the national average. slightly below the national average. much higher than the national average, because Texas has no state income tax.
low compared to other states.
2 factors caused the bubble in the real estate market (2008)
low interest rates and loose credit standards
Nationally, what two factors caused the bubble in the real estate market?
low interest rates and loose credit standards
Texas has a reputation of being a ___________ state
low service, low tax
Texas has a reputation of..
low service, low tax state
Texas has a reputation of being a ________ state
low service- low tax
Which phrase best characterizes Texas's reputation in terms of taxes and services?
low tax, low service
Traditionalistic political cultures, according to Daniel Elazar, are typically found in the
lower spending states
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
Which category of Texans, by income, pays the highest amount of sales and excises taxes as a percentage of income?
lowest 20%
What is 1 thing, required by the TX Constitution, that legislatures must do?
maintain a balanced budget
The primary purpose of TANF was to
make families self-sufficient by ending the cycle of dependency on government benefits
The primary purpose of TANF was to_____.
make families self-sufficient by ending the cycle of dependency on government benefits.
the most prison-prone group in society is ________ between the ages of ______
male, between the ages of twenty and twenty-nine.
What determines the amount of tax revenue generated from oil and natural gas produced in Texas? the minimum wage and unemployment rate market price and the amount produced pipeline construction and environmental issues federal regulations and excise taxes imposed by the federal government
market price and the amount produced
Efficiency
maximizing the outputs of government with minimum resources
In Texas, the governor's State of the State address is an example of the ________ power
message
In Texas, the governor's State of the State address is an example of the ________ power.
message
What determines the amount of tax revenue generated from oil and natural gas?
minimum wage and unemployment rate
What is the permanent school fund?
money that comes from sale of state owned land and provides for primary and secondary schools
A belief that government is designed to promote the public good describes the ______ political culture.
moraslistic
Texas spending on a per capita basis is
much lower than the national average
How does Texas spending on a per capita basis compare to the rest of the United States?
much lower than the national average.
Texas spending on a per capita basis is much higher than the national average. much lower than the national average. among the highest, particularly in education. about even with the national average.
much lower than the national average.
19) When compared to the rest of the nation, the real estate collapsed in Texas was_____?
muted because the real estate bubble had been more muted
In a comparison of the 15 most populous states, where did Texas rank in the amount of revenue raised per $1,000 of personal income?
near the lowest
In a comparison of the 15 most populous states, where did Texas rank in the amount of revenue raised per $1,000 of personal income? It was the median. highest near the highest near the lowest
near the lowest
Which of the following is a fundamental principle governments use to justify providing services to the public?
nonexhaustion
Desegregation of Texas schools
occurred in the 1960s, though de facto segregation, especially in urban areas with large minority populations, remained a problem.
de facto segregation
occurs when widespread individual preferences, sometimes backed up with private pressure, lead to separation. As in many other urban areas across the country, a large number of middle- and upper-income whites in Texas abandoned urban public school systems for suburban public schools or private schools.
Federal money is an important part of the Texas budget, but monies that Texas receives from the federal government
often come with strings attached
Unlike other states, Texas allows ________ to introduce a bill in the Texas legislature.
only a member of the legislature
________ refers to the idea that policy will be developed that will maximize the output of government with a minimum commitment of resources.
optimality
One of the most notable effects of bicameralism in the Texas legislature is that it
permits more opportunities to kill or significantly modify a bill.
Which of the following taxes CANNOT be shifted?
personal income tax
If a person cannot provide bail on his or her own or cannot pay a bondsman, the accused can possibly be released
personal recognizance
A(n) _______ is a common method prosecutor use to maintain high conviction rates.
plea bargains between the defendant and the state
Why is the Texas governor's power exceptionally weak as compared to that of the governors of some other states?
plural executive system
During the _________________ stage of making public policy, strategies for dealing with specifically defined problems are created.
policy formulation
Who pays the greatest portion of their income in property taxes?
poor home owners and renters
Who pays the greatest portion of their income in property taxes? poor homeowners and renters business owners wealthy homeowners and renters renters
poor homeowners and renters
In recent years, most of the growth in state expenditures in Texas has been driven by
population increases.
The most persistent social problem facing Texas is
poverty
What is the most significant and far-reaching of the Texas governor's powers?
power to appoint boards and commissions
The purpose of the Biennial Revenue Estimate is to provide this.
provide a detailed forecast of total revenues that the state is expected to take in
In 1965, Congress created he Medicaid program, a state-federal program, to
provide health care for the poor
In 1965, Congress created the Medicaid program, a state-federal program that does this.
provide health care for the poor
In 1965, Congress created the Medicaid program, a state-federal program, to_______.
provide health care for the poor
The Children's Health Insurance Program
provides coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid.
Constituency services provided by Texas representatives may include all of the following EXCEPT...
providing legal services in court.
A(n) __________ is a lawyer who is appointed by a judge to represent an individual who can't afford legal representation.
public defender
Biennial Revenue Esimate
purpose is to provide a detailed forecast of total revenues that the state is expected to take in over the next biennium
The Economic Stabilization Fund is also known as the________.
rainy day fund
When we talk about __________________ in the context of public policy, we mean that we have clearly identified goals, and we seek to meet those goals in the most efficient manner possible.
rationality
Public policy
refers to the outputs of government institutions. can be defined as the expressed goals of a governmental body backed by incentives or sanctions. can be found in laws passed by legislature as well as in the rules, regulations, and orders from properly authorized public agencies. Incentives or sanctions can include, monetary penalties, subsidies, severe crime penalties to punish people. There are many steps to this and is rather messy process. 1. problem identification 2. policy formulation 3. implementation 4. evaluation.
Public policy
refers to the outputs of governmental institutions
A sales tax, especially when food and medicine are subject to the tax, can be described as what type of tax?
regressive
The Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act of 2007 did what?
required Texas schools to adopt a number of policies that would protect religious speech on campus
What is the main difference between a bill and a resolution?
resolutions are not something you can enforce but are statements of will or belief passed by a body to express a consensus of opinion or belief or what should be done a bill that becomes a law is enforceable
What is the most important expenditure of most county commissioners' courts?
roads and bridges
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
ruled that state-imposed segregation in schools violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment Desegregation was hampered by political opposition De facto segregation remains (De jure segregation)
What is the most important single tax financing Texas government?
sales
What is the most important single tax financing Texas government? income property sales gasoline
sales
Which of the following categories of taxes contributed the most to the Texas treasury in 2011-2012?
sales
Consumer Tax
sales tax tobacco tax and motor vehicle sales tax
Which of the following is a consumer tax?
sales tax, tobacco tax, motor vehicle sales tax
In 2004 and 2005, three special sessions were called in the Texas legislature to deal with
school finance
Which category of Texans, by income, pays the lowest amount of sales and excises taxes as a percentage of income?
second highest 20%
The legal doctrine at issue in the Plessy v. Ferguson case is the
separate but equal doctrine
Which of the following is NOT an explanation for why Texas has one of the most controversial death penalty systems in the United States?
since 1977, the electric chair has been the means for execution in tx
All Texas legislators are elected using
single-member districts.
In Texas, why are gubernatorial elections held in off-years?
so that gubernatorial elections will not be influenced by a presidential election
In the Texas legislature, the referral of a bill to a standing committee in the House and the Senate is the job of the _______.
speaker of the house and lieutenant governor
22) To address the budget shortfall in the 2012-2013 budget, the most common tactic used by the legislature was_____.
spending cuts
What is regressive taxes?
spread taxes out evenly between classes
In the Texas legislature, all bills dealing with state revenue must
start in the house of representatives
The Texas legislature increased ________ to help compensate for lower property tax revenues in the 2012-2013 budget cycle
state corporate franchise taxes and cigarette tax
Prior to 2003, tuition for public colleges and universities in TX was set by the...
state legislature
What was the primary purpose of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families?
stipulates a lifetime limit of five years for people to receive aid and requires all welfare recipients to find work within two year;
The Permanent School Fund distributes money to school districts across the state based on what two factors?
student attendance and guaranteed bonds issued by local school boards
The Permanent School Fund distributes money to school districts across the state based on what two factors
student attendance and guaranteed bonds issued by local school boards
State Highway Fund
supports the construction, maintenance, and policing of roadways and acquires rights of way. funded through variety a taxes, motor vehicle registration fees federal highway fund and the sales tax on motor lubricants
What is progressive taxes?
targets specific portions of the population *TX has one of the most regressive taxes in the U.S.
Which of the following is the measure of the wealth of a state or its ability to raise revenues relative to all other states?
tax capacity
What is the primary point missed by the per capita tax measure?
tax exporting
Severance Tax
tax on the market value of oil produced in the state
What is the primary source of revenue for state governments?
taxes on citizens
What is meant by income-elastic taxes?
taxes that change quickly relative to economic conditions
In May 2014, the UT System Board of Regents decided on all of the following EXCEPT
that hat the Board allocate monies to other Texas schools from the Available University Fund
Responding to the Supreme Court decision on national health care legislation of 2010, Governor Perry announced that ____.
that the "Court utterly failed in its duty to uphold the Constitutional limits placed on Washington. Now that the Supreme Court has abandoned us, we citizens must take action at every level of government and demand real reform, done with respect for our Constitution and our liberty. Freedom was frontally attacked by passage of this monstrosity. Obamacare is bad for the economy, bad for health care, bad for freedom. Americans have made clear their overwhelming opposition to its convoluted, burdensome and overreaching mandates."
The "law of capture" as it pertains to water policy in Texas essentially means that
that the first person to "capture" the water by pumping it out of the ground owns it
In March 2010, Congress passed ______, substantially altering the nation's health care system.
the Affordable Care Act
16) Who certifies the state budget of Texas?
the Comptroller
In legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court ruled that ____.
the Court declared that the legislatively-declared "penalty" was constitutional as a valid exercise of the Congressional power to tax, thus upholding the individual mandate. The Court also limited the expansion of Medicaid initially proposed under the PPACA. All provisions of the PPACA continue to be in effect, with some limits on the Medicaid expansion.
The Texas Education Agency (originally known as the State Department of Education) was created by
the Gilmer-Aikin Laws.
Houston is found in the Texas
the Gulf Coastal plains, harris county
During which constitution was the Texas governor very powerful, and many regarded state government as oppressive and corrupt?
the Reconstruction Constitution of 1869
The Permanent School Fund is managed primarily by what entity? the State Board of Education a Blue Ribbon Committee on Education the governor the Texas Higher Coordinating Board
the State Board of Education
Under the Gilmer-Aikin Laws,
the State Board of Education was established to supervise public education in Texas
Which of the following makes the decision to grant parole?
the Texas Board of Pardons and Parols
Which of the following is at the heart of the budget process in Texas? the Permanent University Fund the Texas Education Commission the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board the Texas comptroller
the Texas comptroller
When the price of oil experiences a prolonged price increase,
the Texas economy improves and Texas state revenues increase.
The generally accepted standard by which poverty is measured in the United States is the _______.
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty index.
The debate over public education in Texas goes back to
the break with Mexico
In addition to the legislators and the governor, there are others involved in the lawmaking process during both regular and special sessions. Which one official has direct involvement in the legislative process, while other players are involved indirectly?
the comptroller of public accounts
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.
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. the constitutional mandate that Texas legislators allocate at least 50 percent of the budget towards health care. the unpredictability of natural disaster funding. a federal budget cycle that complicates the state budgeting process.
the constitutional mandate that Texas legislators write a budget every two years.
The single most important issue confronting Texas policy makers with regard to Medicaid is
the cost
Public policy refers to
the expressed goals of a governmental body backed by incentives or sanctions
Public policy is defined as
the expressed goals of a governmental body backed by incentives or sanctions.
Next to revenue generated by state taxes, the second largest source of state revenue comes from
the federal government
Next to revenue generated by state taxes, the second-largest source of state revenue comes from________.
the federal government
Next to revenue generated by state taxes, the second-largest source of state revenue comes from this.
the federal government.
For groundwater, the Texas Supreme Court adopted a notion called the law of capture
the first person "to capture" the water by pumping it out of the ground and using it owns the water
Two of the strategies that have been developed by the Texas Water Development Board to meet the long-term needs of Texas include
the focus on conservation and expanding and developing available surface water.
Affordable Care Act
the legislation requires individuals not covered by existing plans to pursue health insurance or pay a penalty. Along with this "individual mandate," as the mandatory coverage came to be called, the act also increased coverage for preexisting conditions and expanded medical insurance to an estimated 30 million people. Individuals will have to buy a health insurance package or pay a penalty on their federal income tax. Federal exchanges will be offering health insurance, but not with the assistance of Texas. The failure to opt into the expanded federal programs under ACA will mean a sizable portion of the poor population will continue to not have health insurance coverage, including undocumented persons whose health care was not addressed under the ACA. One thing is clear: few individuals are will-ing to argue that Texas has solved the problem of providing health care to the poor. In a report released by the federal Agency for Health Research and Quality in July 2012, Texas ranked dead last in health care services and delivery.
Which of the following political leaders in Texas are two of the most powerful figures in the state?
the lieutenant governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
TX State Sales Tax
the most important single tax financing Tx gov is sales sales tax in TX of 8.25% = 6.25 to state & 2.00 to the municipality
What is the Texas governor's most significant and far-reaching power?
the power to appoint boards and commissions
What is the Texas governor's greatest judicial power?
the power to appoint judges to vacancies in the courts
In the case Avery v. Midland County, the U.S. Supreme Court held that
the principle of one person, one vote applies to county commissioners' courts.
Which of the following is not found in the Texas bill of rights?
the right to employment
As a matter of legislative duties, ________ convicts an individual of impeachment charges
the senate
What important facts must be noted about this complicated system of public financing?
the state budget involves huge amount of money much of the money lies outside the direct control of the legislature Federal expenditures have a very important role in shaping the overall direction of the state budget
in addition to federal monies, which two other sources in recent years have had a major impact on monies flowing into the state budget
the state lottery and the settlement the state reached with tobacco companies
In smaller countries, state law allow the sheriff to act as
the tax assesor/collecter
Texas tax system is regressive, which means...
the tax burden consumes a greater % of income received by lower-income individuals
Overall, the tax system in Texas is generally considered to be regressive, which means what?
the tax burden consumes a greater percentage of income received by lower-income individuals
Overall, the tax system in Texas is generally considered to be regressive, which means that everybody pays the same percent of his or her income in taxes. the more income one has, the larger the percentage of it that goes to pay taxes. the tax burden consumes a greater percentage of income received by lower-income individuals. the tax burden consumes a greater percentage of the income earned by higher-income individuals.
the tax burden consumes a greater percentage of income received by lower-income individuals.
Who has responsibility for redistricting the Texas delegation to the U.S. Congress?
the texas legislature
Texas will not implement a statewide income tax in the immediate future. Why not?
the voters would not approve the measure
What is the General Revenue- Dedicated Fund?
these are funds dedicated to one area of budget, and cannot be shifted around
What is the General Revenue- Nondedicated Fund?
this is the most important fund, it is the governments main fund/bank account. Funds can be shifted from areas of the budget
A person convicted of a third felony can be sentenced to life imprisonment based on
three-strikes provision
In 2003, state political leaders found themselves staring at a $10 billion shortfall in the upcoming budget period. One way to close the budget gap without raising taxes was to allocate monies to UT Austin from the state's Permanent University Fund. to allow universities the option to approve a four-year fixed tuition program. to allocate monies to other Texas schools from the Available University Fund. to cut higher education funding.
to cut higher education funding.
What is the most important function of the Texas governor's staff?
to keep the governor informed about problems and issues
Which of the following has long dominated the modern political culture of Texas?
traditionalistic individualistic
The Texas Constitution of 1876 was designed to limit the power of government, especially of the governor's office.
true
An indictment is also known as a _______.
true bill
Robin Hood plan" was found
unconstitutional because it required local voters approval of property tax levies and it prohibited a state property tax
The National Research University Fund was established through a constitutional amendment to provide a source of funding for________.
universities seeking to achieve national prominent as research institutions
A major criticism of the grand jury is that it
usually hears only what the prosecutor chooses to let it hear
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
validated state-imposed racial segregation
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
validated state-imposed racial segregation in Texas public schools. The legal doctrine at issue in the Plessy v. Ferguson case is the separate but equal doctrine.
Plessy v Ferguson
validity of state- imposed racial segregation
What came of the Gilmer-Aikin Laws?
various bureaucratic institutions were established to be responsible for public education in the state of Texas.
Grand juries do not find people guilty of a crime but instead will
vote a "true bill"
During the 1980s, a growing number of critics alleged that welfare programs_____.
were helping to create a dysfunctional underclass of people who depended upon it for survival.
The most controversial provisions in House Bill 72, the 1984 education reform law, were ________.
were literacy test for teachers and no pass no play.
Edgewood ISD v. Kirby (1989)
whether funding public schools through local property taxes fulfilled the Texas State Constitution's provisions
In Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, the key constitutional issue was
whether the phrase "an efficient system of free public schools" included school financing.
In Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, the key constitutional issue was_______.
whether the phrase "an efficient system of free public schools" included school financing.
Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Burrel Day and Joel McDaniel
which has important implications for future attempts to regulate water usage in Texas, particularly in those areas that rely heavily upon aquifers. The case involved two farmers who had applied to the Edwards Aquifer Authority for permission to pump 700 acre-feet per year of water to irrigate their 350-acre ranch in Van Ormy, a small town south of San Antonio. The farmers argued that they had rights to water from the aquifer based on their owner-ship of land above it. Maintaining that the farmers were unable to prove "historical use" of water from the aquifer, the authority granted them a permit for pumping only 14 acre-feet. Writing for the 9-0 court majority, Justice Hecht ruled that using "historical use" as a criterion for granting a permit to pump water was a departure from the Texas Water Code.
Jurors determine a guilty verdict in criminal cases
with a unanimous vote
