Public Policy in Texas Rottinghaus Ch.14 Full Test Bank

Chapter 14

Test Bank

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 01, Objective 14.1

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

Feedback: applied

a. fiscal opening.

b. triggering factor.

c. slow news day.

d. new legislative session.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 02, Objective 14.1

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

Feedback: applied

a. salaries are

b. population growth is

c. government services are

d. business growth is

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 03, Objective 14.1

3) The policy process is best described as a

Feedback: conceptual

a. cycle.

b. two-sided arrow.

c. pyramid.

d. black hole.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 04, Objective 14.1

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

Feedback: applied

a. and initial spark.

b. a fiscal motivator.

c. a policy failure.

d. a triggering factor.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 05, Objective 14.1

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. policymaking.

b. policy adoption.

c. agenda setting.

d. evaluation.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 06, Objective 14.1

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. policymaking.

b. policy adoption.

c. agenda setting.

d. evaluation.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 07, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. social assistance.

b. Medicare.

c. unemployment benefits.

d. Social Security benefits.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 08, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: applied

a. Medicaid.

b. Worker’s Compensation.

c. Social Security.

d. unemployment benefits.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 09, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: applied

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.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 10, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: applied

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.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 11, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: factual

a. no

b. about an average number of

c. the most

d. the least

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 12, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. redistributive policies.

b. unequal policies.

c. libertarian polices.

d. distributive policies.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 13, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. Medicare.

b. Medicaid.

c. Obamacare.

d. Social Security.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 14, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. Medicare.

b. Medicaid.

c. Obamacare.

d. Social Security.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 15, Objective 14.2

15) Which agency administers the state’s Medicaid program?

Feedback: factual

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

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 16, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. Medicare.

b. Medicaid.

c. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

d. Social Security.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 17, Objective 14.2

17) The Patient Protection and Affordable Care act (PPACA), is commonly referred to as

Feedback: factual

a. Medicare.

b. Medicaid.

c. Obamacare.

d. Social Security.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 18, Objective 14.2

18) The Social Security program was enacted during

Feedback: factual

a. the Reagan administration.

b. the Civil War.

c. the 2008 Great Recession.

d. the Great Depression.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 19, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: factual

a. Hispanics

b. Asian Americans

c. African Americans

d. Anglos

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 20, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: factual

a. Hispanics

b. Asian Americans

c. African Americans

d. Anglos

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 21, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. means-tested

b. entitlement

c. healthcare

d. elderly

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 22, Objective 14.2

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. Medicare.

b. Medicaid.

c. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

d. Social Security.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 23, Objective 14.3

23) Most foreign born people in Texas are from

Feedback: factual

a. South America.

b. Mexico and Central America.

c. Asia.

d. Africa.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 24, Objective 14.3

24) What is undocumented immigrants’ relationship with Social Security?

Feedback: factual

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.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 25, Objective 14.3

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

Feedback: factual

a. undocumented immigration

b. taxes

c. school quality

d. pollution

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 26, Objective 14.3

26) Ultimately, border security is under the jurisdiction of the

Feedback: factual

a. attorney general.

b. border counties.

c. Texas Rangers.

d. federal government.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 27, Objective 14.3

27) The children of undocumented immigrants

Feedback: factual

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.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 28, Objective 14.3

28) Ultimately, undocumented immigrants

Feedback: factual

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.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 29, Objective 14.3

29) Compared to other states, Texas has _______ undocumented immigrants.

Feedback: factual

a. no

b. one of the highest numbers of

c. one of the lowest numbers of

d. bbout an average number of

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 30, Objective 14.3

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

Feedback: factual

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.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 31, Objective 14.4

31) Education funding that comes from general revenue is held in the

Feedback: conceptual

a. Permanent School Fund.

b. School District Fund.

c. Foundation School Fund.

d. Temporary School Fund.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 32, Objective 14.4

32) Funding for Texas K–12 schools relies heavily on _______ taxes

Feedback: conceptual

a. income

b. sin

c. property

d. sales

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 33, Objective 14.4

33) As Texas grows more diverse, Texas schools are largely

Feedback: conceptual

a. segregated.

b. diverse.

c. well funded.

d. performing the best in the nation.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 34, Objective 14.4

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. School accountability

b. Tax redirection

c. Voucher

d. Agency

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 35, Objective 14.4

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

Feedback: factual

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.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 36, Objective 14.4

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. Permanent School Fund.

b. Available School Fund.

c. K–12 School Fund.

d. Higher Education Fund.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 37, Objective 14.4

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. Permanent School Fund.

b. Available School Fund.

c. K–12 School Fund.

d. Higher Education Fund.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 38, Objective 14.4

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. the Golden Pennies plan.

b. the Demitrio plan.

c. the captive plan.

d. the Robin Hood plan.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 39, Objective 14.4

39) School districts may lose tax funding when

Feedback: applied

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.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 40, Objective 14.4

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

Feedback: factual

a. higher than most

b. lower than most

c. about the same as

d. dead last among

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 41, Objective 14.4

41) Which groups have the highest graduation rates in Texas?

Feedback: factual

a. African-American and Hispanic

b. Anglo and Hispanic

c. Anglo and Asian

d. Asian and Hispanic

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 42, Objective 14.5

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. Permanent University Fund

b. Permanent School Fund

c. Longhorn-Aggie Fund

d. sale of license plates

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 43, Objective 14.5

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

Feedback: applied

a. community colleges

b. public universities

c. public universities offering doctoral degrees

d. private universities

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 44, Objective 14.5

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

Feedback: factual

a. The State Board of Education

b. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

c. The College District Board

d. The Board of Regents

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 45, Objective 14.5

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

Feedback: conceptual

a. affirmative action.

b. a discrimination prevention act.

c. an equal opportunity act.

d. a preferential treatment policy.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 46, Objective 14.6

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

Feedback: factual

a. toll roads.

b. selling advertising space on highways.

c. raising the gas tax.

d. requesting more money from the county judges.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 47, Objective 14.6

47) “Transportation deserts” are

Feedback: factual

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.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 48, Objective 14.7

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

Feedback: factual

a. Hurricane Tank.

b. Coastal Development Fund.

c. Texas Water Fund.

d. Texas Water Development Board.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 49, Objective 14.7

49) Which group in Texas is must susceptible to pollution?

Feedback: factual

a. People who have recently moved to Texas

b. Those in west Texas

c. High income earners

d. Economically vulnerable people

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 50, Objective 14.7

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

Feedback: factual

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

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 51, Objective 14.7

51) 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

Feedback: conceptual

a. first-choice.

b. capture.

c. below.

d. on-boarding.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 52, Objective 14.3

52) 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?

Feedback:

Added $800 million to border security efforts, including new equipment, facilities, and law enforcement officers.

The governor also agreed to commit at least 1,000 National Guard troops to the Mexico border in response to a call from President Trump to clamp down on illegal immigration, at a cost of approximately $12 million a month.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 53, Objective 14.4

53) How does Texas education rank nationally?

Feedback:

Poorly.

Texas consistently ranks lower than most other states.

Education Week gave Texas a C– overall, a C– for K–12 student achievement, a C for students’ future success in life, and a D for school finance.

This put Texas in forty-third place nationally.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 54, Objective 14.5

54) What is the Permanent University Fund?

Feedback:

Established in 1839.

Proceeds from natural resources (oil, gas, sulfur, water), mineral leases, and grazing rights generate income for the fund and for permanent members: campuses of the University of Texas and Texas A&M University.

The fund was set in 1931 to provide two-thirds of the funds to the UT and one-third to A&M.

The fund is currently worth more than an estimated $19 billion.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 55, Objective 14.6

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

Feedback:

An additional $5 billion annually to maintain the current roads.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 56, Objective 14.7

56) Who owns water on a landowner’s property?

Feedback:

Surface water is subject to control and management by the state.

Groundwater is owned by the landowner of the property above the groundwater.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 14 Question 57, Objective 14.1

57) Describe the elements of the policy-making process/cycle.

Feedback:

Agenda setting is the placement of an issue onto the public agenda. Everyday needs of the people as well as crises, such as an economic shock, a natural disaster, or a massive policy failure, trigger the policy-making process. Citizens who have problems, interest groups, or political parties often identify issues that they would like to place on the agenda. These individuals or groups frame the problem by identifying the causes and consequences and by attempting to control the narrative on the issue. During the agenda setting phase, policymakers ask the question: Is this problem important enough for government to get involved?

During the policy creation stage, stakeholders from around the state shape legislation. During this stage, policymakers examine the problem to understand whether and how government can offer a solution. They gather information, meet with experts and Texans that are connected to the problem, and consider alternatives.

During the policy adoption stage, lawmakers adopt the policy, appropriate funds to pay for the policy (if needed), set rules for implementation and guidelines for review of the policy.

In the final phase, evaluation, lawmakers and other experts review the policy and its outcomes. This final phase comes later in the form of oversight hearings, guidance documents, and, if needed, revisions to the policy creation or implementation.