POLS 2312 Exam VI Review

60x30TX

A strategic plan with the goal of 60 percent of young Texas (ages 25-34) having some type of postsecondary certificate or degree by 2030

Texas Tea

Oil

First step in policymaking process

Agenda Setting

Redistributive policy

Moves benefits from one group to another in an attempt to make society more equal

Number of states with no general income tax

Nine

Franchise tax

The primary tax on businesses in Texas, which is based on the taxable margin of each company

Cochairs of Legislative Budget Board

Lieutenant Gov and Speaker of the House

Largest source of state investment income

Permanent School Fund, a fund set aside to finance education in Texas, and the Available University Fund, a fund that provides outlays to A&M, UT, and A&M Prairie View.

STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math

Ad valorem tax

A tax based on property value, which is subject to periodic appraisals. Ex. house

Example of progressive tax

Federal Income Tax

State with highest per capita spending

Alaska

Amount per gallon of state gasoline tax in Texas

20 cents

Economic Stabilization Fund aka

Rainy Day Fund

Role of state comptroller in budget

Tells legislature how much money they have to spend over the next few years/ Certifies the amount of revenue the state has available to spend for the next biennium

State with highest combined state and local sales tax

Tennesse/ Louisiana

Excise tax

A tax paid at the time of purchase, with the cost of the tax included in the price of  the product

Original name of UTA

Arlington State

Eminent domain

The power of the government to take private property for public use, generally for public functions, such as roads

Use for fracking

Finding Natural Gas

Harm from pumping too much groundwater

Ground collapses

TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)

The agency that oversees state environmental policy, including air and water quality.

Rule of Capture

Texas law that says property owners own the water and oil below their property

First light rail system in Texas

Opened in 1996 in Dallas by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

NAFTA members

North American Free Trade Agreement, an agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico to eliminate barriers of trade and invest and decrease overall tariffs.

Largest supplier of FDI to Texas

France

Purpose of PPPs (Public-private Partnerships)

Allows government infrastructure to be built by private investment entities seeking to profit, and these partnerships create alternative funding in the cash-strapped state.

Fifth Amendment and private property

Prohibits the taking of private poverty “for public use, without just compensation”

Good Road Amendment

State constitution requirement that 75 percent of road-user fees be spent on building and maintaining roads and the remaining 25 percent be used for education

TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation)

Replaced the Texas Highway Department, is responsible for road construction and road maintenance in the state.

Attorney general who pushed for creation of Railroad Commission

James Stephen Hogg

Friday Night Lights

Experience of football, marching bands, high-stepping drill teams, and competitive cheer squads.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program available to senior citizens who have worked and paid into the system for ten or more years; an entitlement program

Medicaid

A federal redistributive program providing medical coverage for low-income people and some elderly and disabled people

CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)

A federal-state program that offers health insurance and medical care to the children of families that make too much of to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private health insurance.

State with highest percentage of foreign-born residents

California, 26.6%

HEF (Higher Education Fund)

Similar to PUF, can be used only to construct and repair campus buildings or to purchase capital equipment or library materials

Example of Entitlement program

Social Security and Medicare

Texas Senate Bill 4

Requiring state and local officials to comply with the U.S. government authorities on immigration matters (check the immigration status of suspected illegals when the police arrest or interview suspects or witnesses) and included a “show-me-your-papers” provision

TAKS and STAAR

In the spring of 2012, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills was replaced by the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness. Also added EOC exams

Brown v Board of Education

Declared segregated public schools to be a violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution in 1954

Largest funding source for Texas public universities

Tuition

No Child Left Behind

Promoted by George W. Bush. States developed and administered tests to all students at select grade levels in order to receive federal funding. Mandated that each state test its students and demonstrate steady improvement in test scores from year to year. 

Tesla

Build cheaper electric cars, cutting 10% of workforce

ERCOT's primary energy source

Natural Gas, 45.5%

New possible Texas high-speed rail line

Texas Central Partners creating a Houston to Dallas rail that takes about 90 minutes, aiming for 2026.

Length of Texas/Mexican border

1,200 miles

Last step in policymaking process

Policy Evaluation

Largest state expenditure area

Health and human services

Greg Abbott

Current Texas Governor