Choices Chapter 13: Contemporary Public Policy Issues In Texas

Front 1

Gambling in Texas has been a solution to the state’s financial needs.`

Back 1

False

Front 2

In an attempt to give the best students from poor and minority public school districts an equal footing in university admissions, the legislature enacted a 1997 law that guaranteed automatic admission to state universities for a high school graduate who finished in the top _____ percent of his or her class.

Back 2

10

Front 3

Efforts to privatize applicant eligibility for public services

Back 3

were unsuccessful and the contract was cut two years early.

Front 4

According to the text, health and human services are the areas where state governments consider compassion versus the cold realities of the budget, and where Texas has historically been

Back 4

stingy.

Front 5

During the last decade, __________take up most of the Texas budget.

Back 5

federally driven programs and mandates

Front 6

Texas officials ignored deteriorating state prison conditions until a 1980 ruling by _____, which declared the Texas prison system unconstitutional.

Back 6

federal judge William Wayne Justice

Front 7

The franchise tax, formerly the state's main business tax, was replaced in 2006 with

Back 7

a broader-based business tax that applied not only to corporations but also to professional partnerships.

Front 8

The 1984 education reform law did not change the basic education finance system, an omission resulting in

Back 8

Edgewood vs Kirby

Front 9

_____ the authority to transfer funds to meet emergencies between legislative sessions.

Back 9

The governor and legislative leaders together have

Front 10

As the state's economy shifts more and more to services, sales tax revenue

Back 10

does not automatically grow.

Front 11

In 1997, lawmakers dedicated lottery revenue to

Back 11

public education.

Front 12

According to some experts, state bond interest can _____ the cost of a construction project.

Back 12

double

Front 13

In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a ruling in a Michigan case, upheld the Hopwood decision by holding that universities can’t use affirmative action in admissions policies.

Back 13

False

Front 14

The Texas legislature enacted a 1995 law that did NOT require recipients of public assistance to

Back 14

get four year degree.

Front 15

Because of the nature of the Texas budget cycle, agencies must anticipate spending needs up to _____ in advance.

Back 15

three year

Front 16

Program assessment and evaluation seldom become the basis for future policy and funding decisions.

Back 16

False

Front 17

The Texas _____ is the state agency primarily responsible for moving people from welfare to work.

Back 17

Workforce Commission

Front 18

The activities of the implementation phase of the policy process include

Back 18

interpretation, organization, and application

Front 19

Like most other states, Texas operates on a pay-as-you-go basis that prohibits

Back 19

deficit financing

Front 20

Welfare reform laws in the mid 1990s emphasized education and job training for welfare recipients but imposed no limits on how long they could collect benefits.

Back 20

False

Front 21

Thomas Dye defined public policy as

Back 21

whatever governments choose to do or not to do.

Front 22

The Highway Trust Fund is an example of a(an) _____ fund.

Back 22

dedicated

Front 23

The franchise tax applies only to corporations.

Back 23

True

Front 24

The last major change in the state's general tax policy occurred in 1961, when the legislature enacted the first

Back 24

sales tax.

Front 25

Texas does not have _____ taxes.

Back 25

personal income

Front 26

The first stage of the policy process is

Back 26

identification and formation of an issue.

Front 27

People have to identify a problem before they can expect the government’s help in resolving it.

Back 27

True

Front 28

The second largest share of the state budget is for

Back 28

health and human services

Front 29

The biggest source of Texas taxpayer dissatisfaction and anger in recent years has been the

Back 29

ad valorem property tax.

Front 30

Each time the Texas legislature meets in a regular session they must write a

Back 30

two year budget.

Front 31

Public policy includes

Back 31

providing benefits for the public good, regulating the private sector, and effects of the governmental process.

Front 32

In 1989, the Texas Supreme Court said the existing education finance system violated a state constitutional requirement for

Back 32

an efficient system of public education.

Front 33

Hugh Heclo's _____ networks are complex and inclusive models of the relationships inherent in the policy process.

Back 33

issue

Front 34

State officials recognize that in trying to fight criminal behavior, both alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs are important.

Back 34

True

Front 35

The taxes collected on products such as cigarettes and beer are often called _____ taxes.

Back 35

sin

Front 36

The 1980 Ruiz v. Estelle federal court case dealt with the issue of

Back 36

prison system.

Front 37

In 1984, House Bill 72 overhauled public education in Texas and

Back 37

limited class sizes.

Front 38

With each financial crisis, it becomes _____ for the legislature to raise the sales tax rate.

Back 38

more politically difficult

Front 39

Sales taxes are

Back 39

regressive.

Front 40

A majority of Texans support the death penalty.

Back 40

True

Front 41

The biggest share of state expenditures, including federal funds appropriated by the legislature, is for

Back 41

education

Front 42

Texas has both poor school districts struggling to maintain minimal educational programs and wealthy school districts with enough money to fund the best of educational and extracurricular programs.

Back 42

True

Front 43

In reviewing a 1988 appeals court decision, the Texas Supreme Court stated that the amount of money spent on a student's education has _____ impact on the educational opportunity offered that student.

Back 43

a real and meaningful

Front 44

Setting public policy usually involves questions of

Back 44

who will benefit and who will pay the bill.

Front 45

In the decades following the Ruiz decision, Texas dealt with the problem of its overcrowded prisons by

Back 45

doubling the size of the prison system.

Front 46

Elected officials have been actively involved in addressing automobile pollution problems in major Texas cities.

Back 46

False

Front 47

In an attempt to give the best students from poor and minority public school districts an equal footing in university admissions, the legislature enacted a 1997 law that guaranteed automatic admission to state universities for a high school graduate who finished in the top ___percent of his or her class.

Back 47

10

Front 48

Public policy includes

Back 48

providing benefits for the public good, regulating the private sector, and effects of the governmental process.

Front 49

Texas government made a commitment to modernize the state criminal justice system starting in the 1950s.

Back 49

False

Front 50

The last major change in the state’s general tax policy occurred in 1961, when the legislature enacted the first

Back 50

sales tax

Front 51

Sin taxes

Back 51

are imposed on tobacco products and alcohol.

Front 52

In 1997, lawmakers dedicated lottery revenue to

Back 52

public education.

Front 53

The franchise tax applies to law firms as well as corporations.

Back 53

False

Front 54

Texas has both poor school districts struggling to maintain minimal educational programs and wealthy school districts with enough money to fund the best of educational and extracurricular programs.

Back 54

True

Front 55

____ the authority to transfer funds to meet emergencies between legislative sessions.

Back 55

The governor and legislative leaders together have

Front 56

A state commission has considered the possibility that executed inmate Cameron Willingham was innocent of the crime for which he was put to death.

Back 56

True

Front 57

In 1989, the Texas Supreme Court said the existing education finance system violated a state constitutional requirement for

Back 57

an efficient system of public education.

Front 58

With each financial crisis, it becomes______ for the legislature to raise the sales tax rate.

Back 58

more politically difficult

Front 59

Why did Texas pass a constitutional amendment to legalize state lottery ticket sales in 1991?

Back 59

It was an attempt to compensate for revenue lost due to a variety of causes.

Front 60

Revenues from gambling in Texas have helped justify lower tax rates.

Back 60

False

Front 61

Many Texas political figures still debate the _____ of Global Warming despite a 2009 report by Texas A& M scientists

Back 61

veracity; warning of disastrous threats to the Texas Gulf Coast.

Front 62

Texas has a large share of the nation’s oil refining and chemical manufacturing industries.

Back 62

True