Texas GOVT 2306 final exam review
Often referred to as Austin's oldest profession
lobbying
Percentage share of Texas budget consumed by Medicaid
25%
Ranking of Texas in admittance to the Union
28th
Percent of students who attend a JC/community college that graduate with a degree in 6 years
29%
Texas national birthrate ranking
2nd
Percent of sales over the internet
3%
Number of Texas citizens on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
3.5million
Percent of federal grant money as a portion of total state revenue in 1990
33.7%
Number of live births in Texas
405,242
Medicaid percentage paid for by the state
42%
6 year graduation rate for students attending a university
57%
Medicaid percentage paid by the federal government
58%
State sales tax rate
6.25%
The state income tax rate for Texas
6.25%
Percent increase for health and human services between 1990 and 2010
60%
Federal government's percentage share of Medicaid
7%
Distance from Beaumont to El Paso
740 miles
Number of political offices held by Republicans throughout the state in 1974
75
Distance from Beaumont to Chicago
770 miles
Number of abortions in Texas
78,330
Number of states having a sales tax rate higher than Texas
8
Lyndon Johnson's winning vote margin in the 1948 U.S. Senate election
87
Percent of federal grants that are categorical grants
90%
Approximate percentage of criminal cases that result in plea agreements
97%
State with the largest constitution
Alabama
Symbol of Texas independence
Alamo
Appropriation Bill
Also known as running bill or supply bill, is a legislative motion that authorizes the government to spend money
Imminent Domain
right of the government to take private property for a public purpose, usually with just compensation of the owner
Agricultural related items not subject to sales tax
seeds, fertilizers, etc
State gasoline tax in 2011
$0.20/gallon
Amount the TRS trust fund held in 2011
$108.2billion
Amount tobacco companies agreed to pay Texas over 25 years to avoid a trial/lawsuit
$17.3 billion
Monetary size of the 2012-2013 state budget
$172.3 billion
Amount the ERS trust fund held in 2010
$20.7billion
Suspected cost to state and local governments in annual sales tax revenue due to internet commerce
$600 million
The figure in percent above the poverty level where Medicaid extends coverage
133%
State national ranking for cattle production
1st
Percentage amount local governments can add to the sales tax rate
2%
Number of political offices held by Republicans throughout the state in 2006
2,353
Election cycle for the Texas State House of Representatives
2-year cycle
Appropriation process
Annual procedure through which Congress legislatively provides money for a particular amount of money
4th and final president to serve the Republic of Texas
Anson Jones
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Article 4, all states are to honor the legal preceding and of other states
Individual credited with writing the Texas Declaration of Independence
George Childress
1st governor to be elected to two consecutive four-year terms
George W. Bush
Economic Triad
Houston, San Antonio, Dallas; contains 60% of population
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Legislation passed in 1990 the prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in any public setting such as employment, transportation, or government activities
Another common name for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Obamacare
New Deal
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's 1930's programs to stimulate the national economy and provide relief to victims of the Great Depression
Individual who defeated Edmund Davis in the 1872 election for governor
Richard Coke
Longest serving governor in the history of Texas
Rick Perry
Fiscal year
September 1st-August 31st
Biennium
Specified period of two years
Houston-based national group that seeks to ensure voter confidence in the election process
True The Vote
Clean Air Act
United States federal law designed to control air pollution on a national level
Early Voting
a procedure that allows voters to cast ballots during the two week period before the regularly scheduled election date
Foundation School Program
accounts for the largest portion of state and local funding, helps bring financial equality to local districts despite the vast differences
Federal Preemption of State Authority
act of Congress adopting regulatory policies that overrule state policies in a particular regulatory area
Home-Rule City
amendment to the state constitution grants cities, municipalities, and/or counties the ability to pass laws to govern themselves as they see fit
Grand Old Party (GOP)
another name for the Republican Party
Budget Execution Authority
authority granted by the governor and Legislative Budget Board to make transfers of appropriations between agencies and items within the adopted budget
Police Power
authority to promote the health, welfare, and safety of the people
General Fund
budget refers to the expenditures and revenues associated with the delivery of services by county agencies funded with property taxes, income taxes, charges and fees, and state shared taxes
Interstate Commerce Clause
clause states that the United States Congress shall have power to "regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states and with Indian Tribes"
Dual School System
combines apprenticeships in a company and vocational education at a vocational school in one course
Federal Grant Program
economic aid issued by the U.S. government out of the general fund revenue
Recession
economic downturn with rising unemployment lasting between 15-18 months
Sales tax
levy on the retail sale of taxable items
Tax elasticity
extent to which tax revenues increase as personal incomes rise
Medicaid
federal and state program financing medical services to low income people
Categorical Grant Program
federal grant-in-aid program that provides funds to state and local governments for a fairly narrow, specific purpose
Matching Funds Requirement
federal monies going to a state based on state spending for a program
Block Grant Program
financial aid package that grants federal money to state and local governments for use in social welfare programs
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
for children of families with incomes too high to qualify for medicaid in Texas
Federal System
form of government that divides political power between a central government with authority over the whole nation and a series of state governments
Dedicated Funds
fund in the state treasury, or separate account, that by law is dedicated for a specific object or purpose
Dedicated Highway Fund
funds only dedicated for the highway
Entitlement Programs
government program that guarantees certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population
Debt Service
money spent by the state to pay off debts
Incumbent
official currently holding office
Federal Mandate
orders that induce "responsibility, action, procedure, or anything else that is imposed by constitutional, administrative, executive, or judicial action" for state and local governments
Interest Group
organization established to influence the government's programs and policies
Federal government costs states estimate have been shifted to state expenses over past 5 years
over $17.3 billion
Amount of state revenue generated from the lottery since it began in 1992
over $18 billion
Percentage of Texans now living in metropolitan areas
over 80%
Sunset review
periodic evaluation of state agencies by the legislature to determine whether they should be reauthorized
Sovereign
possessing supreme political authority within a geographic area
Line-item Veto
power of the executive to veto specific provisions of an appropriations bill passed by the legislature
Urbanization
process by which people move from rural areas to cities
Robin Hood plan
reform of the states school finance system designated to increase funding for poor school districts by redistributing from wealthy districts
Rainy day fund
state savings account funded by a portion of oil and gas production revenues
Budget Deficit
status of financial health in which expenditures exceed revenue
Local Governments
sub-units of states
Pari-mutuel wagering
system for gambling on horse racing and dog racing
Performance-based budgeting
system of budget preparation and evaluation to which policy makers identify specific policy goals, set performance targets for agencies and measure results
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) Tax
tax on the number of miles you have driven
Sin tax
tax on tobacco, alcohol , or items such as those
Drugs and medicine are exempt from sales tax
true
Restaurant food is charged with a sales tax
true
Number of times a governor can run for office in Texas
unlimited