Govt. 2306 Exam 3 – Flashcards
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Organized interests
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benefit by the vacuum left by a lack of party competition in Texas.
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The phenomena of legislators and members of the executive branch moving easily from government office to lucrative positions with lobbying firms is called
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the revolving door.
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The idea that a greater number of organized interests means wider participation and a healthier democracy is called
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the pluralist perspective.
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The idea that a greater number of narrow interests makes it difficult to formulate public policy that will serve the broader public interest is called
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hyperpluralism.
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Which of the following describes public interest groups?
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organizations that pursue noneconomic policies on behalf of the general populace
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Which of the following describes trade associations?
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organizations of similar businesses working together to advance shared goals
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Which of the following describes labor unions?
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organizations that represent the interests of working people seeking better pay and better working conditions
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Organized interests can best overcome the free-rider problem to join by providing
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selective incentives that only group members can enjoy.
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Contributing funds to candidates through a political action committee (PAC) is an example of organized interest
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electioneering.
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Why are state and federal laws limiting organized interest contributions to campaigns quite limited in their effectiveness in keeping interest group money out of elections?
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Groups can spend unlimited amounts of money if there is no coordination with a candidate.
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Which of the following is true about Texas law on lobbyists and political contributions to legislators?
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Contributions are prohibited during the legislative session.
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Professional associations address the needs of
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professionals not represented by unions.
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Fifty-one percent of money spent by PACs in Texas during the 2009-2010 election cycle came from
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business PACs.
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The authors list three types of policies at the beginning of Chapter 13. Which of the following is a type of policy mentioned?
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redistributive policy
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The state general sales tax is
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the same as the motor vehicle sales, rental, or lease taxes.
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The authors note several different types of taxes. Which of the following describes the severance tax?
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a tax on the extraction of natural resources
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Which of the following is not a tax levied on Texans by their state?
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the income tax
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Which of the following do the authors cite as an example of a regressive form of taxation?
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the sales tax
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Texas relies on other sources of revenue than taxes. Which of the following is accurate regarding these other sources of revenue?
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Grants from the federal government make up around 40 percent of the state's revenue.
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The authors describe Texas as a "pay-as-you-go" state. What does the phrase "pay as you go" mean?
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The Texas Constitution requires a balanced budget, thus limiting debt.
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A bill cannot be considered passed by the legislature unless the ___________ has authorized that the amount to be spent by the bill is available.
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comptroller
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What is the primary source of Texas's "Rainy Day Fund?"
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oil and gas taxes
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Although unpopular among many groups, why does the lottery remain a revenue source for Texas?
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The revenue lost from eliminating the lottery would mean spending cuts or raising other taxes.
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Subsidies are incentives designed to _______ the production or purchase of certain goods.
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stimulate
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Which of the following describe sin taxes?
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taxes on products and activities that legislators would like to discourage
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The state's largest source of investment income is?
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income from the Permanent School Fund
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What percentage of state revenue comes from taxation?
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48 percent
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A tax on real estate is a(an)
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property tax.
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Which government function receives the most public expenditures?
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health and human services
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Which government function receives the second most expenditure?
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employee benefits
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Bob Bullock increased the comptroller budget by promising the governor and state legislature
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dramatically increased state revenue.
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The official name for the Rainy Day Fund is
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Economic Stabilization Fund
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What was the original purpose of the Legislative Budget Board?
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all of the above
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The Legislative Budget Board is co-chaired by
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Speaker of the Texas House and the lieutenant governor.
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Which agency is responsible for assisting the governor in the development of a budget proposal?
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Governor's Office of Budget, Planning, and Policy
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An appraiser comes out to your house and judges the current market value of the property. Her appraisal results in a change to your property tax. This is an example of a(an)
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ad valorem tax.
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What is the current annual cap on the annual increase in taxable value for a home?
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10 percent
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The state's general sales tax is set at ________ percent.
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6.25
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The Gilmer-Akin Act of _______ created the modern public school system in Texas.
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1949
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In which case did the U.S. Supreme Court demand that public schools were not to be segregated based on race?
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Brown v. Board of Education
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On average, Texas school districts get the greatest amount of revenue from which source?
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local governments
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The "Robin Hood" school finance plan came as the result of which court ruling?
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Edgewood ISD v. Kirby
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Each of the following has established methods of holding educators accountable except
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the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX).
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The No Child Left Behind Act
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is the federal education act requiring schools to institute mandatory testing.
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The Permanent University Fund (PUF) was established to help fund
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the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems.
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The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is made up of _______ members who are _________.
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nine; appointed by the governor
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Hopwood v. Texas addressed
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university admissions taking into consideration race-based criteria.
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What is required of Texas by the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?
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to create a state health insurance marketplace or, if it does not do so, face the federal government creating one for it
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Where Medicare benefits _______, Medicaid benefits _______.
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are received by those who have paid into the program; are received by low-income elderly and disabled people regardless of ability to pay
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Which describes the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) accurately?
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It targets families who make too much to be on Medicaid but lack private health insurance.
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The father of Texas Education was
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Mirabeau Lamar.
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The Brown v. Board of Education decision produced the following response in Texas:
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no desegregation plan
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What did the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) allege the state of Texas failed to do in their 2014 lawsuit?
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support programs to help students learn English
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The majority of ELL students have been in the United States for at least _________ years.
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three
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Which federal judge ordered desegregation in 1970?
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Judge William Wayne Justice
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In 1989, the Supreme Court of Texas ruled that the Texas school funding system violated rules laid out by
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the Texas constitution
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The Texas legislature mandated a state-wide curriculum in
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1981.
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The Texas legislation that established an equalized wealth level for schools was called the
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Robin Hood plan.
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The test that teachers must take to assure basic competency is called ____________.
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TECAT
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The 2013 education reforms passed by the Texas state legislature reduced
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standardized testing.
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The power of a government to take private property for public use, generally for public functions such as roads is called
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eminent domain.
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The cash poor Texas government originally paid for the extension of the railroad with what resource?
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land
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Which of the following is the best description of a negative externality?
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an unintended cost imposed on someone not involved in an economic transaction
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How has the funding for Texas roads changed since the twentieth century?
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Funding is now based more on fees and bonds issued by the government.
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Besides building and maintaining roads, the Good Roads Amendment demands road user fees will be spent on
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education.
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Which city's light rail system has not only the greatest number of operated miles in Texas, but in the nation as well?
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Dallas
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The benefits Texas experiences due to immigration includes all but which of the following?
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Immigrants raise demand for government services and increase public employment.
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The facts listed below are all true of the Texas Dream Act except
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it required those covered by it to be seeking citizenship.
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What was the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Plyler v. Doe (1982)--a case which started with Tyler, Texas ISD?
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Public schools could not charge illegal immigrants for public education.
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The creation of the first regulatory commission in the state of Texas was charged with the task of overseeing which industry?
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railroad
