Chapter 13 Vocab
What is a tax base?
Items that are subject to being taxed.
What is meant by regulatory policy, and how is it used in Texas?
How the state governments regulate business activities (ensure they're fair).
Who is assuming the financial burden of elementary and second education?
It used to be state finances, but now it is shifting to local governments.
A customer in Texas buys a pair of shoes for $50. At checkout, the receipt shows an additional $4.13 added by the government based on the price of the item. This tax makes up the largest single-source of revenue for the TX government. What tax has been added here?
Comsumer/ Sales tax.
What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
Medicare - 65+, Medicaid, any age with low incomes.
a type of tax that takes a higher percentage of income from higher income persons.
Progressive taxes
Describe some of the parts of the policy-making process.
Answers vary
Who in Texas is taxed (specifically)?
Many minorities, Hispanic Americans due to Texas' regressive tax structure.
Maria goes to the DMV and renews her drivers' license, which cost $20 exactly. Afterwards, she goes to the gas station and buys a lottery ticket for $2 exactly. How is the state of Texas making money off of her if she isn't being taxed?
Nontax revenue - 523
Established in Texas Constitution of 1876, state of Texas helps fund UT and Texas A&M.
Permanent University Funds (PUF)
What is a free-rider?
An individual who benefits from a good/service without contributing to the cost.
BE CAREFUL: T/F: No statewide discrimination exists to protect members of the LGBTQ community in Texas.
Explain the argument of equity of taxes in the U.S. and Texas specifically (is it fair)?
Regressive v Progressive taxes, is it unfair that the poorer get taxed more than the rich?
A state collects millions of dollars each year from vehicle registration fees. Instead of requiring the money to only be used for roads or transportation, lawmakers place it in the general state budget where it can be spent on education, healthcare, or any other government program. Would this be dedicated or nondedicated revenue?
Nondedicated
An expansion of medicaid which requires employers to provide health insurance, citizens to have insurance, and insurers to cover pre-existing condition. Also referred to as "Obamacare", signed into law in 2010.
Affordable Care Act.
What is tax shifting?
Passing taxes on to other citizens. Ex: a landlord passes on the property tax to his tenant as part of the rent even though he owns the property.
Why has Texas tried to fight the Affordable Care Act?
Many reasons, correct answers include: A policy created by Democrats, traditionalistic subculture, fear of raising taxes, opposition to government-run healthcare.
What are two types of taxes that are collected at the local level?
Property tax and local sales tax. -Page 520
Two students are arguing over whether national security would be exclusive or nonexclusive, and exhaustive or nonexhaustive. Help them come up with the correct answer.
Nonexhaustive and nonexclusive. The service doesn't run out, and it would not be practical to exclude people from receiving the service.
Overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, holding that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion, leaving decisions about the regulation of abortion to legislatures
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization
What is a dedicated revenue?
Money dedicated to a specific expenditure by constitutional law. Opposite of nondedicated revenue.
How has immigration changed between President Trump's first and second terms?
Initially very aggressive immigration policies, has now dissuaded many immigrants from coming to United States.
What is a pro of income-elastic taxes?
They fluctuate up and down depending on economic conditions.
A customer buys a pack of cigarettes for $8.00. The receipt only lists the price of the pack, but $2.00 of the price actually comes from a government tax built into the product’s price rather than listed separately.
Hint: It's also called a "hidden tax".
An excise tax.