What is the Poll Tax? How did the public react to this reform?
What will be an ideal response?
In 1987, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher proposed replacing the system of
local property taxes with a fixed charge per person—the so-called Poll Tax. This change
would have greatly reduced taxes for people who owned expensive houses, but would
have increased taxes on people who owned no property.
The Poll Tax, however, was deeply unpopular with the public. In Scotland, Anti-Poll Tax
Unions quickly developed, calling for mass nonpayment. This movement spread into
England and Wales, and in 1990, some 200,000 citizens demonstrated in central London
in the Poll Tax Riots. Facing this public and parliamentary pressure, the Conservative
party abandoned the Poll Tax by 1993, moving to a more limited local tax.
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The free exercise clause, protecting freedom of religious practice, is found in the
A. Fifth Amendment. B. First Amendment. C. establishment clause. D. Second Amendment. E. religious amendment.
County commissioners in Texas perform both legislative and executive functions
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
Who had to pay poll taxes?
a. winning candidates – b. losing candidates c. voters d. nonvoters
Which federal office is known as the "tenth justice" because of the Supreme Court's high receptivity to its petitions?
A. president of the United States B. Secretary of Justice C. solicitor general D. Speaker of the House E. attorney general