Inquizitive Ch. 14 Tx Govt

As a staffer for a legislator who supports the DACA program, you have been assigned to review the information gathered from DACA-eligible individuals that shows the individuals are integrated and active contributors in Texas and the United States. Click on the areas in the information that support the legislator's position. (Click on)

-Bilingual -Speaks English only -Graduate or Professional school -College undergraduate -Grade 9 to grade 12

You have been asked to write a report for your government class on the rapid expansion of tolled roads in Texas between the 1990s and today. The main points in your report should consist of which of the following ideas?

-Politicians are unwilling to risk raising taxes to pay for more transportation projects. -Tolling allowed roads to be built that would otherwise still be waiting in line for funding. -Construction of tolled roads reduce travel time and congestion and are paid for only by people who use them. -Rapid population growth in urban areas outpaced the funding available to build new roads.

Texas maintains the largest network of roadways in the nation to serve a diverse and rapidly growing population. Read each passage below and click on the ones that would be included in a report by a civil engineer about the state's transportation infrastructure. (Click on)

-The Houston area has a little over 1 percent of the U.S. population but 10 percent of the worst bottlenecks in the nation for commercial truck drivers. -Nearly one in five bridges in the state are completely out of date in relationship to modern safety and building standards or have major degradation of the structure. -Beyond the frustration and time-cost, Texans in traffic face a significant financial burden from roadway congestion -Texans in urban areas spend more than a 40-hour workweek stuck in traffic per year on Texas roadways. -More fuel-efficient vehicles have created new financial challenges for the state in being able to fund the maintenance and construction of roadways

Identify all the sources of funding for public higher education institutions in Texas.

-federal government -sales taxes -property taxes -Permanent University Fund -students

Critics of SB 4 make which arguments about the law?

-uses local law enforcement to do the federal government's job -inspired by fear, hatred, and stereotypes of minorities -targets average individuals rather than actual criminals -causes underreporting of crimes

The (1) only supports the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems. The (2) supports other universities and colleges in Texas.

1)Permanent Education Fund 2)Higher Education Fund

As of 2017, the university campus with the largest enrollment in Texas was (1) followed by (2). These have long been considered the definition of higher education in Texas.

1)Texas A&M College Station 2)the University of Texas at Austin

The largest water source for most of the state is water pumped from (1), while the rest of the water for the state comes from resources known as (2).

1)aquifers 2)surface water

Numerous (1), mostly large urban areas, have chosen not to cooperate with immigration officials in holding illegal immigrants for ICE and have been threatened by (2) with the withholding of federal funds for failing to cooperate.

1)sanctuary cities 2)the Department of Justice

Which state has the largest immigration population?

California

You have been appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). As the new member of the board, which of the following situations is one that you should be involved in monitoring?

Developing a new doctorate in higher education leadership at the University of Texas

Texans pay one of the highest overall rates of motor fuel tax of any major U.S. state.

False

The first of a series of Normal Colleges established by the state to help meet the need of educating and training primary and secondary teachers across the state is today called what?

Sam Houston State University

The platforms of the two major parties differ in their positions on higher education policy. Label each of the following policies with the political party that included the policy in their platform.

Republican -create specific affordable degree plans and limit student borrowing -eliminate in-state tuition discount for all illegal aliens -prevent religious-based concessions that create "undue burdens and costs on the institution" Democratic -create programs to offer tuition-free community college to Texas high school graduates -decrease state tuition through increases in overall state financial funding -institute policies that offer culturally diverse curricula

How does the geography of Texas impact the creation of water policy for the state?

The size of the state complicates the development of a comprehensive water policy.

Using the information about educational attainment shown in the figure, what assumption can be made about the future of Texas? Pic. Educational Attainment ( 24-34 year olds)

Texas will likely lag behind other states with large populations in the growth of professional high paying jobs

When immigrants arrive in Texas, the majority are destined for which of the following?

The most urban areas of the state

You are an elected official who has just been presented with a public opinion poll that shows levels of support for various options to create funding for transportation in Texas. As you consider the information, which one of the options below best explains how this polling data has impacted the thinking of policy makers on transportation policy in Texas?

The relative unpopularity of all options combined with the deep divisions about how to address the financial needs for transportation have created a stalemate for political leaders.

As the mayor of a city that is less than 25 miles from a state university, what is your interest in lobbying legislators for more funding for the university and building partnerships with the university?

Your city benefits from the sales tax dollars of students, presence of skilled laborers for local businesses, and having the educational needs of the region met locally.

Study the following points made by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's "60x30TX" plan. The number of Texans between 25 and 34 with a certificate or degree will rise from 41 percent in 2015 to 60 percent in 2030. The number of individuals with a higher education degree or certificate will rise from 311,340 in 2015 to 550,000 in 2030. All graduates by 2030 will have completed programs with identified marketable skills. By 2030 undergraduate loan debt will not exceed 60 percent of first-year wages for graduates of public institutions. What do these points suggest is the state's biggest concern regarding education?

achieving a high portion of the state's population that can be considered competitive in a changing global economy

The creation of a new committee composed of individuals appointed by the Speaker of the House and the lieutenant governor, including the comptroller, state representatives, and senators, to manage the $2 billion SWIRFT and SWIFT funds authorized by voters in 2013 reflects which fundamental trait of Texans regarding government?

distrust of government

Individuals brought to the United States illegally as minors who qualify for protected status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program are often referred to as which of the following?

dreamers

The responsibility for creating and enforcing immigration policy belongs to which level of government?

federal

The ruling in Houston and Texas Central Railroad Company v. East created essentially a common law policy that governs water rights from which resource?

groundwater

Label each transportation policy term to its correct definition.

lane miles -total road length times the number of lanes centerline miles -total length of a road or road segment vehicle miles traveled -estimate of total road usage