POLS 207: EXAM 2
112 Cards in this Set
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what kind of graph are political views on?
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Bell Curve
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What causes less voter turnout?
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Less competition
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where are independents on the bell curve?
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in the middle
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Proactive government
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expect state programs efforts will be positively correlated with good results (education)
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Reactive Government
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expect state efforts will be negatively correlated with good results (crime)
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Traditionalistic
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rests on "normal" ordering of society
those of wealth and position expected to rule and have their property protected by the govt, govt has no other major function; it is certainly not for govt to address social ills
found primarily in the south, brought over from Englan…
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Moralistic
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good govvt, promoting the public goods of honesty and selflessness, and govts serving God's purpose
found along the N. border in a belt from Maine to Oregon, brought over from Protestant idealists from Northern Europe
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Individualistic
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emphasizes the conception of the democratic order as a marketplace
govt was to be won and to serve those who won it
found in a belt of states from Mass through US industrial heartland, created from a combo of diff settlers from all diff places in Europe
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Characteristicsto Republican form of govt
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public is supposed to vote in elections at the min
elections are supposed to be competitive, allowing voters a choice
the public policy preferences the voters vote for are supposed to be adopted by elected officials
substantial differences among the states for all t…
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Participation in Elections
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voting= most often how citizens participate
voter turnout rates are different for every state
young, poor, uneducated are most likely to not vote
low voter turnout: south, ny, arizona
voter turnout--linked to political culture as voters in Moralistic states hav…
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Liberals and Conservatives
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definitions based on preferred role of govt, size of govt, fiscal/monetary policies, social policies, foreign policy
end of the 20th century until 2012, US= much more conservative
has not proven itself in changes of policy or party preferences---Obama won 2012 el…
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Democratic & Republican Legislatures
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pattern that the percentage of Republicans in the upper house is highly related to the percentage of republicans in the lower house in states (.92)
45 states: one party is in control of both legislative houses (28 R controlled, 17 D controlled)
25 states: party in contro…
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Is Nebraska bicameral or unicameral?
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unicameral
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Length of Sessions in State Legislature
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length of sessions and how often they meet vary considerably over the states
a few states meet continuously
it is argues that legislatures should meet continuously to give enough time to develop good policy
believed states w/ more business interests & complex econom…
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Voting Methods in US
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varies widely bc voting machines paid for by counties (rich counties have better machines)
electronic voting is now the norm, but backup plans are suggested because electronics can fail
no federal laws because elections are state, not federal
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Election of 2000 voting issues
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Florida-punch card ballots traditionally did not count about 3% of votes bc of errors
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Minnesota voting policy for recounts
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Minnesota has a policy to where it will recount all votes in the state: tested in 2008
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3 types of polical culture posited by Daniel Elazar
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traditionalistic
moralistic
individualistic
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Most common form of political participation? How does TX rank?Why?
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Voting, Texas ranks low because we have a high amount of young, poor, and uneducated who don't vote
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How can a political party lose a statewide presidential election yet win more than half of congressional elections contested at the same time?
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split ticket voting: vote diff for Pres & Congress
gerrymandering
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Does the strong positive correlation between days of state legislative sessions and number of bills introduced tell us which variable causes the other?
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No, because though the relationship is strong, we cannot tell one causes the other because of the arguments involving reactive and proactive governments.
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is divided or unified party control the norm? has this always been the case?
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unified now, not always the case
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Why does the diff in voting equipment used in the states suggest about how the states might differ in how accurately votes are tallied?
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poor states: older equipment=more likely to have mistakes
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No Government Period basis
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1776-1850
avg citizen-subsstence farmer & could expect to live life with little or no contact w/ govt
"self dependence", "sense of community", the best govt was the least govt" were ideals of this period
if one had contact w govt it was for taxes or jail
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Central Ideas of No Govt Period
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families=self depended, but you can count on your neighbors, strong sense of community
govt is not an institution to turn to when there is trouble, contact with govt usually causes adverse affect--best govt=least govt
govt should do what it has traditionally done, very l…
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Municipal Govt Period
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1850-1895-population growth and urbanization
urbanization, families can't provide all services
lost sense of community
needed govt for basic service: public health, safety codes, crime
govt to help w problems should be local bc "closest to ppl"
rise of par…
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Central Ideas for Municipal Govt Period
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govt can help solve problems, esp local govt, closest to people
candidates more likely to gain voter support if they promise certain actions if elected
those who win public office can make decisions affecting everyone-elections matter
machines taught that by being o…
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State Intercity Govt
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1895-1932
older families lost power bc new immigrant political machines take over cities---resentful
want to reform city/get rid of corruption
civil service system
"changed the arena of conflict"
Dillon Rule
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Central Ideas from the State Intercity Govt Period
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state govt could also become active, many probs were forcing such govts to become active
sought to undo urban machines using state govt to pass laws shaping municipal elections (forced under Dillon Rule)
decline of urban machines--led to belief that laws can shape behavi…
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Changing the arena of conflict
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old families couldn't with local elections, started winning state elections, took away power from party bosses (secret ballots, etc.)---cities do what the state says
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Dillon Rule
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A principle holding that local governments are creations of state government and their powers and responsibilities are defined by the state
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Federal Govt Era
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1932-present
Great Depression & WW2--increased scope of federal responsibilities
Fed spending increased greatly
Fed income tax generated tremendous revenue
govt responsible for protecting people from economic hardship, old age, environment, safety, education, c…
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Central Ideas from Fed Govt Era
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govt should take responsibility to soften economic hardships, help us in our old age & assure health coverage
natl defense/internatl involvement=responsibilities of natl govt
natl standards for discrimination, food, drug standards, porn, car safety & even quality of edu …
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Unitary Govt
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system of govt where all functions of govt are controlled by the central/natl govt, regional govts are subservient to the central govt
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Confederacy
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system that divides power between a national govt and regional govts w regional govts having the most power
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American Federalism
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division of powers btw a national govt and regional govts establishes at least two govts for each individual---balances power btw state & natl govt (Supremacy Clause)
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Enumerated (delegated) powers
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powers expressly granted in the Const, there are 16 of them
strict constructionist: belief fed govt can do no more than these enumerated powers
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Necessary and Proper Clause (elastic clause)
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"loose constructionist" would argue there are implied powers not specifically in the Const, but inferred as necessary and proper for carrying out the delegated powers (17th Am.)
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Intersate Commerce Clause
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article in US Const that gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate commerce btw states
originally interpreted that you and to be trading across state lines
later: any chain of manufacture counts
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Reserved Powers
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powers not granted to the national govt or specifically denied to the states are reserved to the states and people respectively under the 10th amendments-----gives power to states
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Full faith and credit clause
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requires states to recognize the laws and judicial acts of other states (divorce & marriage)
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Due process and equal protection clause
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requires states to treat all citizens equally (14th)
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Privileges and Immunities clause
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means that states have to grant to nonresidents the same privileges and immunities that they accord to their residents (75 mph speed limit applies to everyone that comes into state)
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Rendition or Extradition Clause
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if a person charged w a crime flees to a mother state, the state he fled to will return him if the original state requests
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Judicial Review
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Marbury v. Madison (1803): Supreme Ct review contradiction in the constitution and the laws of the land determine what is constitutional
Sup Ct could be ignored because it has no enforcement capability, but this seldom happens
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Garcia v. San Antonio Metro Transit Authority
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1985- Sup Ct made ruling that is sure to continue US Centralization of power to fed govt
Sup Ct said there are no traditional areas of state governing
Congress-made up of citizens from states, if they recognize traditional areas then they will continue, but if congress e…
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Constitutions that predate the US Constitution
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New Hampshire, Massachusetts
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until 1870 period of Const. writing
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brief, usually about 10000 words
legislature dominated
weak governors
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1780-1870 period of Const. writing
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strengthened executive as balance to legislature, bc neither could be trusted
veto
power to appoint officials
(strengthened governors)
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1870-1920 Const. writing period
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result of Civil War- all Southern states except Tenn, wrote and rewrote sev Consts.
1861: sub Confederate for United, secession constitutions
1864 or 65: reverse previous action to be readmitted under Pres. Reconstruction
67 or 68: enact constitutions required by Co…
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1874-1902 writing of Const
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Post reconstruciton constitutions, return power back to wealthy whites who controlled govts before Civil War
Jim Crow laws to disenfranchise blacks
racial segregation
lengthy and detailed
weak legislature & governors, give power to people
many amendments
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1945-present writing of Consts
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reduced in size
revised instead of redrafted
removed archaic laws
strengthening governors and legislatures
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Amending State Constitutions
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all states except Delaware have a 2 step process to amend their constitution, proposal, and ratification--most states require a 2/3rd majority in legislature to propose then a simple majority of voters to ratify
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explain major differences between state and federal constitutions
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state: long and detailed w/ more amendments
federal: short and vague
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Origin of best govt is the lest govt? Has anything of importance changed since then?
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No government period
There are very few subsistent farmers now, expect government to do way more
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Why does the Federal constitution take precedence over state constitutions? how does this relate to federalism?
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it is in the constitution that the federal government is the supreme law of the land--supremacy clause
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Explain how the decisions of the US Sup Ct led to the current development of American Federalism
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Supreme Court makes rule on how Federalism moves forward
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How did the federal income tax and "deficit spending" increase the power of the federal govt?
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Money=power, so federal govt can force states to comply with what they want through conditions that come with borrowing money
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How and why did rural political interests dominate state politics? How and why did this change?
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malportionment: districts are different sizes, causing voting to be unfair
Baker v. Carr: have to redraw state lines (at least every 10 years with the census)
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What is the correlation between he number of words and number of amendments in state constitutions?
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positive
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What is related to the No Govt Period?
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subsistence farming life free of govt interference
rural communities with a few small cities
self dependence
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What is an idea that sprang form the Municipal Govt Period?
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Local govt can help to solve problems because it is closest to the people
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The two events that led to the Fed. Govt. Era
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The Great Depression, WW2
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opinions of people of taxes & services
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34% keep services & lower taxes
10% increase services and raise taxes
36% keep services and taxes about the same
19% not sure
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opinion of the people on taxes
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56% said federal income tax too high
respondents said max percent a person should pay in all taxes = 15.6% or $7635
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opinion of people on how tax system works
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85% said fed. taxes somewhat/very complex
82% said fed tax system needed major changes or a complete overhaul
fewer than half willing to give up some federal tax deduction in exchange for across the board cut in fed tax rate
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opinions on fairness of federal, state, and local taxes
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on scale of 1 to 5 (1=very fair/5=very unfair) respondents rated taxes of all levels of govts an avg of 3.4
inconsistent: Americans say taxes are too high, but rate them generally fair; want simpler system, but not willing to give up their tax deduction
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How do govts pay bills?
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current revenues
surpluses
borrowed funds
debts must eventually be paid off
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How do politicians promise to both lower taxes and keep services?
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by making the government more efficient
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Services cost vs. product cost
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Products sometimes cost less over time, but government not providing products, it provides services
it is unrealistic to assume services can significantly improve and cost less at the same time
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user or client pay
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individuals pay for any goods or services that they receive
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ability to pay
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taxes gathered on ability to pay and the services are provided to all who are eligible
taxes based on the ability to pay redistribute the wealth of the rich to the poor
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redistribution policy
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through govt money is redistributed from the wealthy in taxes to the poor in services
tax policy discussions always involve self interest, the wealthy try to reduce taxes and move more services to user pay, the poor try to have taxes pay for more services they receive
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What basis is public education paid for on?
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ability to pay basis bc of concern about consequence of failing to educate the poor
ability to pay educational expenses is distributed district wide
districts vary in wealth so education quality varies
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Inequitable resources for education
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unconstitutional, forces states to take up more of the cost
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excludable goods/services
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service that can be metered to determine when used and can be excluded to those who do not pay
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private goods
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goods or service in use by one person, cannot be used by a second person (just one consideration of private goods)
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non rivaling
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a service that everyone can use without denying to others, most economist say should be public good, clean air and water
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Market Failure
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occurs when potential customers think they can benefit w/o paying or should not have to pay for receiving benefits -----only by making payments mandatory can goods and services be provided in quality and quantity
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Merit Good
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could be private but we want to give it to people (education)
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How much does the avg American spend on various taxes?
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30% of income----lower than most countries
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Property Tax
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taxes on real property, land and permanent improvements, oldest tax, originally based on barter to pay bc subsistence farmers had no money
flat rate tax: pay the same rate
regressive tax incidence: poor pay a greater percentage of their income bc some of the ri…
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Income Tax
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tax on income
progressive: if tax rate increases as taxable income increases
43 states have personal income tax---of 7 who do not tax personal income, 4 have corporate income tax
39 states have progressive tax, other 4 have one fixed or flat rate for all taxable incomes
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Taxable Income
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once your tax deductions are taken out of your total income, you have your taxable income
capital gains a form of income tax--tax on crease in value of investment when sold---taxed at lower rate than income tax
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Sales Tax
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flat rate tax on goods purchased, usually regressive bc many items the wealthy buy are excluded
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Tax Base
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what is subject to tax (property, income, sales being taxed)
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Tax Burden
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tax bill divided by total income
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tax shifting
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ability to pass cost of taxes to others to pay (renters pay landlords property tax in rent)
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tax incidence (tax application)
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which income groups are paying more and which income groups are paying less of their income in income taxes
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neutral tax incidence
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when the bills for all taxpayers are the same proportions of their ability to pay
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progressive tax incidence
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those with greater ability to pay are taxed a larger proportion than those with lesser ability to pay
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regressive tax incidence
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those with the lowest ability to pay are taxed a larger proportion than those with greater ability to pay
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Relation of state dependency on sales tax to dependence on income tax
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negative: -.47
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Relation of state reliance on sales tax to reliance on property tax
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negatively: -.35
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Relation between property taxes and income taxes in 2010
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no empirical relationship
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Severance Tax
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tax paid by producers or extractors of certain minerals (oil, coal, natural gas, sulfur)--can be shifter, exported, to other states as final consumer pays
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Gambling
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lotteries, pari-mutel ( not a significant source of funds for most states)
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Borrowing
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mainly for capital improvements,most states do not allow borrowing for operating expenses
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Budgeting by States
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all states create a budget
31 states meet annually & pass annual budgets, 15 meet annually and pass biennial budgets, 45 states meet biennially and pass biennial budgets
line by line of how state revenues should be spent by agencies (agency can spend less but not more)
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Passing the budget of a state
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budgets must be passed in same form by both houses in state before being sent to governor
all governors can veto, 41 have line item veto (can veto one line)
most states have to balance the budget
tax base increase in good economic times, decrease in poor econ times
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planned program budgeting
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require agencies to compute costs of each service, thus making quite clear which services were least and most costly, costly programs can be made more efficient or struck from budget
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zero based budgeting
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requires agencies to defend budget requests from one budget to the next and all dollars in each budget
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performance budgeting
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links funding to substantive agency and program missions in budget and appropriations, past performances are reviewed, good ratings more money, negative ratings=less money
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where does the fed govt get money to pay for services it provides? what happens if revenue is insufficient to cover expenditure?
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income taxes
borrows money
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User/client pay vs: ability to pay
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user: pay as you go (utilities)
ability to pay: rich pay for poor
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Why is some form of govt necessary?
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market won't provide certain services at some point
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Difference between tax base and tax incidence? What is tax shifting? Tax loopholes?
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tax base: what is taxed while incidence is who is having to pay
shifting: get someone to pay your taxes
loopholes: tax exemptions
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Tax Effort & Tax Burden
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effort: how much government is trying to tax
Burden: percentage you are paying
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sources of revenue for state governments? how do they spend the money?
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Income, sales, property taxes
spend it on education, transportation, health and human services
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2009 Tax Foundations Annual Survey of US Attitudes on Tax and Wealth showed:
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more people want to keep taxes and services where they are or increase them than want to decrease services and lower taxes
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Example of a merit good
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education
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Property tax
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=flat rate tax
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Study Guide: Final Exam