lesson 7

Which of the following is generally required by most states before a charter is issued to a business?

A minimum number of people who can claim ownership in the business must be set. The corporation must have assets like capital, patents, or land. The corporation must have a legitimate purpose or goal.

Which of the following is not true?

A sales tax is a progressive tax.

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?

Auto safety and emission standards are set by the states.

True or False: Current prison rehabilitation programs are very successful.

False

True or False: During peacetime, National Guard units are controlled by the president.

False

True or False: Federal aid to schools has steadily increased.

False

True or False: Lotteries produce little revenue for states.

False

True or False: Most state constitutions have provisions for establishing a unicameral legislature.

False

True or False: Only a few states have lotteries.

False

True or False: Public schools are funded only by property taxes.

False

True or False: School districts throughout the United States teach the same curriculum.

False

Which of the following is NOT a gubernatorial qualification or requirement in most states?

Gubernatorial candidates must be members of a political party.

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?

Gubernatorial elections and presidential elections generally coincide.

Which of the following is a false statement?

In the United States all students have an equal amount of money spent on their public educations.

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?

Legislative councils are used in states which do not have a legislative session each year.

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?

Most state legislatures meet every other year.

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?

Prisons are inexpensive solution to the crime problem.

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?

State constitutions are less specific than the United State Constitution.

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?

State constitutions must conform to the United States Constitution.

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of incorporation?

States and cities cannot impose taxes on incorporated businesses.

Which of the following is a TRUE statement?

The states finance and oversee state colleges and universities.

Which of the following is a FALSE statement?

The states must provide all the funding for welfare programs.

True or False: Each state maintains its own National Guard units.

True

True or False: Highway patrol officers are state police.

True

True or False: In recent years U.S. public schools have been severely criticized.

True

True or False: Local control means that the local board of education determines courses offered, discipline, teacher salaries, textbooks, etc.

True

True or False: Most prison inmates in the United States are housed in state-run prisons.

True

True or False: Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States

True

True or False: Puerto Rico is free to choose statehood or independence.

True

True or False: State lotteries are similar in results to regressive taxes.

True

the state legal officer who prosecutes for the state or defends the state in any legal action against it

attorney general

State legislators are generally least likely to come from which of these occupational groups?

blue-collar workers

Which of the following is the most powerful lobby or interest group in most states?

business/economic interests

Which of the following would be considered the least important responsibility of a governor?

ceremonial duties

Which of the following responsibilities do state governments cooperate with federal departments and agencies?

civil defense agriculture conservation

Which of the following is a power that only the federal government may exercise?

conduct foreign relations

A certificate of incorporation issued by a state is called what?

corporate charter

Which of the following is not something a governor would call upon the National Guard to do?

fight forest fires on state lands

Which of the following are specialized enforcement officials?

fire wardens fish and game wardens liquor control officers

Which of the following is the single most important source of revenue for states?

general sales tax

Which of the following usually uses up the largest percentage of a state's funds?

giving funds to cities and counties for multiple uses

can propose or veto legislation any time he or she is in the state

governor

commander of state law enforcement agencies

governor

prepares the state budget

governor

What is the name for funds that are given to a state by the federal government for a specified purpose provided certain conditions are met?

grants-in-aid

What is the name of a governor's power to strike out individual parts from the budget without rejecting the entire budget?

item veto

becomes governor if the current governor dies, retires, or is removed from office

lieutenant governor

presides over the state senate and is the acting governor in the governor's absence

lieutenant governor

In most states the basic unit of public school administration is the

local school district

Education is a reserved responsibility and power of state governments and typically the biggest single budget item for most states. Federal aid to state education varies from state to state but averages roughly ten percent of a state's education budget. The federal government has increased its influence and power in state education by passing the No Child Left Behind Act. This law requires states to meet federal education goals or lose federal funding. Which of the following terms fits this description of the actions of the federal government?

mandate

What kind of tax charges higher rates on higher incomes?

progressive tax

What is the name for a tax that both the poor and the the rich pay at the same rate?

regressive tax

Which of the following is NOT a basic authority or responsibility of state governments?

regulating and printing money

keeps the state's records and issues licenses and charters

secretary of state

supervises elections and certifies their results

secretary of state

What is the name for a tax levied on tobacco or gasoline?

selected sales tax

Money given to a state by the federal government from the sale or lease of federal lands is called what?

shared revenue

polices the accounts of state agencies and ensures that funds are used properly

state auditor

the state's banker who handles most money matters such as collecting taxes and paying bills

state treasurer

oversees public education and enforces state education codes

superintendent of public instruction

Which of the following served as the model for many states' police force?

the Texas Rangers

Which of the following developments created a need for state police organizations?

the automobile

A reserved power is a one that only state governments can exercise. Which of the following is a reserved power?

the power to establish and support public schools

Which of the following is NOT a power of state government?

the power to grant patents and copyrights

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of state government?

to determine the qualifications of naturalized citizens

A concurrent power is one that the state governments and the federal government share. Which of the following is a concurrent power?

to levy and collect taxes

Which of the following is a concurrent or shared power?

to provide for the general welfare of citizens

Which of the following is a reserved power of states?

to regulate trade within the state

Which of the following is NOT a common reform proposal for state legislatures?

to shorten the length of legislative sessions

Which of the following is an additional source of funding in some states?

toll roads and bridges state-run lotteries business license fees

Education is typically the most costly function of state governments. Which is the second most costly function?

transportation