Question 1

______ is the name for federal money given to a state based on the amount the state spends on a particular program.

Accepted Answer

A)  Grants-in-aid 
B)  Categorical grants 
C)  Mandate receipts 
D)  Matching funds 
E)  Unfunded mandates 
A)  Grants-in-aid 
B)  Categorical grants 
C)  Mandate receipts 
D)  Matching funds 
E)  Unfunded mandates D

Question 2

How did education reforms in Texas in the 1990s differ from those in the 1980s?

Accepted Answer

A)  Reforms in the 1990s cut education spending compared to those in the 1980s. 
B)  Reforms in the 1990s further centralized school administration at the state level. 
C)  Reforms in the 1990s gave back more autonomy to local school districts. 
D)  Reforms in the 1980s emphasized more bilingual education than was offered in the 1990s. 
E)  Reforms in the 1990s began providing higher levels of funding for education than those in the 1980s. 
A)  Reforms in the 1990s cut education spending compared to those in the 1980s. 
B)  Reforms in the 1990s further centralized school administration at the state level. 
C)  Reforms in the 1990s gave back more autonomy to local school districts. 
D)  Reforms in the 1980s emphasized more bilingual education than was offered in the 1990s. 
E)  Reforms in the 1990s began providing higher levels of funding for education than those in the 1980s. C

Question 3

What are some of the different means by which Texas raises revenue? Which forms of taxation are the most important? What forms of taxation are not used in Texas? What sources of revenue does Texas rely on other than taxes?

Accepted Answer

Texas raises revenue through various means, including sales taxes, property taxes, and franchise taxes. Sales taxes are the most important form of taxation in Texas, as they account for a significant portion of the state's revenue. Property taxes also play a crucial role in generating revenue for the state, particularly for local governments and school districts. Franchise taxes, which are levied on businesses operating in Texas, also contribute to the state's revenue.

Texas does not have a personal income tax, making it one of the few states in the U.S. that does not impose this form of taxation. Additionally, Texas does not have a corporate income tax, although it does have a franchise tax that applies to certain types of businesses.

In addition to taxes, Texas relies on other sources of revenue, such as federal funding, fees and licenses, and investment income. Federal funding plays a significant role in supporting various programs and services in the state, including healthcare, education, and transportation. Fees and licenses, such as those for vehicle registration and professional licenses, also contribute to the state's revenue. Furthermore, Texas earns income from investments, such as the state's Permanent School Fund, which provides funding for public education. Overall, Texas utilizes a combination of taxation and other revenue sources to fund its operations and services.

Question 4

When the Texas legislature voted on welfare reform in 1995, the result was

Accepted Answer

A)  narrow passage in both the House and the Senate, with support coming only from Republicans. 
B)  overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. 
C)  rejection after a long and acrimonious debate in the House. 
D)  immediate rejection after little debate in either the House or the Senate. 
E)  limited support from both parties until Republicans took over the legislature in 2002. 
A)  narrow passage in both the House and the Senate, with support coming only from Republicans. 
B)  overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. 
C)  rejection after a long and acrimonious debate in the House. 
D)  immediate rejection after little debate in either the House or the Senate. 
E)  limited support from both parties until Republicans took over the legislature in 2002.

Question 5

The tax on oil and natural gas is the most important source of revenue for Texas government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

In 1980, the federal courts declared Texas's prison system to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following is not taxed in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  utilities 
B)  alcohol 
C)  gasoline 
D)  income 
E)  retail sales 
A)  utilities 
B)  alcohol 
C)  gasoline 
D)  income 
E)  retail sales

Question 8

The Texas legislature writes a(n) ______ budget.

Accepted Answer

A)  quarterly 
B)  annual 
C)  biennial 
D)  decadal 
E)  monthly 
A)  quarterly 
B)  annual 
C)  biennial 
D)  decadal 
E)  monthly

Question 9

Poverty among children in Texas is

Accepted Answer

A)  average for a state in the United States. 
B)  lower than most other states. 
C)  much higher than in the United States as a whole. 
D)  lower than any other state in the United States. 
E)  impossible to measure accurately. 
A)  average for a state in the United States. 
B)  lower than most other states. 
C)  much higher than in the United States as a whole. 
D)  lower than any other state in the United States. 
E)  impossible to measure accurately.

Question 10

The state constitution requires that Texas maintain a balanced budget.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Sales and use taxes in Texas have led some to complain that the tax system in Texas is too

Accepted Answer

A)  complex. 
B)  onerous. 
C)  progressive. 
D)  regressive. 
E)  lenient. 
A)  complex. 
B)  onerous. 
C)  progressive. 
D)  regressive. 
E)  lenient.

Question 12

The origins of modern welfare policy lie in

Accepted Answer

A)  the Grange reforms of the 1870s. 
B)  the Progressive era of the 1910s. 
C)  the New Deal of the 1930s. 
D)  the Shivercrat movement of the 1950s. 
E)  President Johnson's "Great Society" program. 
A)  the Grange reforms of the 1870s. 
B)  the Progressive era of the 1910s. 
C)  the New Deal of the 1930s. 
D)  the Shivercrat movement of the 1950s. 
E)  President Johnson's "Great Society" program.

Question 13

Many commentators have argued that the Texas tax system is regressive, falling more heavily on the poor.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

On which budget item does Texas spend the most money?

Accepted Answer

A)  transportation 
B)  education 
C)  health and human services 
D)  corrections programs and prison maintenance 
E)  welfare 
A)  transportation 
B)  education 
C)  health and human services 
D)  corrections programs and prison maintenance 
E)  welfare

Question 15

Since 1995, the number of Texans on welfare has fallen.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

What is the best explanation for the drop in the number of Texans on welfare in the late 1990s?

Accepted Answer

A)  the success of the welfare reforms of 1996 
B)  the booming economy and the rising demand for all types of labor 
C)  the change in the state's definition of poverty 
D)  the mass migration of poorer Texans to other states 
E)  there was no drop 
A)  the success of the welfare reforms of 1996 
B)  the booming economy and the rising demand for all types of labor 
C)  the change in the state's definition of poverty 
D)  the mass migration of poorer Texans to other states 
E)  there was no drop

Question 17

One common criticism of TAKS testing is that

Accepted Answer

A)  too much class time is spent "teaching to the test." 
B)  the evaluation standards are not uniform throughout the state. 
C)  there are not enough evaluations of students in early grades. 
D)  there are too many subject areas that are tested. 
E)  some schools perform better than others, causing disparities in state funding. 
A)  too much class time is spent "teaching to the test." 
B)  the evaluation standards are not uniform throughout the state. 
C)  there are not enough evaluations of students in early grades. 
D)  there are too many subject areas that are tested. 
E)  some schools perform better than others, causing disparities in state funding.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about education policy in early Texas history is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Constitution of the Republic of Texas established a public system of education. 
B)  The establishment of a public school system in Texas did not occur until it had become a state. 
C)  The Constitution of 1876 placed restrictions on how money could be used for public education. 
D)  Throughout the entire history of Texas as a state, public education has been a statewide affair. 
E)  The debate over public education policy in Texas extends back to the break with Mexico. 
A)  The Constitution of the Republic of Texas established a public system of education. 
B)  The establishment of a public school system in Texas did not occur until it had become a state. 
C)  The Constitution of 1876 placed restrictions on how money could be used for public education. 
D)  Throughout the entire history of Texas as a state, public education has been a statewide affair. 
E)  The debate over public education policy in Texas extends back to the break with Mexico.

Question 19

What have been the major issues dominating education policy in Texas over the past thirty years? Describe some of the struggles to desegregate Texas public schools. What have been some of the controversies surrounding equity in school funding? How have Texas policy makers attempted to promote excellence in student performance?

Accepted Answer

Over the past thirty years, major issues

Question 20

The Robin Hood plan is a controversial program of transferring funds from wealthier schools to poorer schools to equalize funding.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 27: Public Policy in Texas

______ is the name for federal money given to a state based on the amount the state spends on a particular program.

How did education reforms in Texas in the 1990s differ from those in the 1980s?

What are some of the different means by which Texas raises revenue? Which forms of taxation are the most important? What forms of taxation are not used in Texas? What sources of revenue does Texas rely on other than taxes?

When the Texas legislature voted on welfare reform in 1995, the result was

The tax on oil and natural gas is the most important source of revenue for Texas government.

In 1980, the federal courts declared Texas's prison system to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Which of the following is not taxed in Texas?

The Texas legislature writes a(n) ______ budget.

Poverty among children in Texas is

The state constitution requires that Texas maintain a balanced budget.

Sales and use taxes in Texas have led some to complain that the tax system in Texas is too

The origins of modern welfare policy lie in

Many commentators have argued that the Texas tax system is regressive, falling more heavily on the poor.

On which budget item does Texas spend the most money?

Since 1995, the number of Texans on welfare has fallen.

What is the best explanation for the drop in the number of Texans on welfare in the late 1990s?

One common criticism of TAKS testing is that

Which of the following statements about education policy in early Texas history is false?

The Robin Hood plan is a controversial program of transferring funds from wealthier schools to poorer schools to equalize funding.

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Parties and Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Local Government in Texas

Filters