POLS 207 Exam 2 (180+ Questions) – Federalism, State Finance, Taxation, Voting Rights, Government History – Texas A&M University

This in-depth exam guide contains over 180 graded and verified questions and answers for POLS 207 – Texas Government, based on the 2025/2026 academic year at Texas A&M University. It serves as a comprehensive review of advanced concepts in U.S. and Texas politics, government development, and public finance. Crafted in a clear and structured Q&A format, this document helps students master complex theoretical and factual topics that frequently appear on midterm and final assessments. The material thoroughly covers: Historical periods of government in the U.S. and Texas (No Government, Municipal, State-Intercity, Federal periods) The development of federalism, including New Federalism and intergovernmental dynamics The evolution and impact of the Texas Constitution, including its structure, amendments, and comparisons to the U.S. Constitution Extensive coverage of state and local public finance, including revenue streams, expenditures, tax structures, and budget processes Key financial concepts such as tax incidence, regressive vs. progressive taxation, pay-as-you-go vs. pay-as-you-use, ESF, capital goods, and budget balancing tactics Detailed explanations of voter participation, registration barriers, and voting rights legislation, including the Voting Rights Act, Shelby County v. Holder, and other landmark rulings Political participation trends, voter turnout metrics (VEP, VAP, RVP), and factors affecting participation such as socioeconomic status, election fatigue, and party dominance Also included: Economic comparisons of Texas to other states and countries (e.g., GDP equal to Brazil) Analysis of tax burden distribution, sales vs. property tax dynamics, and revenue predictability The influence of initiatives and referendums, direct democracy, and nonpartisan elections in state governance Empirical data use, media claims, and research-based case studies integrated into the questions (e.g., Politifact, Texas Tribune articles) This document is ideal for: Students in Political Science, Public Administration, Economics, Government, and Urban Studies Learners enrolled in POLS 207 at Texas A&M University or similar courses in state and local government Anyone preparing for exams or seeking a robust understanding of intergovernmental relations, fiscal policy, democratic participation, and constitutional governance Whether you're reviewing for exams, teaching, or self-studying, this high-yield exam document offers unmatched clarity, breadth, and academic reliability. Keywords: POLS 207, Texas government, federalism, New Federalism, Dillon’s Rule, tax revenue, taxation, state constitution, Voting Rights Act, Shelby County v. Holder, voter turnout, tax burden, revenue sources, ESF, capital goods, pay-as-you-go, regressive tax, progressive tax, government periods, public finance, constitutional amendments, education spending, Medicaid, referendum, initiative, public goods, taxation model, campaign finance