Judiciary
What must a judicial system be to achieve justice?
1. Independent
2. Open
3. Impartial
What did New Jersey largely spend money on in 1900?
Charities and prisons
What is the difference between types and forms of government? How many of each type are there?
Type: What a municipality calls itself (5)
Form: How a municipality organizes itself (12)
What is pay-as-you-go?
Similar to paying in cash; paying without accumulating debt
What decade saw the biggest job growth in New Jersey? Why?
The 1960s.
Sustained growth in manufacturing and suburbanization.
How many members are on the New Jersey Supreme Court?
7 Members
(1 Chief Justice, 6 Associate Justices)
What is New Jersey's fiscal year?
July 1 - June 30
Where are the three principal places property taxes go to? What are the percentages?
1. School Levy (53%)
2. Municipal Levy (29%)
3. County Levy (18%)
What is the full name of the special fund designed to pay for NJ’s transportation infrastructure?
Transportation Trust Fund (TTF)
What decade saw the smallest job growth in New Jersey? Why?
2000s.
The Great Recession; Wall Street and financial sector collapse; Housing market collapse (massive unpaid mortgages).
How does someone become a judge?
1. Nominated by the governor
2. Confirmed by the Senate (7 year tenure)
3. Re-nominated by the governor
4. Re-confirmed by the Senate (tenure until 70)
What percentage of New Jersey's budget it used for state operations?
Approximately 25% ($13.2B of Murphy's proposed $53.1B budget)
What are the three key developments that led the suburbs to come of age in New Jersey?
1. Housing shortage for returning WWII vets creates housing boom
2. Immigration & migration creates housing need (and racism)
3. State and interstate highway system
What is the ARC Tunnel? What is its current status?
Access to the Region's Core; a tunnel that was supposed to address and replace 100+ year old tubes beneath Hudson River
Canceled in October 2010 by Governor Christie
What are Edge Cities?
The suburbs of the suburbs.
Instead of commuting into cities, people commuted to these giant office parks with massive growth and construction.
(Imagine a chart of concentric circles; edge cities are one of the "outside" circles).
What is the structure (the major divisions) of the New Jersey Superior Court?
1. Criminal (serious crime; jury of 12)
2. Civil (claims injury; jury of 6)
3. Family (children/spouses; 1 judge)
4. Tax (tax related matters; 12 judges for all NJ)
What are the Big 5 Dedicated Funds, and what are they dedicated to?
1. Income Tax (dedicated to property tax relief)
2. Half Percent of the 6.625% Sales Tax (dedicated to property tax relief)
3. Tax on Casino Revenues (dedicated to programs for the elderly & handicapped)
4. Lottery Revenues (dedicated to education and state institutions)
5. Gasoline Tax (dedicated to transportation projects)
When was the Faulkner Act passed?
How did the Faulkner Act allows towns to pick and choose from a variety of options?
Provide examples of those options.
1950
Allows towns to take something from here and there like a buffet when forming its government.
Number of council members, electing council at large/by ward/combination, (non)staggered election terms, (in)direct election of mayor, (non)partisan elections
Which special interest group did the most to win bi-partisan votes for TTF funding in 2016, and then did the most to support those who had the courage to stand with them?
Construction Unions (CIVIE)
What are the 4 reasons companies still do business in New Jersey? Explain them.
1. Smart, skilled, and diverse workforce
2. Location (the keg; 33% US pop. in 1 day drive)
3. Quality of life (public schools, colleges, infrastructure, hospitals, recreation)
4. Business Culture of Innovation (esp. life sciences)
When was the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination created?
What does this law cover?
In what areas does it apply (name 3)?
1945
Protects individuals against discrimination in employment, housing, certain business transactions, and public accommodations.
Age, ancestry, color, creed, disability, genetic information, familial status, marital status, nationality, etc.
What are the 6 parts of the budget process, and when do they occur?
1. Putting the Budget Together (August)
Governor's office prepares the numbers
2. Fishbowl Sessions (December)
Each department/division justifies its requests
3. Governor's Annual Budget Address (February)
Governor gives major address w/ finalized budget
4. Legislative Hearings (March - April)
The Public, OLS, The Departments
5. Leg. Leaders Negotiate w/ Governor (May - June)
The Big 3
6. Bill Passes & Governor Decides what to Do (June)
Must be balances/single bill
Can line veto or outright veto
The development of the suburbs created 3 big conflicts in New Jersey. What are they?
1. Education ("thorough & efficient")
2. Economy (jobs moving to the suburbs)
3. Diversity (segregated suburbs; Mt. Laurel cases)
What is the history of the TTF?
- 1984; TTF created, gas tax, pay-as-you-go
- 1989 - 2009; Accumulates debt
- 2010: Christie funds TTF with ARC Tunnel money
- 2015: Legislature passes plan to continue funding TTF, Christie vetoes it
- July 2016: TTF shuts down
- Aug. 2016: Big 3 negotiate
- Sept. 2016: Hoboken train accident, 1 dead
- Oct. 2016: New compromise (old compromise + sales tax decrease) passes
What are the 5 major events in modern New Jersey economic history? (What, when, why)
1. Creation of the Port Authority of NY & NJ (1921)
Major development engine for the region
2. Creation of new highways (1950s)
Created the suburbs; moved people/commerce
3. Creation of the Meadowlands (1976)
Racetrack, arena, stadium, entrtnment complex
4. Creation of State Income Tax (1976)
Brought in billions; shift of income and wealth
5. Creation of Atlantic City Casinos (1976)
At its height, leading industry in Southern NJ (up to 50,000 direct jobs and 15,000 indirect jobs generated)