Deck 9: Budget Approval: The Role of the Legislature

Question 1

Which of the following is not a factor that significantly influences the manner in which legislative bodies deliberate on proposed executive budgets?

A) The role of party leadership
B) The availability of staff
C) The amount of time in session
D) All of these are factors that influence legislative consideration.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following is not a strategy used by legislatures in the budget process?

A) Starting a new project with a small appropriation (the "camel's nose")
B) Protecting the base against cuts
C) Creating pressure for more funding by holding hearings where interest groups testify on needs for more funding
D) Employing the line-item veto to cut unnecessary spending

Answer 2

D

Question 3

During the very difficult fiscal years of 2009 and 2010, how many states, on average, had to cut their budgets by midyear because of the recession?

A) 25
B) 32
C) 40
D) 48

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The federal agency that prepares cost estimates, or fiscal notes, on bills reported out of a House or Senate Committee is the:

A) Congressional Budget Office.
B) Council of Economic Advisers.
C) Government Accountability Office.
D) Office of Management and Budget.

Question 5

What is the term for the general review of executive operations, especially in the implementation of laws, by legislative bodies?

A) Legislative intent
B) Legislative investigation
C) Legislative interference
D) Legislative oversight

Question 6

In the United States, most legislative bodies may approve a budget that diverges in important respects from the budget proposed by the chief executive.

Question 7

Today, legislative bodies like city councils, school boards, state legislatures, and the U.S. Congress are reasserting their authority to set policy and are taking measures to increase their ability to wield the powers granted to them.

Question 8

A study about the budgetary effects of legislative term limits in the United States found that they tended to make government spending decrease.

Question 9

Late budget adoption by a legislative body can contribute to lower bond ratings for that government.

Question 10

In earlier times, a legislature was considered to be solely responsible for setting policy; however, the expanded use of executive budget systems has given the chief executive an important policymaking role.

Question 11

In some states, budgetary authority is shared relatively equally by the legislative body and the governor.

Question 12

The legislative body, given that its members represent every part of a governmental jurisdiction, has a broader perspective on the budget than the chief executive.

Question 13

In some states, legislatures can exercise veto power over executive agency regulations.

Question 14

What is the term for a legislative report that analyses and reports on the current and future costs of implementing a proposed bill?

Question 15

What do we call the executive authority to reduce or eliminate funds for individual programs from a budget adopted by a legislative body?

Question 16

What is meant by the phrase, 'the executive proposes and the legislature disposes'?

Question 17

In which states does the legislature have limited or no authority to adopt budgetary amounts above those recommended by the governor?

Question 18

What are the three sequential actions typically involved in adopting a public budget?

Question 19

What are the methods that legislatures use to perform oversight?

Question 20

What are the major factors the both constrain and influence a legislative body's deliberations on the budget? How do agencies attempt to influence the legislature on behalf of their programs?