Question 1

Tax equity refers to ​_____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​property taxes on homes 
B) ​the idea that taxes should be fair 
C) ​tax elasticity 
D) ​an 8.25 percentsales taxes on goods 
E) ​excise taxes 
A) ​property taxes on homes 
B) ​the idea that taxes should be fair 
C) ​tax elasticity 
D) ​an 8.25 percentsales taxes on goods 
E) ​excise taxes

Question 2

​Upon what types of taxes does Texas most rely?Are these taxes regressive or progressive?Explain.

Accepted Answer

Texas relies most heavily on sales taxes

Question 3

Since 1977,the percentage of money spent by the state on highway expenditures has _____.

Accepted Answer

A) increased dramatically, as aging highways have needed to be replaced 
B) increased, but only narrowly 
C) remained almost exactly the same 
D) declined, but only narrowly 
E) declined dramatically, resulting in the state having many poorly maintained roads 
A) increased dramatically, as aging highways have needed to be replaced 
B) increased, but only narrowly 
C) remained almost exactly the same 
D) declined, but only narrowly 
E) declined dramatically, resulting in the state having many poorly maintained roads

Question 4

​According to the chart comparing Texas's expenditures to those of other states,which of these statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Texas spends more per person on state services than most other states do. 
B) ​Texas spends about the same per person on state services as other states do. 
C) ​Texas, on average, ranks at the bottom of states' spending per person. 
D) ​Texas ranks relatively high in education spending when comparing per person state spending. 
E) Texas spends about the same per person on state services as other states do, although it ranks relatively high in education spending when comparing per person state spending. 
A) ​Texas spends more per person on state services than most other states do. 
B) ​Texas spends about the same per person on state services as other states do. 
C) ​Texas, on average, ranks at the bottom of states' spending per person. 
D) ​Texas ranks relatively high in education spending when comparing per person state spending. 
E) Texas spends about the same per person on state services as other states do, although it ranks relatively high in education spending when comparing per person state spending.

Question 5

In what ways would you consider Texas's taxing and spending system to be "democratic"?In what ways would you consider it to be "undemocratic"?

Accepted Answer

Texas's taxing and spending system can b

Question 6

​A fee for a specific government service charged to the person who benefits from the service is _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​exemplified by the sales tax 
B) ​exemplified by federal funding 
C) ​called a user fee 
D) ​called pari-mutuel betting 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​exemplified by the sales tax 
B) ​exemplified by federal funding 
C) ​called a user fee 
D) ​called pari-mutuel betting 
E) ​all of these

Question 7

Because the tax system in Texas is not easily adjusted to ups and downs in the economy,it is said to _____.

Accepted Answer

A) be recession-driven 
B) be inflation-driven 
C) lack progressivity 
D) lack regressivity 
E) lack elasticity 
A) be recession-driven 
B) be inflation-driven 
C) lack progressivity 
D) lack regressivity 
E) lack elasticity

Question 8

Discuss the likelihood that Texas will adopt a personal income tax in the near future.What are the arguments for and against the state's adoption of a personal income tax?

Accepted Answer

The likelihood of Texas adopting a perso

Question 9

​Explain why your text characterizes the Texas economy as a "boom and bust" economy.What are the consequences of this type of economyfor taxing and spending in Texas?

Accepted Answer

The Texas economy is often characterized

Question 10

Which statement regarding the revenue structure of Texas is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) Businesses pay about 15 percent of the total tax revenue. 
B) The general sales tax in Texas is assessed at 6.25 percent on goods and services. 
C) Texas has one of the most regressive tax structures in the nation. 
D) Heavy reliance on sales taxes gives Texas a very elastic revenue structure. 
E) The tax system puts an undue burden on those least able to pay. 
A) Businesses pay about 15 percent of the total tax revenue. 
B) The general sales tax in Texas is assessed at 6.25 percent on goods and services. 
C) Texas has one of the most regressive tax structures in the nation. 
D) Heavy reliance on sales taxes gives Texas a very elastic revenue structure. 
E) The tax system puts an undue burden on those least able to pay.

Question 11

​When analyzing health and human services spending by the state of Texas,which of these is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Almost 60 percent of Texas health and human services funding comes from the federal government. 
B) ​Texas ranks high in comparison to other states in per person spending on health and human services. 
C) ​Health and human services is the second-largest segment of the state budget. 
D) ​Texas tends to cut health and human services first when the budget is tight. 
E) Texas ranked forty-first among the fifty states in per capita expenditures for welfare services and twenty-sixth in hospital services. 
A) ​Almost 60 percent of Texas health and human services funding comes from the federal government. 
B) ​Texas ranks high in comparison to other states in per person spending on health and human services. 
C) ​Health and human services is the second-largest segment of the state budget. 
D) ​Texas tends to cut health and human services first when the budget is tight. 
E) Texas ranked forty-first among the fifty states in per capita expenditures for welfare services and twenty-sixth in hospital services.

Question 12

The best example of Texas's reliance on regressive taxes is the _____.

Accepted Answer

A) general retail sales tax 
B) inheritance tax 
C) income tax 
D) corporate income tax 
E) property tax 
A) general retail sales tax 
B) inheritance tax 
C) income tax 
D) corporate income tax 
E) property tax

Question 13

​What types of taxes does the state of Texas lack?Why do you think this is the case?

Accepted Answer

The state of Texas lacks several types o

Question 14

​Which strategy has the state of Texas pursued to find adequate revenue sources?

Accepted Answer

A) ​performance evaluation and management such as the Texas Performance Review 
B) ​privatizing services by contracting them out to businesses 
C) ​passing along costs to private citizens 
D) ​changing the revenue structure 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​performance evaluation and management such as the Texas Performance Review 
B) ​privatizing services by contracting them out to businesses 
C) ​passing along costs to private citizens 
D) ​changing the revenue structure 
E) ​all of these

Question 15

​Your text states that rather than developing public policy and then seeking ways to fund services,Texas creates a budget and then funds services.How do you think Texas would be different if it chose its public policies first and provided funding second?

Accepted Answer

If Texas chose its public policies first

Question 16

What is the largest single functional category of state spending in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A) health and human services 
B) general government 
C) education 
D) public safety and corrections 
E) business and economic development 
A) health and human services 
B) general government 
C) education 
D) public safety and corrections 
E) business and economic development

Question 17

Which of these is an example of a progressive tax?

Accepted Answer

A) motor fuels tax 
B) federal income tax 
C) oil and gas production tax 
D) general sales tax 
E) cigarette tax 
A) motor fuels tax 
B) federal income tax 
C) oil and gas production tax 
D) general sales tax 
E) cigarette tax

Question 18

​In order for tax restructuring to occur in Texas,_____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​the public would have to be more accepting of a state income tax 
B) ​businesses would have to accept an activity tax like a corporate income tax 
C) ​state politics and attitudes would have to change 
D) ​regular revenue shortfalls would have to end and taxes would have to be more elastic 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​the public would have to be more accepting of a state income tax 
B) ​businesses would have to accept an activity tax like a corporate income tax 
C) ​state politics and attitudes would have to change 
D) ​regular revenue shortfalls would have to end and taxes would have to be more elastic 
E) ​all of these

Question 19

Why are revenue shortfallssuch a problem for the Texas tax system?

Accepted Answer

A) The state relies too much on sales taxes. 
B) ​When the economy is weak, people stop buying and thus stop paying sales taxes. 
C) ​The system relies heavily on spending by low- and middle-class individuals. 
D) ​All of these are reasons for revenue shortfalls. 
E) ​None of these is a reason for revenue shortfalls. 
A) The state relies too much on sales taxes. 
B) ​When the economy is weak, people stop buying and thus stop paying sales taxes. 
C) ​The system relies heavily on spending by low- and middle-class individuals. 
D) ​All of these are reasons for revenue shortfalls. 
E) ​None of these is a reason for revenue shortfalls.

Question 20

​In budget discussions,a source of power for the comptroller is _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​his or her power to line-item veto the budget 
B) ​the biennial session 
C) ​that the comptroller must certify that expected revenues are sufficient to fund expenditures 
D) his or her participation in LBB budget choices about expenditures 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​his or her power to line-item veto the budget 
B) ​the biennial session 
C) ​that the comptroller must certify that expected revenues are sufficient to fund expenditures 
D) his or her participation in LBB budget choices about expenditures 
E) ​all of these

Tax equity refers to _____.

Upon what types of taxes does Texas most rely?Are these taxes regressive or progressive?Explain.

Since 1977,the percentage of money spent by the state on highway expenditures has _____.

According to the chart comparing Texas's expenditures to those of other states,which of these statements is true?

In what ways would you consider Texas's taxing and spending system to be "democratic"?In what ways would you consider it to be "undemocratic"?

A fee for a specific government service charged to the person who benefits from the service is _____.

Because the tax system in Texas is not easily adjusted to ups and downs in the economy,it is said to _____.

Discuss the likelihood that Texas will adopt a personal income tax in the near future.What are the arguments for and against the state's adoption of a personal income tax?

Explain why your text characterizes the Texas economy as a "boom and bust" economy.What are the consequences of this type of economyfor taxing and spending in Texas?

Which statement regarding the revenue structure of Texas is not true?

When analyzing health and human services spending by the state of Texas,which of these is not true?

The best example of Texas's reliance on regressive taxes is the _____.

What types of taxes does the state of Texas lack?Why do you think this is the case?

Which strategy has the state of Texas pursued to find adequate revenue sources?

Your text states that rather than developing public policy and then seeking ways to fund services,Texas creates a budget and then funds services.How do you think Texas would be different if it chose its public policies first and provided funding second?

What is the largest single functional category of state spending in Texas?

Which of these is an example of a progressive tax?

In order for tax restructuring to occur in Texas,_____.

Why are revenue shortfallssuch a problem for the Texas tax system?

In budget discussions,a source of power for the comptroller is _____.

The Context of Texas Politics

The Constitutional Setting

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Voting,campaigns,and Elections

The Texas Legislature

The Governor

The Administrative State

The Judiciary

The Substance of Justice

Local Government

Public Policy: People

Public Policy: Resources

Filters

Exam 12: The State Economy and the Financing of State Government

Tax equity refers to ​_____.

​Upon what types of taxes does Texas most rely?Are these taxes regressive or progressive?Explain.

Since 1977,the percentage of money spent by the state on highway expenditures has _____.

​According to the chart comparing Texas's expenditures to those of other states,which of these statements is true?

In what ways would you consider Texas's taxing and spending system to be "democratic"?In what ways would you consider it to be "undemocratic"?

​A fee for a specific government service charged to the person who benefits from the service is _____.

Because the tax system in Texas is not easily adjusted to ups and downs in the economy,it is said to _____.

Discuss the likelihood that Texas will adopt a personal income tax in the near future.What are the arguments for and against the state's adoption of a personal income tax?

​Explain why your text characterizes the Texas economy as a "boom and bust" economy.What are the consequences of this type of economyfor taxing and spending in Texas?

Which statement regarding the revenue structure of Texas is not true?

​When analyzing health and human services spending by the state of Texas,which of these is not true?

The best example of Texas's reliance on regressive taxes is the _____.

​What types of taxes does the state of Texas lack?Why do you think this is the case?

​Which strategy has the state of Texas pursued to find adequate revenue sources?

​Your text states that rather than developing public policy and then seeking ways to fund services,Texas creates a budget and then funds services.How do you think Texas would be different if it chose its public policies first and provided funding second?

What is the largest single functional category of state spending in Texas?

Which of these is an example of a progressive tax?

​In order for tax restructuring to occur in Texas,_____.

Why are revenue shortfallssuch a problem for the Texas tax system?

​In budget discussions,a source of power for the comptroller is _____.

The Context of Texas Politics

The Constitutional Setting

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Voting,campaigns,and Elections

The Texas Legislature

The Governor

The Administrative State

The Judiciary

The Substance of Justice

Local Government

Public Policy: People

Public Policy: Resources

Filters

Tax equity refers to _____.

Upon what types of taxes does Texas most rely?Are these taxes regressive or progressive?Explain.

According to the chart comparing Texas's expenditures to those of other states,which of these statements is true?

A fee for a specific government service charged to the person who benefits from the service is _____.

Explain why your text characterizes the Texas economy as a "boom and bust" economy.What are the consequences of this type of economyfor taxing and spending in Texas?

When analyzing health and human services spending by the state of Texas,which of these is not true?

What types of taxes does the state of Texas lack?Why do you think this is the case?

Which strategy has the state of Texas pursued to find adequate revenue sources?

Your text states that rather than developing public policy and then seeking ways to fund services,Texas creates a budget and then funds services.How do you think Texas would be different if it chose its public policies first and provided funding second?

In order for tax restructuring to occur in Texas,_____.

In budget discussions,a source of power for the comptroller is _____.