Question 1

​The "top 8 percent rule" _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​was designed to give university access to students who graduated from urban minority schools 
B) ​was designed to ensure that diversity would remain at state universities 
C) requires the University of Texas and Texas A&M to admit anyone who finished in the top 8 percent of his or her high school class 
D) ​was response to a Texas attorney general ruling that affirmative action could not be used for admission to institutions of higher learning 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​was designed to give university access to students who graduated from urban minority schools 
B) ​was designed to ensure that diversity would remain at state universities 
C) requires the University of Texas and Texas A&M to admit anyone who finished in the top 8 percent of his or her high school class 
D) ​was response to a Texas attorney general ruling that affirmative action could not be used for admission to institutions of higher learning 
E) ​all of these

Question 2

​Which of these is not true of education in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A) Local Independent School Boards hire teachers, build school buildings, and make judgments about allocations of resources in their own local areas. 
B) The state of Texas has a State Board of Education that makes broad decisions about what is required to gain an education in Texas and to graduate from a Texas high school. 
C) The single largest area of the state budget is education. 
D) ​Local governments in Texas pay for the largest share of the costs of education in the state. 
E) Spending large amounts of funds at the state and local levels has resulted in Texas having one of the best-funded education systems in the country. 
A) Local Independent School Boards hire teachers, build school buildings, and make judgments about allocations of resources in their own local areas. 
B) The state of Texas has a State Board of Education that makes broad decisions about what is required to gain an education in Texas and to graduate from a Texas high school. 
C) The single largest area of the state budget is education. 
D) ​Local governments in Texas pay for the largest share of the costs of education in the state. 
E) Spending large amounts of funds at the state and local levels has resulted in Texas having one of the best-funded education systems in the country.

Question 3

​In analyzing Texas laws dealing with unemployment,which statement is not accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Texas has a history of having laws that are not as protective of workers' rights as other states. 
B) Texas has a "right-to-work" provision, prohibiting union membership as a condition for employment. 
C) ​Workers' compensation laws in Texas have generally had rather high costs with low worker benefits. 
D) ​Texas businesses and state government have pushed for more funding for the unemployed as a way to support economic growth in the state. 
E) ​In order to gain access to millions of national government dollars for unemployment, Texas had to provide coverage for workers not previously covered. 
A) ​Texas has a history of having laws that are not as protective of workers' rights as other states. 
B) Texas has a "right-to-work" provision, prohibiting union membership as a condition for employment. 
C) ​Workers' compensation laws in Texas have generally had rather high costs with low worker benefits. 
D) ​Texas businesses and state government have pushed for more funding for the unemployed as a way to support economic growth in the state. 
E) ​In order to gain access to millions of national government dollars for unemployment, Texas had to provide coverage for workers not previously covered.

Question 4

​Which of the following is not true of charter schools?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Charter schools are public schools set up to have a unique academic interest. 
B) ​Proponents argue that charter schools provide competition that will encourage standard public schools to improve their performance. 
C) ​Charter schools are another type of private, tuition-based school. 
D) ​Approximately one-third of charter schools have failed during their fifteen-year history. 
E) ​Charter schools have met with mixed success. 
A) ​Charter schools are public schools set up to have a unique academic interest. 
B) ​Proponents argue that charter schools provide competition that will encourage standard public schools to improve their performance. 
C) ​Charter schools are another type of private, tuition-based school. 
D) ​Approximately one-third of charter schools have failed during their fifteen-year history. 
E) ​Charter schools have met with mixed success.

Question 5

Texas,after struggling to encourage diversity in higher education,developed the "top 8 percent rule."What do you think about this idea?Is this preferable to directly considering race in university admissions?If you were in charge of making public policy for Texas in this area,what would you do?

Accepted Answer

The "top 8 percent rule" in Texas is a p

Question 6

​Most states supplement federal antipoverty programs with state funds.What is Texas's approach?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Texas supplements federal antipoverty programs with state funds at roughly the same level as other states. 
B) ​Texas supplements federal antipoverty programs with state funds at more generous levels than other states. 
C) ​Texas takes a "bare bones" approach, providing very little additional state funding to federal antipoverty programs. 
D) ​Texas uses state funds to supplement health care for the poor, but not for other antipoverty programs. 
E) ​none of these 
A) ​Texas supplements federal antipoverty programs with state funds at roughly the same level as other states. 
B) ​Texas supplements federal antipoverty programs with state funds at more generous levels than other states. 
C) ​Texas takes a "bare bones" approach, providing very little additional state funding to federal antipoverty programs. 
D) ​Texas uses state funds to supplement health care for the poor, but not for other antipoverty programs. 
E) ​none of these

Question 7

​In terms of taxation and public services,Texas is considered a _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​high-tax, high-service state 
B) ​low-tax, low-service state 
C) ​high-tax, low-service state 
D) ​moderate-tax, moderate-service state 
E) ​none of these 
A) ​high-tax, high-service state 
B) ​low-tax, low-service state 
C) ​high-tax, low-service state 
D) ​moderate-tax, moderate-service state 
E) ​none of these

Question 8

Social services are likely to remain a perennial issue in Texas politics because _____.

Accepted Answer

A) the economy swings from boom to bust, and in low times the number of people requiring services increases while government revenue decreases 
B) the state's immigration rate is high, and many immigrants lack essential job skills and become the working poor 
C) disparities between rich and poor are growing 
D) conservatism in Texas dominated politics in the early 2000s 
E) all of these 
A) the economy swings from boom to bust, and in low times the number of people requiring services increases while government revenue decreases 
B) the state's immigration rate is high, and many immigrants lack essential job skills and become the working poor 
C) disparities between rich and poor are growing 
D) conservatism in Texas dominated politics in the early 2000s 
E) all of these

Question 9

​"An admissions program that takes race,gender,and ethnicity into account to attempt to make up for past patterns of discrimination"is the definition of_____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​Brown v. Board of Education 
B) ​quotas 
C) ​diversity 
D) ​affirmative action 
E) an ​unfair admissions process 
A) ​Brown v. Board of Education 
B) ​quotas 
C) ​diversity 
D) ​affirmative action 
E) an ​unfair admissions process

Question 10

In 2010,the Texas State Board of Education made headlines for pushing changes to the social science curriculum,including _____.

Accepted Answer

A) downplaying the role of Thomas Jefferson among the founding fathers 
B) mandating emphasis on the separation of church and state 
C) downplaying the threat of communism during the Cold War 
D) imposing a liberal bias on the curriculum 
E) removing Sam Houston from Texas history texts 
A) downplaying the role of Thomas Jefferson among the founding fathers 
B) mandating emphasis on the separation of church and state 
C) downplaying the threat of communism during the Cold War 
D) imposing a liberal bias on the curriculum 
E) removing Sam Houston from Texas history texts

Question 11

Apolitical cartoon in your text poses a "pro-life" dilemma:Although Texans favor a pro-life position on abortion,the state poorly funds social and educational services for children.Why do you think Texans take these seemingly incompatible positions?

Accepted Answer

The seeming contradiction between Texans

Question 12

​Which statement about mandates is not true?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Mandates come only from the federal executive branch to the state governments. 
B) Both federal and state governments can issue mandates. 
C) ​Mandates can be the result of court orders. 
D) ​Either the legislative or the executive branch may issue mandates. 
E) ​Mandates often require governments to act without supplying funding to implement the mandates. 
A) ​Mandates come only from the federal executive branch to the state governments. 
B) Both federal and state governments can issue mandates. 
C) ​Mandates can be the result of court orders. 
D) ​Either the legislative or the executive branch may issue mandates. 
E) ​Mandates often require governments to act without supplying funding to implement the mandates.

Question 13

​Which statement about problems facing the state of Texas with regard to health care costs is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Bothadvances in treating medical problemsand the costs of treating them have increased dramatically. 
B) Increasing costs have meant that lower percentages of Americans have access to private health insurance, and even middle-income families often lack health coverage. 
C) ​Because of the costs of health care coverage and hospitalization, nearly anyone lacking health care coverage is medically indigent. 
D) Texas ranks worst in the nation in terms of health insurance, with approximately 25 percent of its population lacking it. 
E) all of these 
A) Bothadvances in treating medical problemsand the costs of treating them have increased dramatically. 
B) Increasing costs have meant that lower percentages of Americans have access to private health insurance, and even middle-income families often lack health coverage. 
C) ​Because of the costs of health care coverage and hospitalization, nearly anyone lacking health care coverage is medically indigent. 
D) Texas ranks worst in the nation in terms of health insurance, with approximately 25 percent of its population lacking it. 
E) all of these

Question 14

​Historically,health,education,and welfare policies were

Accepted Answer

A) ​functions of the federal government 
B) ​functions of the state government 
C) ​functions of local governments 
D) ​the responsibility of individual citizens 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​functions of the federal government 
B) ​functions of the state government 
C) ​functions of local governments 
D) ​the responsibility of individual citizens 
E) ​all of these

Question 15

​Which statement is not an accurate assessment of Texas's efforts to deal with welfare?

Accepted Answer

A) ​The state is mainly interested in money; it tries to find ways not to spend state dollars on the poor and to get a bigger piece of the federal welfare pie. 
B) Texas's political culture pushes the state to provide generous benefits that the state cannot afford. 
C) Texas has a welfare problem that is tied to social divisionsresting on ethnic conflicts and struggles between the haves and the have-nots. 
D) ​Texas uses stringent qualifications for recipients in order to reduce the number of welfare recipients. 
E) ​Texas benefited from a booming economy, which resulted in a drop in the number of aid recipients. 
A) ​The state is mainly interested in money; it tries to find ways not to spend state dollars on the poor and to get a bigger piece of the federal welfare pie. 
B) Texas's political culture pushes the state to provide generous benefits that the state cannot afford. 
C) Texas has a welfare problem that is tied to social divisionsresting on ethnic conflicts and struggles between the haves and the have-nots. 
D) ​Texas uses stringent qualifications for recipients in order to reduce the number of welfare recipients. 
E) ​Texas benefited from a booming economy, which resulted in a drop in the number of aid recipients.

Question 16

​Which of these is not true of home schooling in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A) Home schools are a type of charter school. 
B) ​Home schooling in Texas operates "underground" without state approval. 
C) ​The Texas Supreme Court ruled that home schooling was protected just as private schooling was. 
D) ​Recent estimates are that as many as 300,000 Texas students are being educated at home. 
E) ​Home schools are a type of charter school, and home schooling in Texas operates "underground" without state approval. 
A) Home schools are a type of charter school. 
B) ​Home schooling in Texas operates "underground" without state approval. 
C) ​The Texas Supreme Court ruled that home schooling was protected just as private schooling was. 
D) ​Recent estimates are that as many as 300,000 Texas students are being educated at home. 
E) ​Home schools are a type of charter school, and home schooling in Texas operates "underground" without state approval.

Question 17

​Why is textbook selection in Texas a cause of concern for other states?

Accepted Answer

Textbook selection in Texas is a cause o

Question 18

​For many years,Texas was well known for its low college tuition.Today,state financial support for higher education is declining and tuition costs are increasing.How does this affect your future educational and career plans?

Accepted Answer

The declining state financial support fo

Question 19

​Texas is a leader in the number of new jobs created annually,_____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​but many of those jobs require high education levels 
B) ​but many of those jobs are low paying 
C) but ​this is not likely to last due changes in the Texas economy 
D) ​and we have relatively low rates of poverty 
E) and this is the result of the state's reputation as a high-service state 
A) ​but many of those jobs require high education levels 
B) ​but many of those jobs are low paying 
C) but ​this is not likely to last due changes in the Texas economy 
D) ​and we have relatively low rates of poverty 
E) and this is the result of the state's reputation as a high-service state

Question 20

What is the difference between Medicaid and CHIP?

Accepted Answer

A) Medicaid is the same as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, while CHIPis a health care program. 
B) CHIP is a federal program, while Medicaid is a state program. 
C) There is no difference; they are part of the same program. 
D) Medicaid provides health care for poor families, whileCHIP provides medical insurance for low-income children who are above the poverty level but are still low-income. 
E) none of these 
A) Medicaid is the same as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, while CHIPis a health care program. 
B) CHIP is a federal program, while Medicaid is a state program. 
C) There is no difference; they are part of the same program. 
D) Medicaid provides health care for poor families, whileCHIP provides medical insurance for low-income children who are above the poverty level but are still low-income. 
E) none of these

The "top 8 percent rule" _____.

Which of these is not true of education in Texas?

In analyzing Texas laws dealing with unemployment,which statement is not accurate?

Which of the following is not true of charter schools?

Texas,after struggling to encourage diversity in higher education,developed the "top 8 percent rule."What do you think about this idea?Is this preferable to directly considering race in university admissions?If you were in charge of making public policy for Texas in this area,what would you do?

Most states supplement federal antipoverty programs with state funds.What is Texas's approach?

In terms of taxation and public services,Texas is considered a _____.

Social services are likely to remain a perennial issue in Texas politics because _____.

"An admissions program that takes race,gender,and ethnicity into account to attempt to make up for past patterns of discrimination"is the definition of_____.

In 2010,the Texas State Board of Education made headlines for pushing changes to the social science curriculum,including _____.

Apolitical cartoon in your text poses a "pro-life" dilemma:Although Texans favor a pro-life position on abortion,the state poorly funds social and educational services for children.Why do you think Texans take these seemingly incompatible positions?

Which statement about mandates is not true?

Which statement about problems facing the state of Texas with regard to health care costs is true?

Historically,health,education,and welfare policies were

Which statement is not an accurate assessment of Texas's efforts to deal with welfare?

Which of these is not true of home schooling in Texas?

Why is textbook selection in Texas a cause of concern for other states?

For many years,Texas was well known for its low college tuition.Today,state financial support for higher education is declining and tuition costs are increasing.How does this affect your future educational and career plans?

Texas is a leader in the number of new jobs created annually,_____.

What is the difference between Medicaid and CHIP?

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

The State Economy and the Financing of State Government

Public Policy: Resources

Filters

Exam 13: Public Policy: People

​The "top 8 percent rule" _____.

​Which of these is not true of education in Texas?

​In analyzing Texas laws dealing with unemployment,which statement is not accurate?

​Which of the following is not true of charter schools?

Texas,after struggling to encourage diversity in higher education,developed the "top 8 percent rule."What do you think about this idea?Is this preferable to directly considering race in university admissions?If you were in charge of making public policy for Texas in this area,what would you do?

​Most states supplement federal antipoverty programs with state funds.What is Texas's approach?

​In terms of taxation and public services,Texas is considered a _____.

Social services are likely to remain a perennial issue in Texas politics because _____.

​"An admissions program that takes race,gender,and ethnicity into account to attempt to make up for past patterns of discrimination"is the definition of_____.

In 2010,the Texas State Board of Education made headlines for pushing changes to the social science curriculum,including _____.

Apolitical cartoon in your text poses a "pro-life" dilemma:Although Texans favor a pro-life position on abortion,the state poorly funds social and educational services for children.Why do you think Texans take these seemingly incompatible positions?

​Which statement about mandates is not true?

​Which statement about problems facing the state of Texas with regard to health care costs is true?

​Historically,health,education,and welfare policies were

​Which statement is not an accurate assessment of Texas's efforts to deal with welfare?

​Which of these is not true of home schooling in Texas?

​Why is textbook selection in Texas a cause of concern for other states?

​For many years,Texas was well known for its low college tuition.Today,state financial support for higher education is declining and tuition costs are increasing.How does this affect your future educational and career plans?

​Texas is a leader in the number of new jobs created annually,_____.

What is the difference between Medicaid and CHIP?

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

The State Economy and the Financing of State Government

Public Policy: Resources

Filters

The "top 8 percent rule" _____.

Which of these is not true of education in Texas?

In analyzing Texas laws dealing with unemployment,which statement is not accurate?

Which of the following is not true of charter schools?

Most states supplement federal antipoverty programs with state funds.What is Texas's approach?

In terms of taxation and public services,Texas is considered a _____.

"An admissions program that takes race,gender,and ethnicity into account to attempt to make up for past patterns of discrimination"is the definition of_____.

Which statement about mandates is not true?

Which statement about problems facing the state of Texas with regard to health care costs is true?

Historically,health,education,and welfare policies were

Which statement is not an accurate assessment of Texas's efforts to deal with welfare?

Which of these is not true of home schooling in Texas?

Why is textbook selection in Texas a cause of concern for other states?

For many years,Texas was well known for its low college tuition.Today,state financial support for higher education is declining and tuition costs are increasing.How does this affect your future educational and career plans?

Texas is a leader in the number of new jobs created annually,_____.