GOVT - 2306 Final Review (Chapters 11 - 14)
What is the process for granting clemency in Texas?
The Texas Board of pardons and paroles votes on clemency for death-row inmate.
Which agency is responsible for developing a standardizing core curriculum used at all public colleges and universities in Texas?
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
When it was originally established, which institutions in Texas could receive funding from the Higher Education Fund (HEF)?
The Texas State Technical College, Universities, and health related institutions that are not eligible for or included in PUF funding could get funding from the HEF
What is the Medicaid program?
"Health insurance for poor, disabled, or needing financial assistance." OR "the nation's public health insurance program for people with low income"
What is the purpose of the Biennial Revenue Estimate?
"Serves as a baseline for the budgetary process of the governor and Legislature" OR "is a formal estimate of how much money the state will collect from taxes and other revenue sources over the next two state fiscal years"
According to Texas Constitution (Article 3, Section 51a), Texas cannot spend more than _________ of the state budget in any two-year period to help needy dependent children or their caretakers.
1%
Where does Texas rank in terms of per capita spending on education?
27th
What is the maximum percentage that can be charged if state and local taxes are combined?
8.25%
What is a misdemeanor?
A Minor criminal offense usually punishable by a small fine or short jail sentence
What is probation?
A suspension of the prison sentence and community supervision.
Jurors determine a guilty verdict in criminal cases with a majority vote. True or False?
True
What recommendations can the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles make?
Determining grants of parole, conditions of parole, and revocations of parole?
Describe the 2012 State Water Plan.
Discussed strategies to address both the short and long term water needs in Texas including conservation and expansion.
What occurs when public policies are reviewed to determine if they are effectively meeting their goals?
Evaluation occurs
What is the Timothy Cole Act?
Exonerated people receive $80,000 per year wrongfully served in prison, Expanded services to exonerated persons
Texas has fewer people incarcerated in its state prisons than any other state. True or False?
False
Texas has the third most verified wrongful convictions than any other state. True or False?
False (Texas has more verified convictions than any other state.)
Texas is a "no service, high tax state". True or False?
False (We are a Low service, low tax rate)
Constitutional carry would require gun training classes or any licensing process before someone could legally carry a weapon in public. True or False?
False (it would NOT require it)
Describe the Sandra Bland Act
Gives prisoners the ability to access a mental health professional at the jail through a telemental health services 24 hours a day.
What are the dropout rates in Texas?
Highest among minorities (20%)
What region in Texas will the proposed high-speed bullet train project currently under development help the most?
Houston and Dallas
In the state of Texas, what is the policy for felons' right to vote?
Once someone has "Fully Discharged" their sentence or has been pardoned, their right to vote is automatically restored in Texas.
What is bail?
Payment of money to the state as an assurance that an accused person who is released from jail pending trial will appear for trial.
The legislature shifted more of the responsibility for education funding onto local governments during the 2017 legislative session. True or False?
True
What steps are in the policy-making process?
Problem emergence, Agenda setting, Consideration of policy option, Decision-making, Implementation, Evaluation
What happens during an arraignment?
Process where people are booked and informed of the charges and law they broke and reminded of their rights.
What is the main purpose of the Permanent School Fund?
Provide funding for Primary & secondary schools
What is the penalty for capital murder?
Punishable by death or life imprisonment without parole.
The Economic Stabilization Fund is also known as this.
Rainy Day Fund
What are Federal matching funds?
Refers to money gifted to a presidential candidate by the federal government to match the money they have raised personally.
What conditions does one have to meet when given probation?
Rehab, Community services, have a job, show proof your in college
Why must the Texas Legislature maintain a balanced budget?
Required by the Texas Constitution
What was the outcome of San Antonio v. Rodriguez?
Ruled no Constitutional right to an equal education
What is a felony?
Serious criminal offense. Violent crimes
How are tuition and fee schedules set at public universities in Texas?
Set by the respective university system's board of regents
What was the outcome of Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel (2012)?
Since they owned the land above the aquifer, they had rights to water within the aquifer.
What does the state of Texas have to do to receive federal funds for things such as education, health and human services?
Spend state money in these areas first
What are two issues that make it difficult to develop public transportation in most areas in Texas?
Sprawling cities and car-centric culture
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)
Which agency is responsible for administering and coordinating the major welfare and antipoverty programs in Texas?
Texas health & human services
What was the outcome of Ruiz v. Estelle?
Texas's prison system was declared unconstitutional, and the federal courts stepped in to oversee its administration OR the conditions of imprisonment within the TDC prison system constituted cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the U.S. constitution
In Texas, who makes the decision to grant parole?
The Board of pardons and paroles
Which program provides coverage for children in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid?
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Where does the largest source of funding for roads and highways in Texas come from?
The Federal Government
What happens if money needs to be transferred from one agency to another and the legislature is not in session to authorize this transfer?
The Governor can propose the transfer and the LBB can approve the proposal
What is a regressive tax?
percent of income paid in taxes decreases as income increases.
What was the reason the National Research University Fund was established through a constitutional amendment?
provide a source of funding for universities to achieve national prominence as research institutions.
In addition to federal monies, which two other sources in recent years have had a major impact on monies flowing into the state budget?
Alcoholic beverage Tax and Utility Tax
What is the "three strikes provision"?
Allows persons convicted of three felonies to be sentence to life imprisonment.
What is the Texas Dream Act?
Allows undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at the state's public universities.
Why did Texas sue the federal government in May 2018 because of DACA?
Argued that the program should be declared "unconstitutional" because president Obama created this law without congressional approval
What was the key constitutional issue in Edgewood ISD v. Kirby?
Considered if public school funding through property taxes fulfilled the Texas constitution's provisions
What was the outcome of National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012)?
Court upheld the individual mandate as constitutional under the constitution's taxing and spending clause
How does Texas determine which children are eligible for reduced-price or free lunch at school?
Families with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level
In Texas, the legal standard of proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" is used in which type(s) of cases?
Felony and misdemeanor
How many people can serve on felony and misdemeanor juries?
Felony juries = 12 misdemeanor juries = 6
Which law increased state funding and established the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which carries out the state's educational program?
Gilmer-Aikin Act
What are the three main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas over the last 50 years?
Income taxes, Federal regulation, and Teacher salaries
What is a plea bargain?
Is an agreement between the prosecutor and the defendant whereby the defendant agrees to plead guilty.
How much debt is the state of Texas allowed budget-wise.
Less than 5%
Who chairs the Legislative Budget Board?
Lieutenant Governor
How are community colleges in Texas funded?
Local Tax Dollars
What are challenges facing education policy in Texas?
Low levels of per-student spending, High levels of economically disadvantaged and at-risk students, high dropout rates.
What is the State of Texas Access Reform (STAR) program?
Medicaid-managed care plan
How does one qualify for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program?
Must be unemployed/underemployed and have a low/very low income.
What is the law of capture, as it pertains to water policy in Texas?
The first person "to capture" the water by pumping it out of the ground and use its own the water
Which goal is presented in the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's strategic plan titled "60x30TX" that was released in 2015?
The number of Texans between 25 and 34 with a certificate or degree will rise from 41% in 2015 to 60% in 2030
Welfare reforms in Texas are measured along which two dimensions?
The number of people on welfare and the success of getting people into the workforce.
What were the controversies arising out of the Medicaid Women's Health Program in Texas?
The programs and the costs of... birth control, health screenings, and family exams
What is the most important single tax financing Texas government?
The sales tax (6.25%)
What helps pay for maintenance and construction of roads and highway in Texas?
Toll roads
If given probation a criminal in compliance will likely receive an early release of up to one-third of the term. True or False?
True
If you are convicted of a misdemeanor in Texas, you lose your right to vote and possess a weapon. True or False?
True
For which type of offenses are Texas prison inmates most likely to be imprisoned?
Violent crimes
Why do some people support vouchers while other do not?
Vouchers Take scarce funding from students in public schools and give those resources to unaccountable private schools.
What is water policy in Texas is based on?
Whether the water is groundwater or surface water
Why is the amount of money that Texas receives in matching funds and grants from the federal government is relatively low as compared to other states?
generally Spend small amounts of money on programs
What determines the amount of tax revenue generated from oil and natural gas produced in Texas?
market price and the amount produced.
Which categories of taxes contributes most to the Texas treasury?
sales tax