U.S. and Texas Government: Key Concepts and Policies Review

What should you do before the exam?

Find a study group, use note cards, avoid studying on the day of the exam, and utilize office hours for clarification.

What technology restrictions are there before the exam?

No laptops, iPads, iPhones, or any devices that enable cheating.

What should you bring to the exam?

A number 2 pencil or a mechanical pencil with a number 2 lead.

What chapters should you study for the exam?

Chapter 16 and the second part of Chapter 13.

What format will the exam be in?

It will be on a scantron, and you will have the whole class period to complete it.

What is the progressive income tax?

A tax on personal income where the tax rate increases as income increases.

What was the income distribution for the middle class in the 1970s?

3/5ths of America's income belonged to the middle class.

What is the current income distribution for the middle class?

Now it is about 2/5ths.

What has happened to the income of the top 1 percent since 1980?

Their average income has increased threefold, from over $400,000 to over $1.3 million.

What caused wage stagnation in the U.S.?

Economic changes and increased competition from other countries.

What was the PATCO strike?

A major strike by Air Traffic Controllers in 1981 seeking better working conditions.

What is the poverty line?

The annual cost of a thrifty food budget for an urban family of four, multiplied by three.

What percentage of children live in poverty in the U.S.?

One in five children, or 12 million Americans.

What is referred to as 'the feminization of poverty'?

Single-parent, female-headed families are five times more likely to fall below the poverty line.

What was the Works Progress Administration?

A program that provided jobs for building roads, schools, and hospitals during the Great Depression.

What is Supplemental Security Income?

Assistance to low-income elderly people and those with disabilities.

What does the Affordable Care Act aim to do?

Provide healthcare to lower-income families that are above the poverty line.

What was the political response to the Affordable Care Act?

It was opposed by all the Republicans in the House and the Senate.

How has the share of national income changed for the upper class?

The percentage of the upper class controlling American income increased from 29% to 49%.

What happened to real income for families in the bottom 60 percent since 1980?

It has remained close to the same amount adjusted for inflation.

What was a major factor in the economic boom after WW2?

The expansion of the middle class due to good-paying jobs and high home ownership.

What impact did the decline of unions have on wages?

It contributed to wage stagnation and increased income inequality.

What are some challenges faced by minority groups regarding poverty?

They have poverty rates twice as high as those of white Americans.

What assistance was provided to poor single mothers?

The Aids for Dependent Children Program, which gave financial assistance.

What is one potential solution to fight child poverty?

Encouraging religion may help.

What was the role of government during the Great Depression regarding poverty?

To acknowledge and address the crisis of poverty.

What is the current percentage of Americans in the middle class?

About 5 out of 10.

What did FDR implement to favor labor?

Various policies including the progressive income tax.

What has happened to the income of the top fifth of American households since 1980?

Their income rose from about $148,000 to more than $240,000.

What is the significance of the economic changes after WW2?

The U.S. dominated in manufacturing and exports, but faced increased competition.

Who opposed the ACA?

All the Republicans in the House and the Senate.

What program was implemented by the Welfare Reform Act of 1996?

Temporary Assistance of Needy Families (TANF).

What did TANF limit welfare support to?

5 years.

What was the effect of TANF on the number of people on welfare?

The number on welfare dropped.

What are TANF and Medicaid?

Public assistance programs funded through general tax revenues available only to those in financial need.

What is a means test?

The requirement that applicants for public assistance must demonstrate they are poor to be eligible.

What percentage of federal spending on food stamps is accounted for by administrative costs?

About 10 percent.

What is a Social Insurance Program?

Social welfare programs based on the insurance concept, requiring individuals to pay into the program to receive funds.

Who created Social Security?

FDR (Franklin D. Roosevelt).

What is the payroll tax rate for Social Security?

6.2 percent for employees and employers.

What is Medicare?

A social insurance program for the elderly financed by a payroll tax on workers' wages.

What is the payroll tax rate for Medicare?

1.45 percent for employees and employers.

What are entitlement programs?

Programs that require the government to provide a designated benefit to any person who meets the eligibility criteria.

Do some people believe welfare creates dependency?

Yes, some believe it fosters dependency and keeps the poor poor.

What did the poverty study by economists Signe-Mary McKernan and Caroline Ratcliffe find?

Most recipients are on welfare only for a short time due to reasons beyond their control.

What happened to employment during the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020?

More than 10 million Americans lost their jobs.

How do Americans view welfare?

They are divided on it, opposing anti-poverty programs but not seriously proposing cuts to Social Security.

What is the difference in perception between social insurance programs and public assistance programs?

Social insurance programs are seen as earned, while public assistance programs are viewed as handouts.

What did President George W. Bush propose in 2005 regarding Social Security?

To partially privatize Social Security, allowing workers to put some tax payments into personal retirement accounts.

What was the response to Bush's proposal to privatize Social Security?

He faced strong resistance from senior citizens, led by AARP.

What does the United States believe in regarding education?

Equality of Opportunity.

What is the impact of social position on success in the U.S.?

People born impoverished often remain impoverished, and those born in wealth often remain in wealth.

What was the role of public education in the U.S.?

It became the norm despite initial tensions from elites.

What does the Supreme Court say about education equality?

Schools must provide an 'adequate' education, not necessarily equal resources.

What is the Department of Education?

The smallest executive department with only 4,400 members.

What was the purpose of the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act?

To assist public schools through funding for various educational needs.

How does federal funding for education favor poorer districts?

The poorest fourth of school districts receive 30 percent of funding.

What has changed regarding federal control of student loans?

The federal government now controls student loans, whereas banks had more responsibility in the past.

What is part of President Biden's goal regarding student debt?

To fight student debt through forgiveness for Pell grant and non-Pell grant recipients.

What was the outcome of Biden's executive order on student debt forgiveness?

It was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

What debt relief programs did Biden use?

Biden used other debt relief programs to wipe out 150 billion dollars in student loans and removed the debt obligations of 4 million students.

Why is Texas ranked as the best state for business?

Texas is ranked best for business due to job creation, low taxes, and a favorable cost of living.

What is Texas's stance on unions?

Texas is pro-business and anti-union, with a right-to-work law that prohibits union membership as a condition of employment.

What does Texas not mandate for employers regarding workers' compensation?

Texas does not mandate that employers purchase workers' compensation insurance.

What tax does Texas collect from businesses?

Texas collects franchise taxes from businesses.

What is the process of eminent domain?

Eminent domain is the process whereby the government can take private land for a public purpose with compensation.

What Supreme Court case expanded the definition of public purpose in eminent domain?

Kelo v. City of New London (2005) expanded the definition of public purpose.

What is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a federal program providing funds for medical care for people of any age with very low incomes.

Who administers Medicaid in Texas?

Texas administers and manages Medicaid.

What is the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?

The individual mandate requires every adult to carry health insurance or face a monetary penalty.

What happened to the individual mandate after 2019?

The individual mandate was eliminated for tax year 2019 and beyond.

What are health insurance exchanges?

Health insurance exchanges allow individuals without insurance to buy coverage through a state or federal marketplace.

What are low-income subsidies in the ACA?

Low-income subsidies help individuals buying coverage through an exchange by paying a portion of their insurance premiums.

What is Medicaid expansion?

Medicaid expansion raises the income threshold to qualify for Medicaid coverage.

What is the coverage rule for young adults under the ACA?

Children can remain on their parents' insurance plan until age 26.

What limits do insurance companies have under the ACA?

Insurance companies cannot limit the dollar amount spent on covered benefits during a year or over a lifetime.

What is the current rate of uninsured individuals in Texas?

Texas has the highest rate of uninsured individuals in all 50 states.

What are the income guidelines to qualify for Medicaid in Texas?

To qualify, an individual's income must be less than $24,731, and for a family of four, it must be no more than $50,985.

What are the eligibility criteria for Medicaid in Texas?

Eligibility includes being pregnant, a parent or relative caretaker of a dependent child, blind, disabled, or 65 or older.

What is the significance of the Texas right-to-work law?

The Texas right-to-work law prohibits union membership from being a condition of employment.

How does Texas incentivize businesses to stay?

Texas has no corporate income tax and offers tax abatements for property taxes.

What is a major burden on businesses in Texas?

Occupational and professional licenses involve scrutiny that can hinder small businesses.

What are punitive damages?

Punitive damages are assessed as punishment for harm caused by a company.

What is the role of the courts in business regulation in Texas?

The courts are typically more sympathetic to people suing businesses.

What is a concern regarding the removal of licensing requirements?

The removal of licensing requirements has created both concern and praise.

What is the impact of high-dollar civil settlements in Texas?

Texas ranks fourth in the U.S. for high-dollar civil settlements, known as 'Nuclear Verdicts'.

What is the controversy surrounding Medicaid expansion in Texas?

Texas has chosen not to extend Medicaid, resulting in a high rate of uninsured individuals.

What is the economic impact of the ACA's individual mandate?

The individual mandate caused significant controversy and was seen as a tax by critics.

What are the minimum essential coverage standards?

Health insurance policies must provide certain benefits known as minimum essential coverage.

What is the effect of the ACA on annual and lifetime limits for insurance?

The ACA prohibits insurance companies from limiting the dollar amount spent on covered benefits.

Do undocumented immigrants qualify for Medicaid?

No, undocumented immigrants do not qualify for Medicaid.

What did the ACA create?

The ACA created a health insurance market that states were expected to administer.

What is the status of Texas's health insurance exchange?

Texas has declined to operate its own exchange, using a federally run exchange instead.

What was the outcome of San Antonio's school funding lawsuit in 1968?

The Supreme Court ruled that unequal school funding is not unconstitutional.

What was the Edgewood v. Kirby lawsuit about?

It challenged inequities in school finance in Texas.

What did the Texas Supreme Court rule in 1989 regarding school finance?

The court ruled that the state's system of school finance was unconstitutional.

What is the 'Robin Hood' school finance scheme?

It requires wealthier districts to contribute to poorer districts.

What is a voucher program in education?

A program that allows taxpayer money to help parents send kids to private or sectarian schools.

What are the concerns regarding voucher programs?

Opponents fear that vouchers will divert money from public schools.

What did the Supreme Court rule in Plyler v. Doe?

Charging tuition to undocumented children is unconstitutional.