Budget Terms
TRUE or FALSE: When money available for a program is kept the same from one year to the next, it is called level funding.
TRUE
Scenario: you're at the State House speaking with your legislator about an important bill you care about. They ask you a question about the bill, but you don't know the answer. What do you do?
A. Lie and make up an answer
B. Be embarrassed and apologize
C. Follow up with them after the meeting with the information they requested
C. Follow up with them after the meeting with the information they requested
How many state senators do we have in MA?
A. 10
B. 40
C. 60
D. 70
B. 40
After a bill passes both the House and the Senate, who has the opportunity to veto it?
A. Your local mayor
B. Tom Brady
C. The Governor
C. The Governor
What is the name of the group that resolves differences between the House and Senate budgets?
A. Conference committee
B. Money mediators
C. Revenue referees
A. Conference committee
The MA budget period that runs from July 1 through June 30 is called the ______ year.
Fiscal year.
Which of the following is NOT a common advocacy tactic?
A. Meeting your legislator in-district or at the State House
B. Calling or emailing your legislator
C. Hosting a rally
D. Bringing your legislator flowers
D. Bringing your legislator flowers
How many state reps do we have in MA?
A. 20
B. 100
C. 160
D. 200
C. 160
At the beginning of a legislative session, who files a bill?
A. Legislators
B. Constituents (us)
C. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris
A. Legislators
The House and Senate budget debates are available for public viewing. Where can the public go to watch these debates occur?
A. Inside the State House on the debate floor
B. From the swan boats at Boston Public Gardens
C. Online at malegislature.gov
C. Online at malegislature.gov
TRUE or FALSE: An amendment is a proposed change to the budget, introduced by a constituent.
FALSE: A proposed change to the budget is called an amendment... but it is introduced by a legislator, not a constituent!
When should advocates engage their legislators?
All the time!
How long is a legislator’s term?
A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 4 years
D. 5 years
B. 2 years
During joint committee, constituents have an opportunity to provide testimony on a bill. What is one way they can NOT provide testimony?
A. In-person at a hearing
B. Giving a speech at Boston Common
C. In writing online
B. Giving a speech at Boston Common
In the budget cycle, who releases the first version of the budget?
A. The House of Representatives
B. The Governor
C. The Senate
D. David Ortiz
B. The Governor
A unit of the budget that outlines how money may be spent on a given program, the amount, and its source, is called what?
A. Line item
B. Budget transaction
C. Savings account
A. Line item
What are your three secret ingredients to effective advocacy?
1. Highlight solutions over problems
2. Make a clear ask
3. Utilize stories + data
How often do legislators meet?
A. Year-round in a 2 yr session
B. 6 months in a 2 yr session
C. Year-round in a 1 yr session
D. 2 months in a 3 yr session
A. Year-round in a 2 yr session
TRUE or FALSE: There is a limit to how many co-sponsors can sign on to a bill.
FALSE: The more co-sponsors, the better! There is no limit to how many legislators can sign on to a bill.
TRUE or FALSE: At the end of the budget cycle, the Governor has 20 days to sign, veto, or make line-item vetoes.
FALSE: The Governor has 10 days to sign, veto, or make line-item vetoes.
When the money the state brings in is lower than what was anticipated in the prior year, it is called _______.
A. We got food at home
B. Revenue shortfall
C. Budget deficit
B. Revenue shortfall
Fill in the blanks. What are the "Five Rights" to effective advocacy?
Get the right ________
To the right ________
At the right ________
Using the right ________
From the right ________
Get the right INFORMATION
To the right PERSON/PEOPLE
At the right TIME(S)
Using the right FORMAT/METHOD
From the right MESSENGER(S)
Is your Congressperson the same as your legislator? Yes or No
No. A Congressperson is elected to a federal office and makes policy decisions that impact the entire country. Whereas, the State Legislator works on state level policies.
If a bill is vetoed at the end of a legislative session, what fraction of legislators have to override the veto so the bill can pass?
A. 2/3
B. 1/2
C. 2/5
A. 2/3
Which of the following is the CORRECT order of the MA budget cycle?
A. Governor's budget, House budget, Senate budget, Conference Committee, final budget.
B. Senate budget, House budget, Conference Committee, Governor's budget, final budget.
A. Governor's budget, House budget, Senate budget, Conference Committee, final budget.