Deck 22: Local Government in Texas

Question 1

The legal concept that local governments possess only powers granted to them by the state is called

A) home rule.
B) general-law rule.
C) Dillon's rule.
D) charter rule.
E) local rule.

Answer 1

Dillon's rule.

Question 2

All of the following may be established by a home rule charter EXCEPT

A) a general-law city.
B) a municipal governing body.
C) municipal elections.
D) a city tax structure.
E) municipal courts.

Answer 2

a general-law city.

Question 3

Given the political traditions of Texas, it is not surprising that the _________ is the most common form of municipal government in Texas, having a neat hierarchy and a weak executive.

A) mayor-council
B) strong mayor
C) council-manager
D) weak mayor
E) city commission

Answer 3

mayor-council

Question 4

The city commissioner form of government may be said to embody what attitude towards government?

A) hostile
B) conciliatory
C) partisan
D) trusting
E) skeptical

Question 5

In council-manager cities, the mayor is least likely to be influential when he is chosen

A) from among the council members.
B) from among the commissioners.
C) by voters.
D) by the manager.
E) by the city clerk.

Question 6

Most power in the council-manager form of government resides with the

A) manager.
B) mayor.
C) city auditor.
D) city clerk.
E) city council.

Question 7

Most city council members in Texas are elected in _______ elections.

A) runoff
B) at-large
C) single-member
D) district
E) precinct

Question 8

"White flight" has led to _________in many Texas cities.

A) older average ages
B) smaller minority populations
C) larger minority populations
D) more affluence
E) less demand for public services

Question 9

The decline in property values has been especially problematic for Texas cities because of its impact on their use of

A) bonds.
B) taxes.
C) transportation.
D) public housing.
E) streets.

Question 10

The role of the county commissioners court is

A) judicial.
B) peace-keeping.
C) administrative.
D) legislative.
E) rule-making.

Question 11

Which of the following was implemented to end corruption and abuse in the process of tax assessment?

A) Tax collector-assessors
B) Appraisal districts
C) County clerks
D) District clerks
E) Single-member districts

Question 12

Most of the special districts in Texas that don't deal with schools, deal with

A) property rights.
B) transportation.
C) mineral extraction.
D) water.
E) oil.

Question 13

Texas school districts range from almost 200,000 students to as few as

A) 2000.
B) 116.
C) 16.
D) 6.
E) 2.

Question 14

It can be said that it is the job of the school board to hire a superintendent and then allow that officer to

A) set policy.
B) run the schools.
C) manage the board.
D) report to the state.
E) hire teachers.

Question 15

Part of the impetus for the creation of councils of government in Texas came from

A) county laws.
B) municipal ordinances.
C) federal regulations.
D) state laws.
E) special district regulations.

Question 16

Texas councils of government provide ______ for their members.

A) revenue
B) a tax base
C) support
D) governmental models
E) law codes

Question 17

The ability of cities to expand their boundaries derives from their _____ powers.

A) privatization
B) taxation
C) public improvement
D) annexation
E) mayoral

Question 18

The strength or weakness of a mayor is determined largely by the incumbent's experience and personality.

Question 19

One problem with the city commission form of city government is its tendency to hinder leadership.

Question 20

Partisan elections are the rule in Texas cities.

Question 21

Municipalities can fund projects by the use of revenue bonds, which are to be paid back by revenues derived from the facility to be built.

Question 22

The federal government and the Texas state government are not allowed to require cities to undertake projects without also providing them with funding.

Question 23

Sheriffs and constables typically fulfill law-enforcement and administrative roles in rural counties.

Question 24

Councils of government are similar to special districts in having similar powers.

Question 25

Public improvement districts are autonomous from city and state government in Texas.

Question 26

General-law cities in Texas have fewer than ______ residents.

A) 5,000
B) 10,000
C) 15,000
D) 20,000
E) 25,000

Question 27

The operation of local governments in Texas is dictated by the legislature and the

A) governor.
B) judiciary.
C) bureaucracy.
D) body of statutory law.
E) state constitution.

Question 28

The type of city government most based on the separation-of-powers principle is the

A) city commission government.
B) mayor-council government.
C) council-manager government.
D) general-law government.
E) home rule government.

Question 29

Home rule gives cities

A) independence.
B) autonomy.
C) hegemony.
D) rights.
E) a constitution.

Question 30

Approximately how many incorporated municipalities are there in Texas?

A) 10
B) 400
C) 800
D) 1,200
E) 1,600

Question 31

General-law cities have fewer than 5,000 citizens and lack the power of

A) incorporating.
B) voting.
C) becoming home-rule cities.
D) home rule.
E) policing themselves.

Question 32

The mayor-council form of municipal government is used in about ______ Texas cities.

A) 500
B) 600
C) 700
D) 800
E) 900

Question 33

The mayors of most Texas cities most resemble a(n) ______ in their powers.

A) attorney general
B) lieutenant governor
C) justice of the peace
D) governor
E) chief justice

Question 34

The strong mayor form of municipal government in Texas more closely resembles ______ than ________government.

A) Texas, the U.S.
B) the U.S., Texas
C) county, Texas
D) Texas, county
E) council-manager, Texas

Question 35

The strong mayor form of government, though common elsewhere in the U.S., is only found in what major city in Texas?

A) Houston
B) Austin
C) Dallas
D) Fort Worth
E) Galveston

Question 36

The city commission form of municipal government reflects its origins in its

A) strong mayor.
B) weak mayor.
C) strong commissioners.
D) weak commissioners.
E) fragmented executive.

Question 37

In the city commission form of government, the commissioners hold ________ function(s).

A) legislative
B) executive
C) legislative and judicial
D) judicial and executive
E) legislative and executive

Question 38

The council-manager model of municipal government largely replaced the

A) strong mayor form.
B) weak mayor form.
C) city commission form.
D) city manager form.
E) single commissioner form.

Question 39

The Mayor of Houston shares the administration of the city with the city controller and the

A) city manager.
B) commissioners.
C) city council.
D) police force.
E) city secretary.

Question 40

Unlike the Texas state and federal governments, the _________ form of government is largely nonpartisan.

A) strong mayor
B) weak mayor
C) city commission
D) council-manager
E) mayor-council

Question 41

One argument in favor of the commission form of government is because it is

A) fragmented.
B) efficient.
C) unitary.
D) monolithic.
E) complex.

Question 42

Which form of city government appears to be most hierarchical?

A) council-manager
B) weak mayor
C) strong mayor
D) city commissioner
E) manager

Question 43

Who has the most executive authority in the Austin example of the council-manager form of city government?

A) The voters
B) The city clerk
C) The mayor
D) City manager
E) The city council

Question 44

In the council-manager form of city government, the city council can be said to have the monopoly on

A) executive power.
B) the day-to-day running of the city.
C) lawmaking.
D) police powers.
E) creating the budget.

Question 45

In a mayor-council form of government, the mayor and city council

A) have authority over the budgeting and appointing functions respectively.
B) have authority over the executive and legislative functions respectively.
C) are the only officials elected by voters.
D) share substantial executive authority.
E) have most administrative authority.

Question 46

One of the chief differences between city commission and council-manager cities is that in the latter executive and legislative functions are

A) held by the mayor.
B) held by the city council.
C) held by the city manager.
D) merged.
E) distinct.

Question 47

Municipal elections in Texas are overwhelmingly

A) ceremonial.
B) apolitical.
C) nonpartisan.
D) partisan.
E) strongly partisan.

Question 48

One consequence of nonpartisan elections is that

A) lower socioeconomic groups have greater influence.
B) more women vote.
C) voters are forced to find different sources of information about candidates.
D) policy becomes less important.
E) voters have more cues for who to vote for.

Question 49

The 2009 mayoral race in Houston shows the importance of ______ in nonpartisan elections.

A) gender
B) race
C) policy stance
D) money
E) ideology

Question 50

City governments receive no state funds and rely on ________for funding.

A) regressive taxes
B) progressive taxes
C) income taxes
D) the federal government
E) their county

Question 51

Cities often finance projects through the use of voter-approved

A) sales of property.
B) bonds.
C) sales tax increases.
D) income tax increases.
E) property tax increases.

Question 52

General obligation bonds are

A) repaid with tax revenue.
B) payable from revenues derived from the project.
C) do not need voter approval.
D) help balance cities' operating budgets.
E) rarely used in Texas.

Question 53

If local governments do not comply with mandates they

A) may be taken over by the state.
B) are likely to reduce other services.
C) cannot be penalized.
D) are subject to litigation.
E) will be given funds for other services.

Question 54

The case of Avery v. Midland County dealt with the principle of

A) separation of powers.
B) implied powers.
C) fiscal responsibility.
D) taxation.
E) one man, one vote.

Question 55

Judicial activities in counties are carried out primarily by the

A) commissioners court.
B) county judge.
C) county council.
D) county courts-at-law.
E) municipalities in the county.

Question 56

The office of tax assessor-collector in Texas was historically tainted by frequent unethical

A) tax assessment.
B) tax collection.
C) errors in property valuation.
D) overvaluation of properties.
E) undervaluation of properties.

Question 57

In smaller counties, the primary law enforcement duties are carried out by the

A) constable.
B) sheriff.
C) district clerk.
D) district attorney.
E) commissioners court.

Question 58

The county official responsible for receiving and disbursing county funds is the

A) county tax assessor.
B) county auditor.
C) county sheriff.
D) county treasurer.
E) county constable.

Question 59

The practice in which successful candidates for public office rewarded their supporters by giving them government positions was called

A) a political machine.
B) ward politics.
C) the spoils system.
D) cronyism.
E) the civil service system.

Question 60

Texas has roughly ______ special districts.

A) 30
B) 330
C) 1,300
D) 2,300
E) 3,300

Question 61

Independent school districts in Texas originated in

A) 1812.
B) 1861.
C) 1876.
D) 1912.
E) 1965.

Question 62

Shortly after they were created, independent school districts were given __________from local governments.

A) autonomy
B) funds
C) support
D) advice
E) responsibilities

Question 63

The organization and structure of school boards closely resembles that of _____forms of government.

A) mayor-council
B) council-manager
C) city commission
D) county
E) state

Question 64

School board elections

A) are held at the same time as the general election in November.
B) usually have an abundance of candidates.
C) are partisan.
D) have a low turnout rate.
E) are all based on single-member districts.

Question 65

The main purpose of a council of government in Texas is to increase

A) a regional tax base.
B) regional cooperation.
C) state power.
D) a municipalities jurisdiction.
E) visibility.

Question 66

Members of councils of government in Texas include all of the following EXCEPT

A) municipalities.
B) special districts.
C) corporations.
D) counties.
E) school districts.

Question 67

The primary source of funding for councils of government in Texas is

A) their tax base.
B) state funds.
C) dues.
D) income tax.
E) donations.

Question 68

If Texas school boards are like council-manager municipal governments, the manager working for a school board is the

A) mayor.
B) commissioner.
C) electorate.
D) principal.
E) superintendent.

Question 69

The process of governments having some public services provided by private companies is called

A) outsourcing.
B) privatization.
C) annexation.
D) efficiency planning.
E) corporatism.

Question 70

Privatization allows one way around an intractable problem faced by Texas cities:

A) contraction.
B) expansion.
C) "graying".
D) indebtedness.
E) loss of tax revenue.

Question 71

Texas cities can annex an area up to ____ of their territory in a given year.

A) 10%
B) 20%
C) 30%
D) 40%
E) 50%

Question 72

The practice of Texas cities effectively claiming areas that they don't intend to develop soon is called

A) extraterritorial jurisdiction.
B) cooption.
C) spoke annexation.
D) modernization.
E) privatization.

Question 73

Tax abatements are used to

A) reward political contributors.
B) encourage a company to locate or expand in a community.
C) reduce property taxes for the elderly.
D) raise revenue for development projects.
E) increase revenue for school districts.

Question 74

Metro governments

A) allow small governments to contract with larger governments for services.
B) tend to result in the duplication of services.
C) have consolidated San Antonio city and Bexar County governments.
D) have failed to pass the legislature in Texas.
E) are unconstitutional in Texas.

Question 75

Public improvement districts are often operated and managed by

A) cities.
B) counties.
C) the state.
D) private management companies
E) metro governments.

Question 76

Dillon's Rule says that local governments possess all the powers not specifically granted to the state government.

Question 77

Like the Texas governor, most Texas mayors wield extensive executive powers.

Question 78

Most Texas cities work under general law and have a mayor-council form of government.

Question 79

The commissioner system is the most common form of Texas municipal government.

Question 80

The council-manager form of government, as implemented in Austin, is highly stratified.