POLS207 Review Sheet 3 PDF

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Download POLS207 Review Sheet 3 PDF

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POLS 207 State and Local Government Review Sheet – Exam 3 This is a list of general topics you will need to know in order to do well on the third exam. 1) Know the impeachment process 2) Know the executive positions in Texas a. Attorney general b. Governor c. Lieutenant Governor 3) Know the different powers of the governor in Texas a. Chief Administrator b. Chief Legislator c. Executive power d. Power to appoint e. Power to prepare state budget f. Power to veto g. Power to grant pardons h. Power to call special sessions 4) Know the different types of vetoes. a. Post adjournment veto: much more powerful because it is absolute b. Line-item-veto: only in budget process 5) What is the role of governors in the budget process? a. They set the budget b. In Texas the governor and the legislature propose a budget 6) What are executive orders? a. Executive power used by the governor 7) Know the different executive positions across the states (lieutenant governor, attorney general, etc.) 8) Why is the post-adjournment veto so powerful? a. It is absolute and cannot be over-ruled because the legislature is no longer in session 9) Know the budget process in Texas a. Legislature proposes a budget b. Governor proposes a budget c. Legislative budget board chooses the budget 10) What is the No Child Left Behind Act? a. Federal law enacted in January 2002 that introduced new accountability measures for elementary and secondary schools in all states receiving federal education aid.

11) What is gross domestic product? a. Monetary value of all goods and services made within a country or state 12) What are progressive taxes? a. The more money you make, the higher your income, the more money you should pay in taxes. 13) What are regressive taxes? a. Lower income people pay more in taxes, as your income goes up, tax burden goes down.

14) What are the different sources of tax revenue for both state and local governments? a. Local Property taxes: regressive in nature (helps pay for education) b. Sales taxes (important for state gov.) c. State income taxes d. Corporate taxes e. Lottery and gambling tax f. Severence taxes: charged to oil and gas companies, those who take something from the land i. Contribute to higher education in Texas 15) Why do states look to keep their corporate taxes low? a. Corporate businesses bring money in and can pay for what they would contribute to the economy 16) Which taxes are considered regressive? a. Property taxes b. Sales taxes 17) What are excise taxes? a. Taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and gas etc. varies a lot by state. 18) What is meant by tax burden? a. The taxes someone pays as a percentage of their income. 19) Which level of government is affected the most by limitations on taxation? a. Local Governments are more affected by tax limits. local property tax limits have the effect of increasing reliance of local governments on state aid as well as fees and charges 20) How do most Americans feel about taxes? a. Polls show most Americans think taxes are two high 21) What are the merit and spoils systems? a. Spoils system A system under which an electoral winner has the right to decide who works for public agencies.

b. Merit system A system used in public agencies in which employment and promotions are based on qualifications and demonstrated ability; such a system blends very well with the organizational characteristics of bureaucracy.

22) What is outsourcing? 23) Know the different types of bonds a. General obligation: paid back through general obligation fund from taxes on other things b. Revenue: paid back by the revenue of project (ex. Toll road) 24) How is academic performance measured? 25) What are magnet schools? 26) What are charter schools? 27) What are vouchers? 28) When can money be given to religious educational institutions? 29) How do states ensure local compliance with state educational policy? 30) What body typically controls education within a state? 31) Where do most schools get their revenue from? 32) What do school superintendents do? 33) Why is zoning important? 34) Who is responsibility for public welfare? 35) What is the payroll tax? 36) What has been the effect of Social Security?

37) What changes occurred with the introduction of the TANF program? a. Limited the time you could be on welfare b. 2 years at a time c. No more than 5 years total 38) What is Medicare? 39) Which public assistance program do states spend the most on? a. Medicaid...