POLS 207 EXAM 1 REVIEW UPDATED QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What are mandates? - ✔✔Federal mandates: orders the state or local governments
to comply with federal laws.
Funded- govt gives $
underfunded- partial $
Unfunded mandates: issues rules/regulation no pay
✔✔What is preemption? - ✔✔The displacement of state law by federal law. Fed govt
purchase of goods/shares by one person/party before opportunity is offered to others
✔✔devolution - ✔✔giving power back to states/local
ex: welfare
✔✔What is usually contained in state constitutions? - ✔✔Bill of rights
Separation of Powers
Weak governors
Legislative powers to make laws
Local governments
Interest group regulation
Taxation and Finance
Debt limitation
✔✔What is constitutionalism? - ✔✔Limited government
, The idea that the powers of government should be limited by a constitution
A government of laws not of people.
✔✔Why are state constitutions so long? - ✔✔More direct control over citizens.
✔✔From where do local governments derive their power? - ✔✔The state
✔✔How do most states amend their constitution? - ✔✔Legislative proposal- most
common
Popular initiative
Constitutional convention
Constitutional revision commissions.
✔✔What do counties do? - ✔✔Govern unincorporated areas.
Property taxes.
Sheriff's office
County commissioner.
Mainly administrative functions for the states.
✔✔What do special districts do? - ✔✔Special districts can cross multiple counties and
have control over one specific area such as mass transit.
✔✔At-large elections - ✔✔Pure at large: all of the electorate votes and candidates who
receive the most votes get one of the available spots.
At large by position: all of the electorate votes but the candidates run for individual
numbered seats.
At large from residency district: candidates run to represent a specific district where they
live but the entire city or county gets to vote on them.
✔✔Single member district elections - ✔✔residents only get to vote for the
representative for the district they live in.
✔✔Combination electoral system - ✔✔some seats are voted on by the entire city/
county while others are by district. Officials voted on At large or single member districts.
✔✔What is the political culture of Texas? - ✔✔A mix of individualistic and traditionalistic.
Individualistic favors less government "bootstraps" mentality, Government is a
marketplace, limited government.
-LOW TAX,LOW SERVICE
✔✔What is the philosophy behind the current Texas Constitution? - ✔✔Limited
government and limited powers for governor. It was in response to the Davis
administration. Distrust of politicians. amended 483 times. 1876
AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔What are mandates? - ✔✔Federal mandates: orders the state or local governments
to comply with federal laws.
Funded- govt gives $
underfunded- partial $
Unfunded mandates: issues rules/regulation no pay
✔✔What is preemption? - ✔✔The displacement of state law by federal law. Fed govt
purchase of goods/shares by one person/party before opportunity is offered to others
✔✔devolution - ✔✔giving power back to states/local
ex: welfare
✔✔What is usually contained in state constitutions? - ✔✔Bill of rights
Separation of Powers
Weak governors
Legislative powers to make laws
Local governments
Interest group regulation
Taxation and Finance
Debt limitation
✔✔What is constitutionalism? - ✔✔Limited government
, The idea that the powers of government should be limited by a constitution
A government of laws not of people.
✔✔Why are state constitutions so long? - ✔✔More direct control over citizens.
✔✔From where do local governments derive their power? - ✔✔The state
✔✔How do most states amend their constitution? - ✔✔Legislative proposal- most
common
Popular initiative
Constitutional convention
Constitutional revision commissions.
✔✔What do counties do? - ✔✔Govern unincorporated areas.
Property taxes.
Sheriff's office
County commissioner.
Mainly administrative functions for the states.
✔✔What do special districts do? - ✔✔Special districts can cross multiple counties and
have control over one specific area such as mass transit.
✔✔At-large elections - ✔✔Pure at large: all of the electorate votes and candidates who
receive the most votes get one of the available spots.
At large by position: all of the electorate votes but the candidates run for individual
numbered seats.
At large from residency district: candidates run to represent a specific district where they
live but the entire city or county gets to vote on them.
✔✔Single member district elections - ✔✔residents only get to vote for the
representative for the district they live in.
✔✔Combination electoral system - ✔✔some seats are voted on by the entire city/
county while others are by district. Officials voted on At large or single member districts.
✔✔What is the political culture of Texas? - ✔✔A mix of individualistic and traditionalistic.
Individualistic favors less government "bootstraps" mentality, Government is a
marketplace, limited government.
-LOW TAX,LOW SERVICE
✔✔What is the philosophy behind the current Texas Constitution? - ✔✔Limited
government and limited powers for governor. It was in response to the Davis
administration. Distrust of politicians. amended 483 times. 1876
