Deck 17: Local Government and Politics in Texas

Question 1

An elected official in Texas who serves on the county legislative body and is responsible for maintaining county roads in her or his precinct is known as a

A)county commissioner.
B)court commissioner.
C)district judge.
D)county prefect.
E)county councilor.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

In what form of city government is the mayor essentially a figurehead and has no more power than any other member of the council?

A)Strong-mayor council
B)Weak-mayor council
C)Council-manager
D)Mayor-manager
E)Municipal commission

Answer 2

B

Question 3

A form of city government no longer in use in Texas,in which elected members served on the governing body and also served as head administrators of city programs,is called

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

Answer 3

B

Question 4

County commissioners in Texas perform both legislative and executive functions.

Question 5

In Texas,cities with populations of 5,000 or less are governed by state law rather than by a locally adopted city charter.Such cities are known as

A)home rule cities.
B)general law cities.
C)councils of government.
D)chartered cities.
E)special district governments.

Question 6

In the council-manager form of city government,who hires and supervises city employees?

A)City council
B)City manager
C)Mayor
D)City commissioner
E)Commissioners court

Question 7

The elected official in Texas who is the chief administrative officer of the county government,serves on the commissioners court,and may also have some judicial functions,is known as the

A)county commissioner.
B)county judge.
C)district judge.
D)county prefect.
E)justice of the peace.

Question 8

A key function of county governments is administering elections.

Question 9

Texas public schools are run by

A)counties.
B)municipalities.
C)municipal utility districts.
D)special districts.
E)wards.

Question 10

"Home rule" status makes it possible for

A)a city to decide its own structure and powers under certain limitations.
B)a city to operate a public school system.
C)two or more cities to consolidate public service provision.
D)the consolidation of special districts.
E)local county government to run the given city.

Question 11

Which of the follow is NOT a primary function of county government in Texas?

A)Maintaining roads
B)Ensuring public safety
C)Ensuring public health
D)Conducting elections
E)Regulating inter-county commerce

Question 12

The right and authority of a local government to govern itself,rather than have the state govern it,is known as

A)free rein.
B)free range.
C)home rule.
D)self rule.
E)self determination.

Question 13

The enlargement of a city's corporate limits by incorporating surrounding territory is known as

A)reapportionment.
B)redistricting.
C)annexation.
D)home rule incorporation.
E)assessment.

Question 14

Which of the following is most clearly a benefit of e-government?

A)E-government saves money.
B)Citizens have greater access to government information.
C)Your neighbors can look up your voting records online.
D)Sunshine laws do not apply to e-government.
E)E-government increases public trust in government.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT one the functions of the county clerk?

A)Keep records for county commissioners court
B)Keep records for county courts
C)Keep records for real estate titles
D)Keep records of marriage licenses
E)Keep records for district courts

Question 16

In a home-rule city,the power to govern is granted to the

A)state.
B)city.
C)county.
D)special district.
E)Board of Governors.

Question 17

Both cities and counties have general ordinance-making authority.

Question 18

In order to address new problems that arise,a county must be granted authority by

A)the governor.
B)the commissioners court.
C)the Texas Supreme Court.
D)the state legislature or a constitutional amendment.
E)the voters of the county.

Question 19

Counties in Texas have broad powers beyond what may be stipulated in the Constitution and in statutes passed by the legislature.

Question 20

Texas public schools were administered by county commissioners before they were administered by school districts.

Question 21

In county government,which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the county commissioners court?

A)Setting the county budget
B)Setting county tax rates
C)Creating general ordinances for the county
D)Redistricting county commissioners' precincts following the report of the decennial U.S. Census
E)Construction and maintenance of roads by the individual commissioners in the respective precincts

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT one of the functions of the county sheriff?

A)Serve of warrants and civil papers
B)Operate the county jail
C)Vote on county ordinances related to law enforcement
D)Hire and supervise deputies
E)Contract with small cities to provide law enforcement in small cities

Question 23

A municipal utility district is prohibited from providing services to those who live outside of a city's limits.

Question 24

Single-member city council districts are generally better than at-large-by-place systems for boosting minority representation on the city council.

Question 25

In the early days of Texas statehood,counties were carved up according to what principle?

A)No more than a day's ride across the county
B)No more than a day's ride to the state capitol
C)No more than a day's ride to get to the county seat, vote, and return home
D)No more than a two-day ride to the county seat
E)No more than a two-day ride across the county

Question 26

Which of the following was NOT demonstrated from Hurricane Ike and its aftermath?

A)The importance of the role of local governments in emergency planning and management
B)The need for increased control over and regulation of private sector industries along the Texas coast
C)Local governments could disagree about how best to spend limited funds to protect the heavily populated and industrialized areas along the coast from future hurricane damage.
D)Local governments are often the first governments people turn to in times of emergency.
E)Local governments likely have the most direct effect on most citizens' lives not only in normal times but in times of emergency as well.

Question 27

The United States Supreme Court held,in Avery v.Midland County (1968),that

A)county commissioner precincts must be drawn to produce equal population districts.
B)the death penalty violated the Eighth Amendment of the U. S. Constitution.
C)the state of Texas must establish a public school system in all counties.
D)the citizens of Texas could sue the state and any of its agencies for redress against specific grievances.
E)public school financing in Texas was unconstitutional.

Question 28

In 19th century rural Texas,which of these was the predominant point of contact with the government for most people?

A)municipalities
B)counties
C)precincts
D)wards
E)town unions

Question 29

You were married in McLennan County,Texas and would like a copy of your marriage certificate.Which McLennan County official should you contact to obtain a replacement?

A)County sheriff
B)County clerk
C)Justice of the peace
D)County tax assessor-collector
E)District clerk

Question 30

The local government code contains

A)the password needed by county officials in case of a nuclear or other emergency.
B)state laws about local governments.
C)the names of all those who have been convicted or acquitted by the county commissioners court..
D)information about past elected officials.
E)information for accessing otherwise secret government information.

Question 31

Where is the authority of Texas county governments established?

A)The county government code
B)The municipal government code
C)Both the Texas Constitution and in Texas statutes
D)Federal statutes
E)The United States Constitution

Question 32

A 1912 constitutional amendment in Texas allowed some municipalities to adopt "home rule" status,which made it possible

A)for some cities to decide their own structure and powers under certain limitations.
B)to avoid boundary disputes due to redistricting.
C)for two or more cities to consolidate public service provisions.
D)for special districts to be consolidated.
E)for counties to be abolished in Texas.

Question 33

The legislative body of a county in Texas is known as the

A)county court.
B)commissioners court.
C)county commission.
D)county council.
E)county board of governors.

Question 34

Which of the following statements is NOT reflective of the multifunctional nature of Texas county governments?

A)Counties serve as sub-units of state government, helping state government provide administrative services throughout the state.
B)Counties operate as locally elected governmental bodies, performing many strictly local functions.
C)Counties provide services to their citizens, such as holding elections, providing public health services, and registering automobiles, on behalf of the state.
D)Local public services provided by the county include public safety, building and maintaining roads, and building and maintaining jails.
E)Counties provide public education to their citizens from kindergarten through grade 12.

Question 35

The idea behind home rule is that city leaders need tools to address their local problems.

Question 36

The legal right to adopt ordinances covering a wide array of subject areas is known as

A)constitutional ordinance-making authority.
B)general ordinance-making authority.
C)home rule authority.
D)legal redistricting authority.
E)home-rule incorporation.

Question 37

Texas has how many counties?

A)254
B)150
C)34
D)31
E)The number varies according to the population of the state, as reported every 10 years by the census.

Question 38

The county judge in Texas not only sits as a member and chair of the county commissioners court and is considered the chief administrative officer of the county government,he or she also

A)is a sitting member of the court of appeals in the region in which the county is situated.
B)holds the judicial position of judge of the constitutional county court of that county.
C)holds the judicial position of judge of the county-court-at law (the statutory county court)of that county.
D)is empowered to sit on the bench of the criminal district court when the district judge for the court is absent.
E)is an ex officio member of the city council of the municipality in which the county seat is located.

Question 39

In recent years,Texas counties have increased their reliance on fees to finance county government.

Question 40

The state can pass laws that restrict the authority of home-rule cities to govern themselves.

Question 41

Texas cities obtain nearly 58 percent of their operating funds from

A)fees on the performance of state services.
B)sales tax revenues.
C)revenue from property taxes and sales tax combined.
D)federal block grants.
E)municipal income taxes.

Question 42

Which of the following is true of the council-manager form of city government?

A)It is the most popular form of city government in Texas for home-rule cities.
B)The individual members of the city council serve as heads of a city department.
C)The city council is simply a rubber stamp.
D)The city manager is elected at-large.
E)The city manager hires and manages all municipal employees.

Question 43

In the early 1900s,which of these issues became a part of the agenda of the Progressive movement?

A)Representation
B)The tax system
C)Private sector employment
D)Economic growth
E)Home rule for municipalities

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT a way in which Texas cites generate their finances?

A)Sales tax
B)Property taxes
C)Excise taxes
D)State and federal revenues
E)Bond sales and user fees

Question 45

Enlargement of a city's corporate limits by incorporating surrounding territory into the city is known as

A)annexation.
B)extraterritorial jurisdiction.
C)hostile takeover.
D)redistricting.
E)reclamation.

Question 46

Some cities in Texas operate their own electric companies.These cities have the authority to do this because

A)capitalism is a fundamental principal of the Texas Constitution.
B)of the emergency powers granted these cities by the Texas Legislature.
C)the local governing authority afforded them as home-rule cities.
D)of the commerce clause found in Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution.
E)such authority is given all city and county governments under the Texas Local Government Code.

Question 47

After the 1990 hurricane,Galveston created a __________ form of city government where elected members of the governing body also served as head administrators of city programs.

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

Question 48

As mayor of your small hometown,you cut ribbons at store openings and speak at Rotary Club luncheons.You preside over your city council meetings,but your vote is no more significant than that of any other member of the council which,as a body,runs the city.You have no executive power,nor is there any city manager with executive power.What kind of city government are you serving under?

A)Strong mayor-council
B)Weak mayor-council
C)Council-manager
D)Commission
E)Home-rule

Question 49

An election system in which all positions on the council or governing body are filled by city-wide elections is known as a/an

A)at-large-by district election.
B)at-large-by place election.
C)at-large by zone election.
D)city-wide election.
E)single-member district election.

Question 50

Who is given extensive powers to govern a home-rule city?

A)The governor
B)The city
C)The county
D)Home-rule special districts
E)The local Board of Governors

Question 51

An extraterritorial jurisdiction is the area

A)outside a city's boundaries over which the city may not exercise any control.
B)outside a city's boundaries over which the city may exercise limited control.
C)inside a city's boundaries over which the city may exercise limited control.
D)inside a city's boundaries over which the city may exercise complete control.
E)within a special district but not incorporated into a city.

Question 52

The most significant portion of county revenue comes from

A)special levies.
B)motor vehicle registration fees.
C)property taxes.
D)sales tax.
E)excise taxes.

Question 53

A certificate of indebtedness issued by a city that creates a legal obligation to repay the principal of the loan plus accrued interest is called

A)an ordinance.
B)sales tax.
C)a homestead exemption.
D)a bond.
E)a capital expenditure.

Question 54

An election system in which a candidate runs from and represents one district,rather than the entire geographic area encompassed by the government,is known as an

A)at-large-by-place system.
B)at-large district system.
C)single-member district system.
D)specialized district system.
E)exclusive district system.

Question 55

Municipal elections in Texas are held on a(n)_____________ basis,while county elections are conducted on a __________ basis.

A)nonpartisan/partisan
B)annual/biennial
C)partisan/nonpartisan
D)majority-rule/plurality-rule
E)unregulated/state-regulated

Question 56

Complete the analogy: What a city charter is to a home-rule city,a

A)city manager is to the mayor.
B)law is to a legislature.
C)constitution is to a state.
D)police chief is to a fire chief.
E)treaty is to an executive order.

Question 57

As a result of amendments made in 1999 by the Texas Legislature to the Municipal Annexation Act,a city must take all of the following steps in order to annex property into the city limits EXCEPT

A)develop a three-year annexation plan and not annex the target area in that three-year period.
B)make and inventory of current services in the area and require negotiations and arbitration regarding services.
C)provide all services currently provided in its full-purpose boundaries no later than two-and-a-half years after annexation.
D)conduct at least two public hearings and not reduce service levels in the area from what they were before annexation.
E)pay the property taxes on the acquired land for the first ten years after annexation.

Question 58

An official who is elected city-wide,presides at city council,hires,manages,and fires city staff,and may have veto powers over some council actions functions in what type of municipal government?

A)Strong mayor-council system
B)Weak mayor-council system
C)Council manager system
D)City commission
E)Council-strong manager system

Question 59

Until the 1970s,city council elections in Texas tended to be

A)single-member district elections.
B)specialized district elections.
C)at-large-by-place elections.
D)partisan elections.
E)ward elections.

Question 60

Texas adopted a constitutional amendment in 1912 which authorized

A)complete county autonomy.
B)consolidated inter-county cities of the first class.
C)home-rule cities.
D)increased immigration from Mexico.
E)the creation of junior college systems as special districts in the state.

Question 61

A method of voting in which voters have a number of votes equal to the number of seats being filled,and voters may cast their votes all for one candidate or split them among candidates in various combinations,is known as

A)proportional voting.
B)cumulative voting.
C)the Australian ballot.
D)selective voting.
E)None of the above

Question 62

Home-rule cities in Texas are sometimes confronted with state statutes enacted to restrict their self-governing power and special authority.It is unconstitutional,however,for the legislature to pass a law that targets one specific local governmental entity.The legislature gets around this restriction with regard to limiting specific home-rule cities by

A)passing laws that apply to cities in a given population bracket.
B)calling on the governor to use his plenary power to order the city to cease and desist the activity in question.
C)enacting a amendment to the Texas Constitution (which supersedes statutory law)limiting the activity in question.
D)petitioning the Texas delegation to Congress to enact federal legislation limiting the activity in question..
E)requesting a writ of mandamus from the Texas Supreme Court ordering the home-rule city in question to cease the activity the legislation deems inappropriate.

Question 63

Perhaps the biggest policy issue concerning school districts in Texas over the past 30 years has been

A)public school finance.
B)charter schools.
C)home-rule school districts.
D)single-member district elections.
E)cumulative voting.

Question 64

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of e-government?

A)Greater accessibility of government
B)Increased government responsiveness
C)Increased government accountability
D)Tremendous cost savings
E)A more customer-oriented focus by government employees

Question 65

Why has the Austin city council had one Hispanic member and one African-American member for the past few decades?

A)Such a system was mandated by a U.S. Supreme Court decision.
B)Such a system was mandated by a Texas Supreme Court decision.
C)The single-member district system encourages such an outcome.
D)The proportional representation system encourages such an outcome.
E)There has been an informal "gentleman's agreement" in place that reserves one seat for a Hispanic member and one seat for an African-American member.

Question 66

A public school sanctioned by a specific contractual agreement with the state that allows the program to operate outside the usual rules and regulations of the state and the Texas Education Agency is known as a/an

A)voucher school.
B)charter school.
C)special district school.
D)independent school district.
E)magnet school.

Question 67

Public school systems in Texas are run by

A)counties.
B)municipalities.
C)the U.S. Department of Education.
D)special districts.
E)councils of government.

Question 68

Special districts in Texas usually focus on

A)a single governmental function.
B)a number of various unrelated governmental functions.
C)coordination of regional planning among local governmental entities on a wide range of issues.
D)issues constrained to the boundaries of a municipality.
E)implementing proprietary federal programs in counties in Texas.

Question 69

A voting system that apportions legislative seats according to the percentage of the vote won by a particular party is known as what kind of system?

A)At large by place
B)Single member
C)Cumulative voting
D)Proportional representation
E)Winner-take-all

Question 70

Civil rights organizations used the Voting Rights Act to challenge which of these types of elections in Texas?

A)Single-member district
B)At-large-by-place municipal elections
C)At-large-by zone elections
D)At-large-by ward elections
E)None of the above

Question 71

Texas has more counties than most states.

Question 72

Texas public schools were first administered by county commissioners before the advent of the school district system.

Question 73

Municipal utility districts are usually created at the request of

A)developers who seek to provide water, sewage, and other utility services to new subdivisions and developments outside a city's limits.
B)a city's water and sewage department to fund the construction of new capital improvement projects such a new water line and sewage plants.
C)a county auditor seeking to create a legal mechanism within the county to review city- owned and operated utility services.
D)the Office of the Governor for the management of existing groundwater resources within the state.
E)the Texas Legislature in order to enhance competition among corporate utilities provides doing business in the state.

Question 74

Despite a nationwide municipal home-rule movement,Texas failed to adopt a constitutional amendment that would have allowed some cities to decide their own structure.

Question 75

Of the following entities,which one does NOT have oversight and regulatory authority over public schools in Texas?

A)County commissioners courts
B)State Board of Education
C)The commissioner of education
D)The Texas legislature
E)Texas Education Agency

Question 76

One of the most prominent examples of the political success of minorities due to a court-ordered change in municipal election systems in Texas was the election of a Hispanic mayor in the 1980s in San Antonio.This individual rose to national prominence as a cabinet secretary in the Clinton administration.Who was he?

A)Ed Garza
B)Gus Garcia
C)Raymond Caballero
D)Elzie Odom
E)Henry Cisneros

Question 77

Under Spanish and Mexican government,few people lived in Texas and there were no settlements of any significant size.

Question 78

One of the grievances cited by Texans in 1836 was that the Mexican government had failed to establish a system of public education.

Question 79

In 2007,Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment which abolished which county office in Texas?

A)County treasurer
B)Constitutional county court judge
C)County inspector of hides
D)County auditor
E)County tax assessor-collector

Question 80

Which of the following is an example of a special district?

A)Independent school districts
B)County Commissioners Court
C)Justice of the peace courts
D)Free enterprise zones
E)All of the above