posi 2320

Sometimes those who are responsible for administering a law will alter the policy by purposely ignoring or disobeying it. True or False

True

Which of the following describe common-pool goods? - exclusive - exhaustive - nonexhaustive - nonexclusive

- exhaustive - nonexclusive

The multiple streams theory suggests that the policy process contains three key streams. What are they? - problems - interest group funding - proposed solutions - politics - charismatic leadership

- problems - proposed solutions - politics

Which of the following has become increasingly dependent on the property tax in Texas? - school districts - transit authorities - state government - local governments - federal government

- school districts - local governments

The excise tax on gasoline is an example of a tax based on the Blank______. - need of the state - ability to pay - environmental cost - benefit received

benefit received

Federal departments are each responsible for one Blank______. broad policy area amendment to the Constitution of the states of the union member of the U.S. Senate

broad policy area

A state's potential to tax is call its tax ___________.

capacity

In the garbage-can theory of organizational choice, lawmaking is Blank______. - contained, though unpleasant - garbage - chaotic - dirty business

chaotic

Natural resources are generally Blank______ goods. - common-pool - toll - social

common-pool

The __________ ________ is a corporate "income tax" in Texas that is assessed on income earned by corporations in the state.

franchise fee

An individual who benefits from a good or service without contributing to the cost is referred to as a ___________ - ______________.

free-rider

The current trend in state spending indicates that local governments will be picking up a Blank______ share of the cost of providing services to the citizens of Texas in future. - greater - lesser

greater

Which of the following is/are an example of a common-pool good? - broadcast airways - groundwater - toll bridge - vaccinations

groundwater

Texas spends 32% of the money it gets from the federal government on Blank______. - infrastructure and transportation development - health and human services - education - border security

health and human services

What are some of the reasons the federal bureaucracy has grown so much since the United States was founded? increased demands on government due to economic growth Lyndon Johnson's Great Society initiatives increases in foreign aid the strength of the two-party system the New Deal programs of Franklin D. Roosevelt

increased demands on government due to economic growth Lyndon Johnson's Great Society initiatives the New Deal programs of Franklin D. Roosevelt

Which theory of changes in policy suggests that most government officials make small, gradual changes? - incremental change - policy feedback - multiple streams - punctuated equilibrium

incremental change

Match the theory of policy change to the appropriate description.

incremental change = most government officials and institutions make small, gradual policy changes punctuated equilibrium = policy changes gradually and subtly, with sudden and violent change occurring only as the result of a catastrophic event multiple streams theory = policy only changes when problems, proposed solutions, and politics intermingle policy feedback theory = decision makers only pick from a limited list of choices shaped by current politics and policies

The final authority of approving budgets for federal agencies rests with the Blank______. Supreme Court vice president state governors members of Congress

members of Congress

As compared to the national average, a Texas family in the lowest 20 percent of income pays Blank______ of their income in taxes. - less - the same amount - more

more

What is/are an example of a toll good? - subsidized housing - natural resources - public education - national parks

national parks

Service charges, fees, and the lottery are sources of Blank______. - income-elastic taxes - nontax revenue - discretionary funding - earmarked revenue

nontax revenue

To pay for the services a state government must provide, states rely on Blank______ sources. - single - numerous - two primary

numerous

What is the only kind of tax that cannot be shifted to others? - corporate income taxes - consumer sales taxes - personal income taxes - consumption taxes

personal income taxes

Which stage of James Anderson's idealized policy cycle often does not occur at all? - policy evaluation - problem identification - policy formulation - agenda setting

policy evaluation

The answer to "What should government do?" is influenced by a person's Blank______, which is their belief about political processes and the role that government should play in society. - collective benefits - patriotic feelings - political values - public goods

political values

In recent years, most of the growth in state expenditures on health and human services has been driven primarily by Blank______. - population increases - the increasing cost of health care - increased federal contributions - decisions by the legislature to expand services

population increases

What is the first step in the policy-making process? - policy implementation - policy formation - agenda setting - problem identification

problem identification

What is the most important and most difficult step in the policy-making process? - policy formulation - policy adoption - problem identification and agenda setting - policy evaluation - policy implementation

problem identification and agenda setting

Taxes that take the same percentage of income from all citizens are called __________ taxes.

proportional

Often provided by the government, goods or services that are characterized by the features of nonexcludability and nonrivalrous consumption are known as _____________ ______________.

public goods

According to one source, ___________ ____________ is "an officially expressed intention backed by a sanction, which can be a reward or a punishment."

public policy

Whatever a government chooses to do or not to do is a reflection of its Blank______. - eminent domain - individual mandate - legitimacy - public policy

public policy

True or false: Full-time employees working in the U.S. federal bureaucracy number in the millions.

True

True or false: Most taxes in Texas are paid by consumers and not by businesses.

True

What general tax shifting methods may businesses use to respond to a tax increase? - making legal challenges against the tax - reducing income so the tax burden will be lower - absorbing the cost through lower profits to its shareholders/owners - shifting taxes to the consumer through higher prices - shifting the taxes onto workers through lower wages

- absorbing the cost through lower profits to its shareholders/owners - shifting taxes to the consumer through higher prices - shifting the taxes onto workers through lower wages

Which of the following statements about taxes based on an individual's ability to pay are accurate? - Most taxes at the state level are not based on ability to pay. - Taxes based on ability to pay are benefit-based taxes. - The excise tax on gasoline is an example of a tax based on the ability to pay. - The federal income tax is a tax based on an individual's ability to pay.

- Most taxes at the state level are not based on ability to pay. - The federal income tax is a tax based on an individual's ability to pay.

Which of the following are reasons why an interested party might sue to block a policy's implementation? - The party contends the policy is unconstitutional. - The party contends the policy is inconvenient. - The party contends the policy conflicts with other laws. - The party contends the policy is flawed. - The party contends the policy is too expensive.

- The party contends the policy is unconstitutional. - The party contends the policy conflicts with other laws. - The party contends the policy is flawed.

The federal bureaucracy experienced its greatest expansion during the Blank______. 1950s under president Dwight Eisenhower 1930s under president Franklin Roosevelt 1920s under president Warren Harding 2000s under president George W. Bush

1930s under president Franklin Roosevelt

By state law, the local sales tax is fixed at no more than Blank______ percent of the value of the sale. - 2 - 5 - 3 - 1.5

2

The state currently finances about Blank______ percent of the cost of elementary and secondary education. - 27 - 40 - 15 - 65

40

In terms of total dollars in the state budget, the various service charges and fees in Texas provide Blank______ percent of total state revenue. - 5.7 - 7.2 - 6.4 - 9.8

6.4

How many states, including Texas, have no personal income tax? - 1 - 12 - 3 - 7

7

What is the earliest step in the resource allocation process? Bureaucrats spend money to put public policy into action. Bureaucrats develop annual budget requests for their agencies. Congress finishes work on appropriation bills. Congress calls on agencies to justify their budget requests.

Bureaucrats develop annual budget requests for their agencies.

What suggestion has former Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock made to help avoid further fiscal crises? - Expand the sales tax base. - Increase the corporate income tax. - Link state expenditures to state revenue. - Establish a personal income tax.

Expand the sales tax base.

How common is it for decision makers and institutions adopt a solution without alteration? - It is the most common route to finding solutions. - It is rare. - It never happens.

It is rare

How does Texas rank in the regressivity or progressivity of its tax system? - Its tax system is slightly more regressive than average. - It places about average in terms of tax regressivity. - It places among the ten most regressive tax systems in the United States. - It places among the ten most progressive tax systems in the United States.

It places among the ten most regressive tax systems in the United States.

What circumstance might lead the policy implementation stage to be skipped altogether? - The new policy is awaiting an impact review. - The new policy requires federal approval. - The new policy is not broadly popular. - The new policy is largely symbolic.

The new policy is largely symbolic.

Which of the following is true of the recent trend in collection of nontax revenue? - The trend in recent years has been to decrease service charges and fees as federal contributions to state revenue have increased. - The level of service charges and fees has stayed flat in recent years because legislators fear negative public reactions. - The trend in recent years has been to increase service charges and fees for education but to decrease them for most other state services. - The trend in recent years has been to increase service charges and fees as a way to increase revenue and avoid raising taxes.

The trend in recent years has been to increase service charges and fees as a way to increase revenue and avoid raising taxes.

Why did the Texas legislature vote to establish a Broadband Development Office in 2020-2021? - To expand broadband service to Texas state colleges and universities. - To expand broadband service for Texas towns along the Mexican border. - To expand broadband service to rural areas and other unserviced locations.

To expand broadband service to rural areas and other unserviced locations.

______________ goods are exclusive but nonexhaustive. (Think public parks.)

Toll

True or false: Some federal agencies function as independent agencies, rather than as part of a cabinet-level department, because putting the agencies in a department would pose symbolic or practical problems.

True

True or false: The amount of tax money available in any given state depends on the wealth of the citizens of that state. True or false

True

An organization with specialization of job tasks, vertical chain of command, and standard operating procedures is called Blank______. a legislature an academy a bureaucracy an institute

a bureaucracy

What roadblock to the establishment of a personal income tax in Texas was established in 1992? - a constitutional amendment requiring a supermajority of the legislature to enact a personal income tax - legislation requiring a constitutional amendment to initiate a personal income tax - a constitutional amendment that prohibits a personal income tax - a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval before the legislature could enact a personal income tax

a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval before the legislature could enact a personal income tax

Merit-based positions constitute Blank______ the jobs in the national bureaucracy. about half a majority of a minority of

a majority of

What are characteristics of job specialization in a bureaucracy? a system that rewards people for supporting certain political parties the probationary period each new bureaucrat serves a precise division of labor within the bureaucracy the explicit definition of duties for each position

a precise division of labor within the bureaucracy the explicit definition of duties for each position

Taxes on natural gas and oil production in Texas Blank______. - have yielded less revenue as prices have been falling - are based on the dollar value of what is extracted - are likely to rise over the long term - are set at a fixed amount based on volume extracted

are based on the dollar value of what is extracted are likely to rise over the long term

Thanks to Blank______, public policy analyses in and out of government seek to figure out the effectiveness, efficacy, and economics of a policy. - computers and analytic software - a resurgence in public participation in government - increases in government oversight - public policy scandals

computers and analytic software

Heavy dependence on Blank______ taxes makes for an income-elastic tax structure. - corporate - property - income - consumer

consumer

Taxes that individuals pay when they buy goods and services are Blank______ taxes. - franchise - proportional - per capita - consumer

consumer

What best describes Texas's franchise fee? - business property tax - tax on business expansion - corporate income tax - corporate equipment tax

corporate income tax

The funds in the state budget that are not restricted for a specific purpose are Blank______. - earmarked - regressive - nonrivalrous - discretionary

discretionary

Bureaucrats are an essential part of the government because they Blank______. receive considerable media coverage for their work have the final ruling on constitutional matters do work that directly impacts the lives of Americans can officially declare war on countries

do work that directly impacts the lives of Americans

The Department of Blank______ has the smallest number of employees, while the Department of Blank______ has the largest. Agriculture; Health and Human Services Education; Defense the Treasury; the Interior Labor; State

education; defense

The organization of a bureaucracy is structured to achieve maximum Blank______. creativity efficiency financial gain employment

efficiency

In the context of James Anderson's policy-making cycle, if the full cycle occurs, then the policy ______________ is the last step.

evaluation

The shifting of taxes to citizens in other states is known as tax _________ .

exporting

The shifting of taxes to citizens in other states is known as tax ___________ .

exporting

True or false: All nontax revenue sources are characterized by the feature of nonexcludability.

false

True or false: The increase in local government collection of tax revenues in Texas is an indication of the declining role of the federal government in funding services, especially schools.

false

Health and human services in Texas is funded mostly by Blank______. - discretionary spending set by the legislature - revenue from counties and municipalities - federal grants to the state - the state sales tax

federal grants to the state

A state could make its tax system less regressive by exempting Blank______ from its tax base. - corporate earnings - food items - personal income - luxury items

food items

What aspect of Texas's governmental structure helps it to avoid the legislative problem of making a hasty decision due to pressure from constituents? - its governor's veto authority - its state supreme court power of judicial review - its dual-legislative chamber - its biennial structure

its biennial structure

A state's tax effort refers to Blank______. - its capacity to tax - its level of taxation - the total taxes raised by the state divided by the number of residents - the progressive or regressive nature of its tax system

its level of taxation

A state's tax effort refers to Blank______. - the total taxes raised by the state divided by the number of residents - the progressive or regressive nature of its tax system - its level of taxation - its capacity to tax

its level of taxation

Texas's tax structure is one of the most regressive in the country. This is due in part to its Blank______. - need to balance its budget - lack of a personal income tax - low consumer taxes - high dependence on federal funding

lack of a personal income tax

The states of Texas, Florida, and Washington are all roughly equivalent in their dependency on consumer taxes. What common characteristic do they share related to this? - biennial legislative sessions - very low federal funding - high dependency on extraction of natural resources - lack of a personal income tax

lack of a personal income tax

What aspect of a state's tax system seems to indicate a high level of regressivity? - lack of a corporate income tax - a proportional income tax - lack of a personal income tax - a low consumer sales tax

lack of a personal income tax

What percentage of money in Texas's general fund is nonrestricted and available for change? - approximately 80 percent - about 25 percent - 50 percent - less than 20 percent

less than 20 percent

In past financial crises, revenue shortfalls in Texas have been resolved by which of the following? - instituting a personal income tax - raising gasoline taxes - raising sales taxes - increasing fees

raising gasoline taxes raising sales taxes increasing fees

The earmarking of revenues limits the ability of the legislature to do which of the following? - fix revenues for specific purposes - restrict appropriations - react to emergency situations that may need money - change budget priorities

react to emergency situations that may need money change budget priorities

A(n) ___________ tax regime takes a higher percentage of income from low-income people.

regressive

What kind of government agencies make and enforce public policy with regard to a specific type of economic activity? regulatory independent commerce cabinet

regulatory

For most taxes, showing direct benefit is problematic. Benefit received is more applicable to which of the following? - sales taxes - value-added taxes - service charges or fees - intangible consumer benefits

service charges or fees

Through local sales taxes and local property taxes, local governments collect and pay Blank______ of the total cost of government in Texas. - slightly over half - about three-quarters - about one-quarter - about 15 percent

slightly over half

Which of the following characterizes the role of the lottery in the Texas state budget? - large but decreasing in significance - small and will never be significant - large and increasing in significance - small but growing in significance

small and will never be significant

Which of the following characterizes the role of the lottery in the Texas state budget? - large but decreasing in significance - small but growing in significance - small and will never be significant - large and increasing in significance

small and will never be significant

Free public education is an example of a Blank______ good. - toll - social - common-pool

social

Governments provide Blank______ goods because there is a value to society in ensuring that everyone has access to them regardless of ability to pay. - common-pool - toll - social

social

Over the past ten years, the state's contribution for education has Blank______. - become the main source of school funding - remained steady - steadily increased - steadily declined

steadily declined

Per capita tax is calculated by Blank______. - subtracting a state's tax capacity by its tax effort - taking the total taxes collected and dividing by the number of citizens in the state, minus the state's tax exporting - taking the total taxes collected and dividing by the number of citizens in the state - taking the tax capacity of a state and dividing it by the number of citizens in the state

taking the total taxes collected and dividing by the number of citizens in the state

All items that are subject to tax make up a state's ____________ _____________.

tax base

Ideally, a state's tax effort will equal its Blank______. - per capita tax - nontax revenue - tax incidence - tax capacity

tax capacity

Ideally, a state's tax effort will equal its Blank______. - per capita tax - tax incidence - tax capacity - nontax revenue

tax capacity

Ideally, a state's tax effort will equal its Blank______. - tax capacity - tax incidence - per capita tax - nontax revenue

tax capacity

What is an earmark? - budget revenue items that must be used for welfare payments - tax revenue set aside for specific purposes - state grants to local government units that can be used at their discretion - tax revenue that can be used in any way except for funding a specific prohibited program or programs

tax revenue set aside for specific purposes

The primary source of revenue for state governments is Blank______. - fees - funding by the federal government - service charges - taxes paid by citizens

taxes paid by citizens

What is the largest independent agency? the U.S. Postal Service the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

the U.S. Postal Service

Goods like bridges and roads that are exclusive but nonexhaustive are known as Blank______ goods. social toll common-pool

toll

On average, Texas generates Blank______ of its revenue from its own sources. - one-quarter - two-thirds - a small percentage - one-half

two-thirds