POLS 2312 '24 Exam 4

STEM

science, technology, engineering, and math

What is considered "Texas tea"?

oil

ad valorem tax

a tax based on property value, which is subject to periodic appraisals

First in the policymaking process

agenda setting

Redistributive policy

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

How many states have no general income tax?

9 including Texas

Franchise tax

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

Who are the cochairs of Legislative Budget Board?

the Speaker of the Texas House and the lieutenant governor

Where does the largest source of state investment income come from?

the state's Permanent School Fund (PSF), a fund set aside to finance education in Texas

What is an example of progressive tax?

the federal income tax

What state has the highest per capita spending?

Alaska at $16,288

How much is taxed per gallon of gasoline in Texas?

$0.20

Economic Stabilization fund aka...

the rainy day fund

What is the roll of the state comptroller in the budget?

certify the amount of revenue the state has available to spend for the next biennium

What state has the highest combined state and local sales tax?

Tennessee & Louisiana

Excise tax

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

Eminent domain

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

What is the use for fracking?

fracturing underground rock formations and using high-pressure injections of chemicals and water to cause natural gas to rise to the surface

What is the harm from pumping too much groundwater?

can cause subsidence, meaning the ground loses elevation.

TCEQ

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Rule of capture

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

When was the first light rail system of Texas opened?

1996

Who are apart of the NAFTA?

United States, Canada, and Mexico

Who are the largest suppliers of FDI to Texas?

France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom

What are the purpose of PPPs?

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

5th amendment

prohibits the taking of private property "for public use, without just compensation"

Good Roads Amendment

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

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

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

Who was the Attorney general who pushed for creation of Railroad Commission?

James Stephen Hogg

Friday Night Lights

Permian High School, of Friday Night Lights fame, was at 150 percent capacity

Medicare

a federal health insurance program available to senior citizens who have worked and paid into the Medicare 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

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

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

What state has the highest percentage of foreign-born residents?

California at 26.6%

HEF

Higher Education Fund, support for universities that do not have access to PUF

Examples of entitlement programs

Social Security & Medicare

How are the TAKS and STAAR related?

in the spring of 2012, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) replaced the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)

Brown v. Board of Education

decision that declared segregated public schools to be a violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution

Largest funding source for Texas public universities

the sources of funding for Texas Public University are 25.9% state funding like appropriation, PUF, HUF & 29.5% student tuition and fees

No Child Left Behind

federal law that has continued to increase federal involvement in Texas public schools, the financial responsibility for schools remains mostly with state and local officials

What is ERCOT's primary energy source?

natural gas