Question 1

A regional governmental organization that provides a forum for local city and county leaders to plan for future, common needs such as transportation, housing, and water is called a:

Accepted Answer

Council of Government (COG) is a regional governmental organization that provides a forum for local city and county leaders to plan for future, common needs such as transportation, housing, and water. Special District is a form of local government which provides a specific service to a defined area or group of people. LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission) is a regulatory agency that oversees changes to local government boundaries. A federal agency is a national governmental organization responsible for a specific function or service.

Question 2

Native American tribes are considered sovereign entities; in California, most govern themselves through:

Accepted Answer

Most Native American tribes in California govern themselves through councils that retain executive, legislative, and judicial powers, allowing them to manage their own affairs independently.

Question 3

How many federally-recognized Native American tribes are there in California?

Accepted Answer

There are 110 federally recognized Native American tribes in California.

Question 4

How are most special districts funded?

Accepted Answer

Special districts are usually funded through special assessments, which are fees levied on property owners within the district. These fees are typically used to fund local services or infrastructure projects within the district's boundaries. Some special districts may also receive funding from state or federal grants, but the primary funding source is usually the special assessments.

Question 5

Congress wrote what law (in 1988)that restricts the scope of tribal gaming and defers regulatory authority over tribal gaming to the states?

Accepted Answer

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed by Congress in 1988 and it sets the framework for tribal gaming in the United States. It restricts the types of games that can be offered and defers regulatory authority over tribal gaming to the states, but requires that tribes and states negotiate compacts in good faith for the regulation of gaming on tribal lands.

Question 6

The (Ralph M.)Brown Act ensures that public meetings will be

Accepted Answer

The Ralph M. Brown Act mandates that meetings of public bodies be open to the public, with advance notice of the meetings and disclosure of the proceedings, to ensure transparency and public participation.

Question 7

To help plan and set policy with respect to many aspects of city life, from recreation to identifying transportation needs, council members often rely on appointed ________ to assist them with making policy recommendations.

Accepted Answer

Council members often rely on appointed boards and commissions to assist them with making policy recommendations on various aspects of city life. These boards and commissions can provide expert advice and represent different viewpoints and interests within the community. Local agency formation commissions and receivers are not typically involved in making policy recommendations, and while business leaders may be consulted, they are not appointed by the council to serve in an official capacity.

Question 8

Which of these categories of expenditures is among the most expensive for both counties and cities?

Accepted Answer

Public protection, which includes police, fire, emergency services, and corrections, often represents one of the largest budget items for both counties and cities. This is due to the high costs associated with staffing, equipping, and maintaining these essential services.

Question 9

AB 32 has gained much attention for being the world's first law establishing:

Accepted Answer

AB 32, also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, was the first law to establish regulations and a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California.

Question 10

How do local governments typically finance large construction projects, such as retrofitting hospitals to be safe in earthquakes, fixing aging community facilities, or expanding schools?

Accepted Answer

Local governments typically finance large construction projects by selling bonds that must be paid back with interest. This allows them to spread out the payments over a longer period of time and involve more investors in the funding process. Raising taxes can be politically difficult, and contracting with developers may not generate enough revenue to cover the cost of the project. Getting jumbo loans from a bank may be an option, but it is less common than selling bonds.

Question 11

A city that does not provide its own services but instead enters into an agreement with a neighboring city, private firms, or county to provide essential services is known as

Accepted Answer

A contract city is a municipality that contracts out its essential services to neighboring cities, private firms, or counties rather than providing them on its own. This arrangement allows the contract city to save money by reducing the costs of hiring and maintaining its own workforce, equipment, and facilities. Examples of services commonly contracted out by contract cities include police and fire protection, water and sewage, parks and recreation, and public works.

Question 12

Which of these is not a special district?

Accepted Answer

Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs) are not special districts themselves; rather, they are regulatory agencies in California with county-wide jurisdiction that oversee the boundaries of cities and special districts, including their formation, expansion, and dissolution.

Question 13

About_______ special districts exist in California, and _______ of them operate independently of counties or cities, with their own elected boards of governors.

Accepted Answer

According to the California Special Districts Association, there are approximately 4,700 special districts in California, and two-thirds of them operate independently of counties or cities with their own elected boards of governors.

Question 14

Another word for a law passed by a city council is

Accepted Answer

An ordinance is a law that is passed by a city council, making option D the correct choice. Initiative refers to a process by which citizens can propose laws and is not the same as a law passed by a city council. Administrative mandate refers to a directive issued by an administrative agency or official, which is different from a law passed by a city council. Proviso refers to a condition or stipulation in a law or agreement, which may or may not be related to a law passed by a city council.

Question 15

Proposition 98 guarantees a minimum funding level for state education; every year, approximately _______ of the state budget is spent on K-14 education.

Accepted Answer

Proposition 98 ensures that approximately 40 percent of California's state budget is allocated to K-14 education annually.

Question 16

If a group of people living in an unincorporated area want to form a city, to which government entity must they appeal?

Accepted Answer

A local agency formation commission (LAFCO) is the government entity responsible for overseeing the formation, expansion, and sometimes dissolution of cities and special districts in California. Therefore, if a group of people living in an unincorporated area want to form a city, they must appeal to their local LAFCO.

Question 17

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)is an example of a:

Accepted Answer

ABAG is a council of governments (COG), which is a regional planning agency that coordinates planning and policy-making among local governments in a metropolitan area.

Question 18

School districts are governed by:

Accepted Answer

School districts are typically governed by boards of education, which often consist of five members who are elected to oversee the management and operation of the district.

Question 19

What is true about regional planning for issues that affect millions of people living in large areas that encompass many cities and several counties?

Accepted Answer

Councils of Governments (COGs) are regional planning organizations that bring together local elected officials to address and plan for large-scale, long-term projects such as transportation, housing, and water availability across multiple jurisdictions.

Question 20

Which piece of legislation makes California the first government to establish a combination of regulations and market mechanisms to curb greenhouse gas emissions?

Accepted Answer

AB 32, also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, was enacted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California through a combination of regulations and market mechanisms.

Quiz 7: Other Governments