Public Policy Questions

In terms of per capita spending on education, Texasa. ranks near the bottom in the country. b. ranks in the middle in the country. c. ranks near the top in the country.d. has always spent a consistent amount per student.

The term _____________ refers to the expressed goals of a government institution, supported by either punishments or rewards.a. legislative enactmentb. policy reviewc. rational policy-makingd. public policy

_________________ occurs when public policies are reviewed to determine if they are effectively meeting their goals.a. Evaluation b. Assessment c. Implementationd. Program review

________ refers to the idea that policy will be developed that will maximize the output of government with a minimum commitment of resources.a. Systemic agenda b. Optimality c. Individual rationalityd. Legitimation

Charter schools are funded bya. state monies and sometimes privately raised funds. b. a combination of public funds and tuition payments. c. tuition payments made by parents of students attending the schools.d. a combination of tuition payments and work study agreements.

Which of the following is a challenge facing education policy in Texas?a. high level of public spending per pupilb. low dropout ratesc. high teenage pregnancy rates among Hispanic studentsd. changing demographics of students enrolled in Texas schools

________ refers to the idea that policy-makers have formulated and implemented policy that addresses problems in an optimal or efficient manner.a. Rationality b. Bounded rationality c. Policy accountabilityd. Systemic agenda

In 2018, approximately how many students were enrolled in public schools in Texas?a. 5 millionb. 3 millionc. 8 milliond. 1 million

The debate over public education in Texas goes back to thea. Constitution of 1876.b. first decade of the twenty-first century.c. post-World War II era and the returning military service members.d. break with Mexico.

Which of the following steps in the policy-making cycle occurs first?a. formulation b. problem identification c. evaluationd. agenda setting

Since policy-makers do not have enough time or resources to make a fully rational or optimal decision, they may therefore try to ______________.a. expunge b. rationalize c. satisficed. Table

The Legislative Budget Board is chaired bya. the comptroller of public accounts. b. the governor. c. the lieutenant governor.d. the land commissioner.

Which of the following is a step in the policy-making process?a. agenda setting b. policy evaluation c. agenda formulationd. agenda identification

If there is a budget deficit during the biennium, money can be used from the Economic Stabilization Funda. at the request of the comptroller of public accounts and with the approval of the governor.b. only once every ten years.c. with the approval of three-fifths of the members of both the Texas House and Texas Senate. d. with the approval of the state treasurer and the governor.

The Economic Stabilization Fund is also known as thea. Rainy Day Fund. b. General Revenue Fund. c. Pay-As-You-Go Fund.d. Enterprise Fund.

Which of the following is at the heart of the budget process in Texas?a. the Permanent University Fundb. the Texas Higher Education Coordination Boardc. the Texas comptrollerd. the Texas Education Commission

Which of the following in the policy-making cycle occurs last?a. policy adoption b. policy implementation c. problem identificationd. policy evaluation

One significant component of the budget process that is relatively unique to Texas isa. the constitutional mandate that Texas legislators write a budget every two years.b. the constitutional mandate that Texas legislators allocate at least 50 percent of the budget toward health care.c. a federal budget cycle that complicates the state budgeting process.d. the unpredictability of natural disaster funding.

The purpose of the Biennial Revenue Estimate is to providea. a detailed forecast of total revenues that the state is expected to take in over the next biennium.b. a detailed forecast of expenditures the state expects to be obligated for in the two-year budget cycle.c. a detailed forecast of the estimated federal funds the state can expect to receive during the two-year budget cycle.d. the governor a detailed estimate of the likelihood of a balanced budget during the two-year budget cycle.

The Permanent School Fund is managed primarily by what entity?a. the governorb. the Texas Higher Coordinating Boardc. the State Board of Educationd. a Blue Ribbon Committee on Education