Pols 207 EXAMS QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+

Pols 207 EXAMS QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+ Define GDP - Answer- The total value of all the goods and services produced in the United States in a year; a measure of the size of the U.S. Economy What do the politics of taxation center on? - Answer- Who actually bears the greatest tax burden Define progressive tax - Answer- Taxes that require high income groups to pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes than low income groups Define regressive tax - Answer- Taxes that take a larger share of the income of low income groups than of high income groups What is the largest source of revenue for local governments? - Answer- Property taxes Why do state and local governments give tax exemptions? - Answer- Generally to bring new businesses and industry into the state or town Which state tax is most regressive? - Answer- Sales tax What are excise taxes usually placed on? - Answer- Cigarettes and alcohol What is the most important tax for states? - Answer- General sales tax What did the 16th Amendment do? - Answer- Created the federal income tax, a progressive tax based on ability to pay What is the argument against higher state corporate taxes? - Answer- Possibility that such taxes will cause corporations to locate in another state What is meant by tax burden? - Answer- Taxes as a percent of a person's income; the larger the proportion of the income paid in taxes, the larger the tax burden How do Americans feel about taxes? - Answer- Americans believe their taxes to be too high Tax limitations affect which level of government the most? - Answer- Local Define a debt ceiling - Answer- Limits the amount of money a government can borrow to a proportion of the tax base What do states have to do to borrow money? - Answer- They may sell bonds to finance essential and nonessential functions as well as private activities Define general obligation bonds - Answer- Bonds issued by governments that pledge their full faith and credit, including tax revenues too, to repayment Define revenue bonds - Answer- Bonds issued by governments for specific projects and backed only by whatever revenues the projects generate What is the relationship between educational spending and a state's economy? - Answer- There is limited evidence that educational spending and a state's economy are related, however over the long run they are How is education measured in the states? - Answer- Educational attainment, dropout rates and test scores Define magnet school - Answer- Schools emphasizing instruction in particular areas in an effort to improve quality and attract students Define charter school - Answer- Schools operated with public funds by private community groups under a charter from pubic school districts or other granting agency. Intended to improve test scores by employing innovative teaching strategies When is public aid to religious institutions constitutional? - Answer- When the program in question is deemed neutral with respect to religion and provides assistance directly to citizens who direct this aid to religious schools as a result of their own choice What is the Lemon test? - Answer- Three part test set by the Supreme Court case of Lemon v. Kurtzman that is used to determine whether a particular state law constitutes "establishment" of religion and thus violates the First Amendment. To be constitutional, a law affecting religious activity must have a secular purpose, must neither advance nor inhibit religion and must not foster "an excessive government entanglement with religion." How has No Child Left Behind been criticized? - Answer- Emphasis on narrow test-taking education rather than comprehensive preparation for life. How do states enforce compliance of local governments when it comes to education? - Answer- Bureaucratic oversight, involving state boards of education, state commissioners or superintendents of education, and state departments of education and financial control through state allocation of funds to local school districts State control over education is invested in what kind of governmental body? - Answer- State boards of education