POL 1133 Exam Four

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

An expansion of medicaid which requires employers to provide health insurance, citizens to have insurance, and insurers to cover pre-existing condition. Also referred to as "Obamacare", signed into law in 2010.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

An American immigration policy that allowed certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exemption from deportation.

DREAM Act

Texas law which allows immigrants who came to the US under the age of 16 and who graduated from American high schools with a conditional path to citizenship if they spend two years in college or do military service

Roe v. Wade

The 1973 Supreme Court decision holding that a state ban on all abortions was unconstitutional. The decision forbade state control over abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy, permitted states to limit abortions to protect the mother's health in the second trimester, and permitted states to protect the fetus during the third trimester.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization

Overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, holding that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, leaving decisions about the regulation of abortion to legislatures

Hopwood v. Texas

Effectively made affirmative action illegal between the years of 1996 and 2003

eminent domain

Power of the government to take private property for public use

budget fix

State laws and constitutional amendments that set aside money to be spent on specific items; also called earmarking

Medicare

A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older or who have disabilities

Medicaid

A federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them

surface water

Water above the surface of the land, including lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, floodwater, and runoff. Property of the Texas government

groundwater

Water held underground in the soil or in crevices. Can be commonly drawn without a license and considered private property of the landowner.

campus carry

The right, protected by state law, for licensed individuals to carry concealed handguns on college campus except in certain prohibited areas

open carry

The practice of openly carrying a firearm in public;

generally legal in Texas without a license

Progressive taxation

Any tax structure which takes an increasing percentage of income from wealthier constituents

Regressive taxation

Any tax structure which takes an increasing percentage of income from working-class constituents

Proportional taxation

A tax structure which takes a flat percentage of income from all constituents. Not commonly used.

Tax base

The sum of all income, property, goods, or services that are subject to taxation

Tax capacity

A measure of the wealth of a state or its ability to raise revenues. Lower than average in Texas.

Tax effort

The extent to which a government takes advantage of its taxable resources. Lower than average in Texas.

Income-elastic taxes

Taxes that rise and fall quickly relative to changes in economic conditions. The Texas tax system is very income-elastic.

Nonexhaustion

When the use of the good or service by one person does not diminish its availability for others to use

Nonexclusivity

When it is difficult or impossible to prevent those who have not paid for a good or service from using it

Excise tax

Consumer tax on a specific kind of merchandise, such as oil. A significant source of revenue for Texas

Sales tax

State or local tax paid on the price of goods purchased. Higher than average in Texas

Income tax

A tax on people's earnings which is generally progressive. Not used in Texas.

Property tax

A tax on the value of real estate. It is the largest source of income for local governments in Texas.

Nontax revenue

Government revenue derived from service charges, fees, lottery, and other sources.

Tax shifting

Occurs when someone other than the declared entity pays the cost of a tax; for example, when businesses pass taxes to consumers in the form of higher prices.

Tax exporting

The shifting of taxes to residents of other states through import/export costs

Franchise fee

Substitute for corporate income tax in Texas used to tax certain businesses depending on their classification. The government has been working to close loopholes in its structure.