POLS 207 State and Local Government Review Sheet Exam 1 1 What is economic development a Includes population growth income and education Is key to state s politics and public health policies Fastest in west and south 2 How has the ethnic composition of the United States changed in the last twenty years a The greatest change in ethnic composition is the large increase in Hispanic mainly Mexican 3 Know which level of government is responsible for which different policies a Local government policies i Creating a sense of community providing services and managing conflict sources of community conflict coping with dissatisfaction b State government policies i Establish local government Issue licenses Regulate intrastate commerce Conduct elections Ratify amendments to the U S Constitution public health and public safety establish a State Constitution c Federal government policies i Print money Declare war Establish an army treaties Regulate commerce between states and international trade post offices and issue postage enforce the Constitution 4 What is policy conservatism a The opposite of Policy Liberalism b Policy leaning towards limiting welfare benefits deregulating business keeping taxes low generally less reliance on government and more reliance on individuals and the marketplace to achieve social goals 5 What is policy liberalism a Tendency to adopt relaxed eligibility standards for receipt of welfare and medical benefits decriminalization of marijuana possession elimination of the death penalty extensive regulation of business and progressive state income tax 6 From where do state and local governments derive their revenue a From taxes sales income and property federal aid fees licenses and lottery 7 Know the different types of government systems federalism unitary confederation a Federalism i a constitutional arrangement whereby power is divided between national and subnational governments each of which enforces its own laws directly on its citizens and neither of which can alter the arrangement without the consent of the other b Unitary System i Power lies in central government ii Any local government if there is any have powers given to them by the national government c Confederation i Power lies in States ii National government is under state governments 8 Why are state called laboratories of democracy a Because they can experiment with innovative policy ideas this allows other states and the nation as a whole to see if the new ideas work or not before adopting them b Policy innovators policies start at state level and work to national 9 What is nullification a States rights to void a federal law if it is unconstitutional 10 What are enumerated powers a Laws of the federal government given to it by the constitution 11 What are implied powers a Powers that are not specifically listed in the constitution 12 Know the 10th Amendment a Says the federal government only has the powers given to it by the constitution 13 Know the following cases a Marbury v Madison 1803 i first case win which the supreme court first asserted the power of judicial review It found the congressional law extending the court s original jurisdiction unconstitutional b McCulloch v Maryland 1819 i Concludes that the US constitution is the supreme law of the land this case began the process of expanding the power of the federal government through the necessary and proper clause d 14 Why are federal grants in aid important a Money given from upper government to the lower for a specific project They make up 1 3 of the state s income to use on facilities 15 What are mandates a Strings attached to federal money These are usually rules that states have to follow in order to fain certain funding 16 What is preemption a Stating that states laws are legal as long as they do not conflict with federal law b Fed law trumps state c Displacement of state law with federal 17 Know what is usually contained in state constitutions a Bill of rights separation of powers governors legislative powers local governments interest group regulation taxation and finance debt limitation 18 What is constitutionalism a Idea that government should be restricted in its power and authority over the people while still working to preserve their natural rights 19 Why are state constitutions long a This is because they are more detailed direct relationships between government and people and a wide array of issues 20 From where do local governments derive their power a they derive their power from state constitutions and law 21 How do most states amend their constitution a legislative proposes amendment then requires and 2 3 votes b majority vote in the last election 22 What do counties do a Carry out state laws collect taxes and supervise elections b Administrative laws transportation infrastructure courts roads elections and the recording of legal documents c Admin arms of state take care of those who live outside of county lines 23 What do special districts do a Multiple functions i District that provides several related types of services such as water supply sewage services b Single function i district in which a single service is provided such as fire protection mass transit soil conservation libraries water and irrigation mosquito control sewage disposal airports sports and convention centers 24 Know the different types of elections at large single member district etc a Pure At Large at large city wide i Elections in which candidates are chosen by all of the voters in a community number of seats up for election are won by top of votes Plurality system b At large by position i Person runs for a numerically or alphabetically labeled seat is elected city wide c At Large from residency district electoral system i Candidate runs to represent the district he she lives in but all voters in the city get to vote on who shall represent it d Single member districts can cut a city into pieces i Candidates are chosen by voters separate geographically defined districts e Combination Election i some are elected at large some are from single member districts 25 What is the political culture of Texas a Part Traditional and part Individualistic 26 What is the philosophy behind the current Texas Constitution a Written as response to dislike a radical republican rule dislike of strong centralized government 27 Know the historical development of the Texas Constitution a 1845 Texas Constitution i Texas joined the union constitutions were simple and direct b