Deck 14: Public Policy in Texas

Question 1

In order for an issue to get on the agenda, there must first be a

A) fiscal opening.
B) triggering factor.
C) slow news day.
D) new legislative session.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

One consequence of low taxes in Texas is that _______ also low.

A) salaries are
B) population growth is
C) government services are
D) business growth is

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The policy process is best described as a

A) cycle.
B) two-sided arrow.
C) pyramid.
D) black hole.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In 2020, Texas was impacted by the covid-19 pandemic. Facing a budget shortfall, some began to call for marijuana legalization. In this case, the pandemic is

A) and initial spark.
B) a fiscal motivator.
C) a policy failure.
D) a triggering factor.

Question 5

The placement of an issue onto the public agenda is known as

A) policymaking.
B) policy adoption.
C) agenda setting.
D) evaluation.

Question 6

The final phase of the policymaking process, in which lawmakers and experts review the policy and its outcomes, is known as

A) policymaking.
B) policy adoption.
C) agenda setting.
D) evaluation.

Question 7

Texans who are temporarily out of work, through no fault of their own, may qualify for up to 52 weeks of

A) social assistance.
B) Medicare.
C) unemployment benefits.
D) Social Security benefits.

Question 8

If someone is injured while at work, their medical treatment and time away from the job may be covered by

A) Medicaid.
B) Worker's Compensation.
C) Social Security.
D) unemployment benefits.

Question 9

It is difficult to qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in Texas because

A) most Texans are too proud to ask for help.
B) Texas has been phasing the program out.
C) Texas has stringent requirements for the program.
D) the program is only available in the biggest cities.

Question 10

During the covid-19 pandemic, the state adjusted unemployment benefits by

A) doubling the payments.
B) extending the length of time someone can qualify for benefits.
C) requiring all applicants to work as contact tracers.
D) closing the program.

Question 11

Compared to other states, Texas has _______ citizens that are uninsured.

A) no
B) about an average number of
C) the most
D) the least

Question 12

Policies that transfer wealth from those who have more to those who have less are called

A) redistributive policies.
B) unequal policies.
C) libertarian polices.
D) distributive policies.

Question 13

A national health insurance program for older Americans, sixty-five and above, funded by a payroll tax, premiums, and surtaxes, and administered by the federal government, is named

A) Medicare.
B) Medicaid.
C) Obamacare.
D) Social Security.

Question 14

Medical coverage for low-income Texans, provided by the federal government, is called

A) Medicare.
B) Medicaid.
C) Obamacare.
D) Social Security.

Question 15

Which agency administers the state's Medicaid program?

A) The Texas Health and Human Services Commission
B) The Social Security Administration
C) The CHIP Commission
D) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Question 16

A federal program that is run by the states to provide health coverage to children whose families make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to buy private insurance is named

A) Medicare.
B) Medicaid.
C) Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
D) Social Security.

Question 17

The Social Security program was enacted during

A) the Reagan administration.
B) the Civil War.
C) the 2008 Great Recession.
D) the Great Depression.

Question 18

Which group relies most heavily on Social Security for retirement income in Texas?

A) Hispanics
B) Asian Americans
C) African Americans
D) Anglos

Question 19

Which group of elderly is most likely to live below the poverty line?

A) Hispanics
B) Asian Americans
C) African Americans
D) Anglos

Question 20

Income-measured programs that provide aid to individuals and families with low incomes are _______ programs.

A) means-tested
B) entitlement
C) healthcare
D) elderly

Question 21

A program that provides financial and medical assistance to needy children and their parents or relatives is called

A) Medicare.
B) Medicaid.
C) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
D) Social Security.

Question 22

Most foreign born people in Texas are from

A) South America.
B) Mexico and Central America.
C) Asia.
D) Africa.

Question 23

What is undocumented immigrants' relationship with Social Security?

A) They don't pay into it and cannot benefit from it.
B) They pay into it and benefit from it.
C) They don't pay into it, but can benefit from it.
D) They pay into it, but cannot benefit from it.

Question 24

In recent years, Texans rank _______ to be one of the most important problems facing the state.

A) undocumented immigration
B) taxes
C) school quality
D) pollution

Question 25

Ultimately, border security is under the jurisdiction of the

A) attorney general.
B) border counties.
C) Texas Rangers.
D) federal government.

Question 26

The children of undocumented immigrants

A) cannot be denied access to public schools.
B) may not attend school.
C) can only attend school if their parents pay a fee.
D) are deported immediately once discovered.

Question 27

Ultimately, undocumented immigrants

A) commit the majority of crimes in Texas.
B) generate less money for the state than they cost the state.
C) generate more money for the state than they cost the state.
D) are deported by the Texas Rangers.

Question 28

Compared to other states, Texas has _______ undocumented immigrants.

A) no
B) one of the highest numbers of
C) one of the lowest numbers of
D) bbout an average number of

Question 29

What event prompted a rise in deportations in the latter half of the 2010s in Texas?

A) Governor Abbott ordered the Texas Rangers to increase enforcement.
B) President Trump's executive order expanded federal deportation efforts.
C) Congress agreed to let Texas handle the border itself.
D) The border counties decided to take over immigration enforcement.

Question 30

Education funding that comes from general revenue is held in the

A) Permanent School Fund.
B) School District Fund.
C) Foundation School Fund.
D) Temporary School Fund.

Question 31

Funding for Texas K-12 schools relies heavily on _______ taxes

A) income
B) sin
C) property
D) sales

Question 32

As Texas grows more diverse, Texas schools are largely

A) segregated.
B) diverse.
C) well funded.
D) performing the best in the nation.

Question 33

_______ programs allow students and their families to use government funds at a private school of their choice.

A) School accountability
B) Tax redirection
C) Voucher
D) Agency

Question 34

In recent years, what approach has Texas taken to combatting bullying?

A) The legislature leaves it to the school district.
B) Texas schools deny bullying is a problem.
C) Texas has taken a lax approach.
D) Texas has taken a strong approach.

Question 35

The fund that contains the money from the state's long-term investment and that pays for public education is called the

A) Permanent School Fund.
B) Available School Fund.
C) K-12 School Fund.
D) Higher Education Fund.

Question 36

Annual transfers from the permanent school fund to school districts are placed into the

A) Permanent School Fund.
B) Available School Fund.
C) K-12 School Fund.
D) Higher Education Fund.

Question 37

The current school finance structure, which redistributes tax money from wealthy school districts to poorer ones, is known as

A) the Golden Pennies plan.
B) the Demitrio plan.
C) the captive plan.
D) the Robin Hood plan.

Question 38

School districts may lose tax funding when

A) local governments cancel their fiscal contributions to the schools.
B) taxpayers' children graduate and they are no longer required to pay school taxes.
C) businesses take advantage of tax breaks to avoid property taxes.
D) the football team fails to advance in the playoffs.

Question 39

When it comes to education, Texas consistently ranks _______ other states.

A) higher than most
B) lower than most
C) about the same as
D) dead last among

Question 40

Which groups have the highest graduation rates in Texas?

A) African-American and Hispanic
B) Anglo and Hispanic
C) Anglo and Asian
D) Asian and Hispanic

Question 41

Proceeds from the _______ help fund the University of Texas and Texas A&M University.

A) Permanent University Fund
B) Permanent School Fund
C) Longhorn-Aggie Fund
D) sale of license plates

Question 42

The most explosive growth in higher education has come from _______ in Texas.

A) community colleges
B) public universities
C) public universities offering doctoral degrees
D) private universities

Question 43

Which agency coordinates, develops, and evaluates higher education in Texas?

A) The State Board of Education
B) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
C) The College District Board
D) The Board of Regents

Question 44

A policy that provides additional benefits or opportunities to individuals who have suffered historically from discrimination is known as

A) affirmative action.
B) a discrimination prevention act.
C) an equal opportunity act.
D) a preferential treatment policy.

Question 45

To avoid raising taxes, lawmakers often pay for road projects via

A) toll roads.
B) selling advertising space on highways.
C) raising the gas tax.
D) requesting more money from the county judges.

Question 46

"Transportation deserts" are

A) places without reliable public transportation.
B) areas where roads go through the desert.
C) areas where many people have drivers' licenses.
D) areas with many older drivers.

Question 47

If a local government would like to undertake a water project, they can get a loan from the

A) Hurricane Tank.
B) Coastal Development Fund.
C) Texas Water Fund.
D) Texas Water Development Board.

Question 48

Which group in Texas is must susceptible to pollution?

A) People who have recently moved to Texas
B) Those in west Texas
C) High income earners
D) Economically vulnerable people

Question 49

In recent years, how has Texas increased its energy independence?

A) Fracking
B) Building more nuclear power plants
C) Discovering a vast new oil field
D) Putting solar panels on the roofs of tall buildings

Question 50

Surface water is subject to control and management by the state, but groundwater is owned by the landowner of the property above the groundwater, known as the right of

A) first-choice.
B) capture.
C) below.
D) on-boarding.

Question 51

Although immigration and border security issues fall under federal authority, aggressive politics and the practical need for solutions has led the state to step in frequently. Recently, lawmakers and Governor Greg Abbott increased border security efforts in Texas. What did they do?

Question 52

How does Texas education rank nationally?

Question 53

What is the Permanent University Fund?

Question 54

In order to fix what many Texans believe is their main issue of concern, what does TxDOT argue it needs?

Question 55

Who owns water on a landowner's property?