Untitled Deck

Question 1

Veto authority, appointment powers, budget control, executive orders, call special sessions.

Answer 1

What are the formal powers of the governor?

Question 2

Public influence, party leadership, media access, relationships with lawmakers.

Answer 2

What are the informal powers of the governor?

Question 3

Directives issued by governors to manage the operations of the state government.

Answer 3

What are executive orders?

Question 4

They allow governors to implement policy without legislative approval.

Answer 4

Why are executive orders these important?

Question 5

It enables governors to shape policy and administration through appointments.

Answer 5

Why is gubernatorial appointment power important?

Question 6

It means appealing directly to voters to gain support for policies.

Answer 6

What is going public?

Question 7

They use their visibility to influence public opinion and legislative agendas.

Answer 7

How do governors use the bully pulpit?

Question 8

A governor’s power and influence based on popularity, relationships, and electoral success.

Answer 8

What is political capital?

Question 9

Full veto: rejects entire bill; Line-item veto: rejects budget items; Pocket veto: indirect veto by inaction.

Answer 9

Differentiate among the types of vetoes.

Question 10

Usually midterm, partisan, with incumbency advantages and higher visibility.

Answer 10

What are the characteristics of gubernatorial elections?

Question 11

Governors more focused on ceremonial duties than actual governance.

Answer 11

What are ‘good-time Charlies’?

Question 12

Historically underrepresented but seeing gradual increase; still face challenges.

Answer 12

How have women and minorities fared when it comes to running for Governor?

Question 13

Chief Executive (manages state), Legislative Leader (proposes/vetoes laws), Ceremonial Leader (represents state).

Answer 13

What are the 3 primary jobs of the governor? Explain each.

Question 14

They are more professionalized, better paid, and have more formal powers.

Answer 14

How are governors today different from in the past?

Question 15

Through budget reviews, audits, hearings, and confirmation of appointments.

Answer 15

How does the legislature oversee the executive branch?

Question 16

More visible than legislative, less than presidential; often midterm.

Answer 16

How do gubernatorial elections compare to other elections?

Question 17

State courts using state constitutions to provide more rights than federal constitution.

Answer 17

What is New Judicial Federalism?

Question 18

Criminal: offenses against the state; Civil: disputes between individuals.

Answer 18

Differentiate criminal versus civil law.

Question 19

Trial courts -> Intermediate appellate courts -> State supreme court.

Answer 19

Explain the generic structure of state courts.

Question 20

Hear original cases, determine facts, apply law, involve juries and judges.

Answer 20

What do trial courts do? What are their functions? Explain their procedures.

Question 21

Review lower court decisions based on procedural or legal errors.

Answer 21

Explain the purpose of intermediate appellate courts. What are appeals based on?

Question 22

Interpret laws, set precedents, rule on constitutionality of policies.

Answer 22

How are the courts involved in policymaking?

Question 23

Governors, legislatures, budget offices, interest groups.

Answer 23

What political actors and institutions have budgetary influence/authority?

Question 24

Elections, appointments, merit selection; each affects independence/accountability.

Answer 24

What are the different methods of judicial selection?

Question 25

Yes, they affect court independence, public trust, and decision-making.

Answer 25

Do different types of judicial selection matter?

Question 26

Term limits, campaign finance rules, merit-based appointments.

Answer 26

What judicial reforms have we seen in recent years?

Question 27

Final arbiter of state law; hears cases via appeals or constitutional issues.

Answer 27

What does the state Supreme Court do? How do cases make it to the supreme court?

Question 28

Through plea bargains, settlements, mediation, or dismissal.

Answer 28

How can court cases be decided without going to trial?

Question 29

Courts handling specific issues like traffic, family, or small claims.

Answer 29

What are courts of limited jurisdiction?

Question 30

At the local trial court level.

Answer 30

At what level do most court cases take place?

Question 31

General: broad authority; Limited: specific types like traffic or probate.

Answer 31

Differentiate courts of general jurisdiction from limited jurisdiction.

Question 32

Trial: hear original cases; Appellate: review decisions; Last resort: state supreme courts.

Answer 32

Differentiate trial courts from appellate courts. What are courts of last resorts?

Question 33

By filing petitions; interest groups file amicus briefs to influence cases.

Answer 33

How do interested parties petition the Supreme Court to hear a case?

Question 34

Through lobbying, public campaigns, and filing amicus briefs.

Answer 34

How do interested parties try to influence courts?

Question 35

State courts handle diverse, local issues; federal courts handle constitutional/federal issues.

Answer 35

How do state courts differ from federal courts?

Question 36

Indictment: formal charge; Grand jury determines probable cause.

Answer 36

What is an indictment? What does a grand jury do?

Question 37

Repeat offending; addressed via drug courts, rehabilitation programs.

Answer 37

What is recidivism? How can some courts address this issue?

Question 38

Frontline workers who interpret and implement policy in daily interactions.

Answer 38

What are street-level bureaucrats? How do they set policy?

Question 39

Political organizations that controlled cities via patronage and loyalty.

Answer 39

39. What are urban party machines? How did they operate?

Question 40

Balancing effective service delivery with transparency and integrity.

Answer 40

Explain the relationship among efficiency, accountability, and corruption.

Question 41

Merit-based hiring to reduce political favoritism and ensure competence.

Answer 41

Explain the civil service system. Why is it necessary?

Question 42

Funds collected for specific purposes like gas tax for roads.

Answer 42

What are earmarked fees?

Question 43

Home Rule: local autonomy; Dillon's Rule: state controls unless power is granted.

Answer 43

Explain Home Rule. What is Dillon's Rule?

Question 44

Cities, counties, towns, school districts, special districts. Cities/counties are general purpose.

Answer 44

What are the five types of local governments?

Question 45

Provide specific services like schools, water, transportation.

Answer 45

What do special districts do? Give examples.

Question 46

Mayor-council, council-manager, commission systems for cities and counties.

Answer 46

What are the main governmental structures for municipalities? Counties?

Question 47

It has increased significantly over the past century.

Answer 47

How has the percentage of people living in urban areas changed over time?

Question 48

Relied on loyalty, services, and control of jobs to dominate politics.

Answer 48

Explain urban machines, how they functioned, and how they maintained power.

Question 49

Civil service, nonpartisan ballots, term limits. Reduced machine power.

Answer 49

What reforms have addressed problems in government?

Question 50

Less corruption but sometimes reduced representation or voter engagement.

Answer 50

What are some consequences of municipal reform?

Question 51

Elite theory, pluralism, regime theory explain who holds power locally.

Answer 51

Discuss different theories of community power.

Question 51

Case studies, network analysis, and empirical research on influence.

Answer 51

What studies have been conducted to inform us about community power?

Question 52

Revenue: money collected; Expenditures: money spent.

Answer 52

Differentiate revenue from expenditures.

Question 53

Education, healthcare, public safety, transportation.

Answer 53

What policy areas does money usually go to?

Question 54

Taxes, fees, federal aid, fines, bonds.

Answer 54

What are the different sources of revenue for state and local governments?

Question 55

Share of income paid in taxes.

Answer 55

What is the tax burden?

Question 56

Progressive: higher earners pay more; Regressive: lower earners pay proportionally more.

Answer 56

Differentiate regressive from progressive taxes.

Question 57

Equity, efficiency, simplicity, yield, accountability.

Answer 57

What criteria do we use to evaluate taxes?

Question 57

Civil service systems, merit-based hiring, protections from political influence.

Answer 57

How do we limit politics in public sector hiring/firing?

Question 58

Assessed value and tax rate.

Answer 58

What are the two things we need to determine property taxes?

Question 58

Sales: regressive, broad-based; Income: progressive.

Answer 58

Explain sales taxes and income taxes.

Question 58

Assessment caps and appeals processes.

Answer 58

What are protections against unfair property taxes?

Question 58

Excise taxes, sin taxes, license fees.

Answer 58

What other types of taxes do states and localities use?

Question 58

Toll roads, lotteries, public utilities, state-run liquor stores.

Answer 58

Give examples of entrepreneurial sources of revenue.

Question 58

Federal grants, block grants, matching funds.

Answer 58

Give examples of intergovernmental aid.

Question 58

General obligation and revenue bonds.

Answer 58

Give examples of borrowing as a source of revenue.

Question 58

Administrative agencies that implement laws and services.

Answer 58

What is the bureaucracy? What do they do?

Question 58

They reduce patronage and increase fairness and competence.

Answer 58

How do these reforms relate to political machines?