Final Exam Flashcards

Chapters 4, 8, 13, 15

Executive positions in Texas

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller of Public Accounts, Commissioner of the General Land Office, and Attorney General

Powers of the governor in Texas

Chief Administrator, Chief Legislator, Ceremonial Head of State, and Crisis Manager

Types of vetos

Amendatory, line-item, and reduction

Role of the governor in the budget process

They can sign it, veto it, or sign with a line-item veto

What are executive orders?

Directive issued by a governor that regulates operations of the state government and certain aspects of citizen life

What does the lieutenant governor do?

Basically a vice president

What does the secretary of state do?

Chief administrative officer of the state and is often the primary custodian of important state records

What does the comptroller of public accounts do?

Receives, disburses, counts, safeguards, records, allocates, manages and reports on the state's cash

What does the commissioner of the general land office do?

Manages state lands, helps Texans recovering from natural disasters, helps fund Texas public education through the Permanent School Fund, provides benefits to Texas Veterans, and manages the vast Texas coast

What does the attorney general do?

Representing the state and state agencies before the state and federal courts

Why the post-adjournment veto is so powerful

It does not allow legislators to overturn it

No Child Left Behind Act

Federal law enacted in January 2002 that introduced new accountability measures for elementary and secondary schools in all states receiving federal education aid

Gross domestic product

The state equivalent of the gross national product

Progressive taxes

A system of taxation in which the rate paid reflects ability to pay

Regressive taxes

A type of tax assessed regardless of income

Excise taxes

Also known as sin taxes: alcohol, tobacco, fuel, etc.

What are the different sources of tax revenue for state governments?

Sales taxes, franchise taxes, motor vehicle related taxes, taxes on crude oil and natural gas production

What are the different sources of tax revenue for local governments?

Property taxes, sales taxes, income taxes

States keep their corporate taxes low to:

Attract new business

Tax burden

Taxes paid as a percentage of total personal income

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

Local governments

How most Americans feel about taxes

They feel it is too high

Debt ceilings are

Limits on the amount of money a government can borrow to a proportion of the tax base

Two main types of bonds

General obligation bonds and revenue bonds

General obligation bond

Pledges the full taxing powers of the government to pay both the principal and interest due on the bonds

Revenue bond

Backed by whatever revenues the project itself earns (greater risks and raised interest rates)

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

Ruled it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer

Merit system

Award jobs on the basis of merit

Spoils system

Political parties giving jobs to its supporters after winning an election

Poverty rate

14.8% (46.7 million people)

Feminization of poverty

The idea that women represent disproportionate percentages of the world’s poor

What is outsourcing?

Obtain goods or services from an outside supplier (especially) in place of an internal source

Ways academic performance is measured

Dropout rate, SAT scores, educational attainment

Magnet schools

Emphasize instruction in particular areas to attract students

Charter schools

Operated with public funds by private community groups under a charter from public school districts

Vouchers

Give parents the freedom to choose a school for their children, using the public funding set aside for their education

When can money be given to religious educational institutions?

Some forms are aid to parochial schoolchildren that indirectly aids religion, so long as this is not directly used for the teaching of religion are permitted

How do states ensure local compliance with state educational policy?

Bureaucratic oversight involving state boards of education and other systems, and financial control through allocation of funds

What body typically controls education within a state?

State boards of education

Where do most schools get their revenue from?

State and federal assistance, private funding, property taxes, and sometimes bonds

What do school superintendents do?

Management of the public schools: supervision of staff, planning, budgets, etc.

Why is zoning important?

The securing of adequate light, privacy, and noise levels in residential areas

Who is responsible for public welfare?

The United States government

What is the payroll tax?

A tax levied on and withheld from employee wages

What has been the effect of social security?

The elderly’s victory in the war against poverty

What changes occurred with the introduction of the TANF program?

Ended federal cash entitlement program for low-income families, and provided assistance while aiming to get people off of that assistance

What is Medicare?

Federal health insurance program for people 65+, the disabled, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease

Which public assistance program do states spend the most on?

Public education