POLS 207 E3

include HW QUESTIONS!!! and study guide (need a 90 to have an A)

Appointment Power

enable the governor to shape the administration of state policies by appointing key officials who manage state agencies, commissions, and boards

is subject to checks and balances to prevent abuse

Veto Power

mechanism to influence legislation, ensure fiscal discipline, and maintain a balance of power between the executive and legislative branches
prevents passage of laws that governor believes are not in best interest of state and its residents

Message Power

Governors can communicate directly with the legislature and the public to influence the legislative process and shape public policy.

This power is typically exercised through formal addresses, written communications, and strategic use of the media.

Special Session Power

Governors can call special sessions to address urgent issues needing immediate legislative action between regular sessions

Budgetary Power

Governors are responsible for preparing and presenting the state budget (NOT IN TEXAS) outlining spending priorities and revenue sources. These powers enable the governor to influence state fiscal policy, allocate resources, and set priorities for public spending.

Judicial Powers

governors appoint judges to the state’s courts, often subject to legislative or judicial council approval.

influences the ideological and philosophical direction of the judiciary

Clemency powers: allow governors to rectify miscarriages of justice, such as wrongful convictions or disproportionately harsh sentences

regular veto

governor rejects an entire bill passed by the legislature. The vetoed bill is returned to the legislature with the governor’s objections

post-adjournment veto (pocket veto)

governor vetoes a bill after the regular legislative session ends (adjournment)

powerful in states like Texas where the legislature does not have the power to override the veto since the regular legislative session has ended

line-item veto

allows a governor to exercise fiscal responsibility by eliminating specific expenditures they deem unnecessary or excessive.

amendatory veto

governors return a bill to the legislature with specific suggestions for amendments

the legislature can accept the suggested changes, pass the original bill again, or take no action.

reduction veto allowed in some states (ability to reduce the amount of a particular line item in an appropriations bill)

What is the role of governors in the budget process?

Oversees preparation of state budget, line-item veto, signs budget into law

Texas: less budgeting power than other states because of dual-budgeting system (Governors Budgeting Office and Legislative Budget Board both propose a budget

What are executive orders?

A rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law

Know the different executive positions IN TEXAS & in other states

Why is the post-adjournment veto so powerful?

Governor can veto a bill & it dies immediately after a session has been adjourned and legislature can't do anything about it

Know the budget process in Texas

Legislature must write a 2-year budget and meets only once every 2 years; agencies are forced to project budgetary needs without clear knowledge.

What is the No Child Left Behind Act?

Supported standards-based education reform based on the premise that setting high standards and establishing measurable goals could improve education.

•Federal Funding is tied to test scores
•Failing Schools get less money
•Teachers end up teaching for the tests and nothing else

10) What is gross domestic product?

The total value of all the goods and services produced in the United States in a year; a measure of the size of the US economy

11) What are progressive taxes?

The more you make, the more you are taxed (Higher income, higher percent of taxes)

-Lower income, lower percent of taxes

12) What are regressive taxes?

-Higher income, less tax percentage
-Less income, higher tax burden
-Flat rate taxes are considered regressive

13) What are the different sources of tax revenue for both state and local governments?

State gov: sales tax, income tax, corporate tax, payroll tax
Local gov: property taxes

14) Why do states look to keep their corporate taxes low?

to encourage businesses to move to/stay in that state (more jobs, stimulates economy)

15) Which taxes are considered regressive?

The state and local taxes, largely attributed to the state and local government reliance on sale and property taxation; taxes that falls more heavily on the low income groups

16) What are excise taxes?

Taxes paid when purchasing a specific good (gas, tobacco, etc)

17) What is meant by tax burden?

Taxes as a percent of a person's income; the larger the proportion of the income paid in taxes, the larger the tax burden

18) Which level of government is affected the most by limitations on taxation?

local government

19) How do most Americans feel about taxes?

They believe taxes are too high

20) What are the merit and spoils systems?

-Merit: getting a job based on your ability to do the job
-Spoils system: not about what you know but who you know

21) What is outsourcing?

Obtain (good or service) from an outside or foreign supplier, especially in a place of internal source or taking something from the public sector and putting it to the private sector

Revenue bond

a bond backed by a specific revenue stream; issued by the government for specific projects and backed only by whatever revenue it generates 

General Obligation Bond

a bond that can be paid through a variety of tax sources; holders are relying on the full faith and credit of the issue municipality: pledges the full taxing powers of the government to pay both the principal and interest due to bonds

23) How is academic performance measured?

Educational attainment
The dropout rate
Standardized testing

24) What are magnet schools?

Schools that specialize in specific areas of study. STEM schools.

25) What are charter schools?

Schools that are publicly funded but ran by private charters

26) What are vouchers?

Money provided by the government to parents for payment to their children's tuition in a public or private school

27) When can money be given to religious educational institutions?

Secular purpose
Not advance or inhibit religion
Avoid government excessive entanglement

28) How do states ensure local compliance with state educational policy?

State Board of Education
Financial control through state allocation of funds to local school districts

29) What body typically controls education within a state?

State boards of education

30) Where do most schools get their revenue from?

Property taxes

31) What do school superintendents do?

Control budget

32) Why is zoning important?

helps the government coordinate services with land use, stabilizing property value, and community planning

33) Who is responsible for public welfare?

US government

34) What is the payroll tax?

Tax that is levied on and withheld from an employee's wages

35) What has been the effect of Social Security?

Largely responsible for elderly's 'victory' in the war against poverty

36) What changes occurred with the introduction of the TANF program?

Federal aid was given to poor families to assist - had stipulations - could only get assistance two years in a row and only 5 years without a job. Reduced number of people on welfare.

37) What is Medicare?

provides healthcare for elderly over 65
funded by payroll taxes

38) Which public assistance program do states spend the most on?

Medicaid (45%) and Education

*Lieutenant Governor

Performs duties comparable to those the vice president of the U.S. does for the president

• second-highest executive official

• immediate successor to the governor in the event of death, resignation, or incapacitation

• presides over state senate, can influence (control) legislative proceedings, cast tie-breaking votes, and help shape legislative agenda

• crucial player in advancing the governor's policy initiatives and mediating between the executive branch and the legislature

• Co-chair of Legislative Redistricting and Budget Boards

*Attorney General

Chief lawyer/council for the state

• prosecutes state-level crimes

• defends the state in lawsuits 

• enforces state laws and regulations

• protects the public interest by investigating and prosecuting fraud, corruption, and abuse

*State Treasurer

chief financial officer managing the state's money and overseeing its financial operations

• administration of state funds

• investment of state monies

• issuance of state bonds

• ensures there is enough liquidity to meet the state’s daily financial obligations

• ensures that residents can reclaim lost or forgotten assets

*Comptroller of Public Accounts

• Help control the public purse

• Treasurer position abolished in TX, powers given to comptroller

• oversee the collection of state taxes, managing state funds

• responsible for auditing state agencies and departments to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency

• prepare comprehensive financial reports

*Secretary of State

• Chief custodians of state records in 35 states

• Only appointed position

• Main job: Chief elections officer

• Also in charge of records (marriage, car registration, birth certificates, hunting/fishing licenses, etc.)

• Opinions carry weight of law in election disputes

• the protocol officer for state and international matters

• the liaison for the governor on Mexican and border matters

*State Auditor

ensuring accountability, transparency, and efficiency within state government operations

• examines financial records

• assesses the effectiveness of internal controls

• evaluates the performance of government programs

• safeguards public resources

• maintains the public’s trust in government

*Agriculture Commissioner

responsible for matters pertaining to agriculture

• inspection and regulation of food products, ensuring that they meet safety standards

• oversight of organic certification programs, food labeling, and the regulation of pesticides and fertilizers to ensure they are used safely and effectively.

• manages rural development programs, improve infrastructure and services in rural communities.

*Land Commissioner

responsible for managing lands and mineral rights properties that are owned by the state

• leasing state lands for various purposes

• oversees programs related to land reclamation, soil conservation, and water resource management

• maintaining state parks, wildlife reserves, and other public spaces

• resolving land disputes, managing state land sales, and overseeing land grants

Texas Railroad Commission (3 members)

agency that regulates the oil and gas industry, gas utilities, pipeline safety, safety in the liquefied petroleum gas industry, and surface coal and uranium mining. Despite its name, it no longer regulates railroads

State Board of Education

Devises policies and sets academic standards for Texas public schools, as well as overseeing the state Permanent School Fund and selecting textbooks to be used in Texas schools.

A _______ provides an executive the right to veto parts of a spending bill approved by a legislature without having to veto the entire bill

Line-item veto

The governor of Texas has

few formal powers, so the office is one of the weakest chief executives in the United States

Unlike elected presidents, state governors generally

share executive power with other elected officials

Which of the following arguments best describes the level of control that the governor has over the budgetary process

governors can only affect expenditures at the edges of the overall budget

A _______ is the rejection by a president or governor of legislation passed by a legislature

Veto

In nearly all states, excluding Texas, the _____ has responsibility for preparing a budget

governor

What is the role of a state’s attorney general

represent the state before the courts

What is the ultimate check on the governor

impeachment

In Texas, the governor’s State of the State address is an example of the power

message power

Arguably, the most powerful position in Texas state politics is

lieutenant governor

Heavier tax burdens upon the wealthy are usually defended on the principle of

ability to pay

Income tax rates that decrease with increases in income are known as

regressive

Tax burden refers to

the proportion of taxes paid in relation to personal income

Sales taxes on fuel, alcohol and tobacco are known as

excise taxes

________ between governments, usually from higher levels of government to lower levels, are essential and influential sources of revenue for state and local governments

Grants

State and local governments get most of their money from

Taxes

Property tax exemptions are most often used as an inducement to encourage ____ to relocate to a certain area

business and industries

The costliest public assistance program in the states is

Medicaid

Which of the following statements is true of funding higher education

The federal government is the chief supplier of student financial aid

Which of the following is true of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

It strengthened work requirements for recipients and limited the time that families can receive benefits