Deck 3: Local Governments

Question 1

None of the 10 largest cities in Texas have which form of government?

A) A strong mayor form of government
B) A council-manager form of government
C) A weak mayor-council form of government
D) A commission form of government
E) A cosmopolitan form of government

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which Supreme Court case applied the "one-person,one-vote" principle to county precincts?

A) Baker v.Carr (1962)
B) Wesberry v.Sanders (1964)
C) Reynolds v.Simms (1964)
D) Avery v.Midland County (1968)
E) Brown v.Board of Education (1954)

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What services are a major job of municipal governments in Texas home-rule cities?

A) Parks,income security,and education
B) Highways,welfare,and education
C) Police,trash collection,and water
D) Public assistance,education,and military protection
E) Police,education,and income security

Answer 3

C

Question 4

In which system may voters cast a number of votes equal to the number of positions available?

A) Cumulative voting
B) Single-member district
C) At-large
D) Democratic centralist
E) Fractional quota voting

Question 5

In Texas,which type of city may a community with over 5,000 people be incorporated as?

A) Village
B) Home-rule city
C) County
D) Borough
E) Metropolis

Question 6

Which functions are performed by counties in Texas?

A) Conducting elections,enforcing criminal law,and administering job-training programs
B) Operating courts,conducting elections,and providing higher education
C) Conducting elections,registering voters,and enforcing criminal law
D) Providing higher education,conducting elections,and collecting all state taxes
E) Collecting all state taxes,running state prisons,and maintaining the toll system

Question 7

In most rural Texas counties,what is each county commissioner individually responsible for?

A) Superintending common schools in his or her precinct
B) Presiding at general and special elections in his or her precinct
C) Building and maintaining county roads and bridges in his or her precinct
D) Enforcing the criminal law in his or her precinct
E) Overseeing special districts within the county

Question 8

About what percentage of Texans live in metropolitan areas?

A) 88
B) 26
C) 32
D) 38
E) 90

Question 9

Approximately how many noneducation special districts does Texas have?

A) 1,000
B) 1,200
C) 1,600
D) 2,300
E) 3,500

Question 10

Which county official is appointed by the district judge?

A) County sheriff
B) County judge
C) County auditor
D) County tax assessor-collector
E) County commissioners

Question 11

Which of these is a common source of funding for counties?

A) Shared municipal revenue from liquor sales,motor vehicle taxes and fees,and traffic fines
B) Federal grants-in-aid and fines levied on violators of municipal ordinances
C) Money borrowed through bonds and oil severance taxes
D) Income taxes
E) Federal grants-in-aid,property taxes,and money borrowed through bonds

Question 12

Which county official is responsible for recordkeeping and conducting elections?

A) County clerk
B) County judge
C) County tax assessor-collector
D) County auditor
E) County attorney

Question 13

What is the minimum population requirement in Texas for becoming a city?

A) 100
B) 201
C) 5,000
D) 10,001
E) 3,000

Question 14

Which of the following would be an example of a special district?

A) Water supply district
B) Congressional district
C) Election precinct
D) Commissioner precinct
E) Council district

Question 15

How can city voters repeal an existing city ordinance?

A) Through an initiative
B) Through a recall
C) Through a vote of no confidence
D) Through a referendum
E) Through protest and demonstration

Question 16

How often must cities redistrict?

A) Every 2 years
B) Every 5 years
C) Every 10 years
D) Every 20 years
E) They don't have to redistrict.

Question 17

What are municipal governments often forced to do since Texas voters tend to be resistant to property tax increases?

A) Rely on new or increased fees on services such as garbage collection and eliminate entire departments
B) Hire undocumented workers and freeze the wages of municipal employees
C) Cut services,particularly for inner-city residents,and try to bring professional sports teams to town
D) Deal with inadequate property taxes.
E) Rely on fees on services,limit wages on municipal employees,and cut services to residents

Question 18

What does a city charter do?

A) Establish powers of municipal police officers and establish state law
B) Set terms of office for the staff of council members
C) Provide procedures for passing ordinances and establish powers of municipal police officers
D) Establish state law and set terms of office for the staff of council members
E) Establish procedures for passing ordinances,the powers of municipal officers,and the terms of office for council members

Question 19

Which of these defines the term metro government?

A) Consolidation of several existing local governments under one umbrella authority
B) Intergovernmental agreements among city and county governments in metropolitan areas
C) Annexation of land by city governments in urban areas
D) Counties taking over city government functions,but leaving the city to collect the taxes
E) A government created from a council of governments

Question 20

Who performs the function of the county attorney in the 50 counties with no county attorney?

A) A resident district attorney
B) A deputy assigned by the attorney general
C) The county sheriff
D) The county auditor
E) The attorney general

Question 21

Which form of municipal government is more likely to be responsive to the elite and the middle class than to the working class and ethnic minorities?

A) Strong mayor
B) Council-manager
C) Weak mayor
D) Commission
E) Metroplex

Question 22

What is the most common form of municipal structure in Texas?

A) The strong mayor-council form
B) The weak mayor-council form
C) The council-manager form
D) The commission form
E) The metropolitan form

Question 23

Which of these provides public education in the state of Texas?

A) The federal government
B) Local school districts
C) City government
D) County government
E) Councils of government

Question 24

What are the two largest sources of tax revenue for Texas municipalities?

A) Sales tax and property tax
B) Income tax and excise tax
C) Tariffs and sales tax
D) Property tax and income tax
E) User fees and franchise tax

Question 25

Historically,what have at-large elections in Texas cities resulted in?

A) A greater diversity of representation
B) More voter participation
C) Less frequent elections
D) Less diversity of representation
E) The results have been inconclusive

Question 26

Under the Texas Constitution,which of the following statements regarding counties is true?

A) They pass laws to be implemented by cities.
B) They possess home-rule and ordinance-making authority.
C) They are administrative arms of the state.
D) They are primarily responsible for conducting common school education.
E) They are not seen as locally controlled governments by county officials and county residents.

Question 27

In Texas,what are the characteristics of cities operating with the strong mayor-council form of government?

A) Council members elected by multi-member districts
B) A mayor elected by single-member districts within the city
C) A mayor with power to veto council action and council members elected by multi-member districts
D) Council members elected by single-member or at-large districts and a mayor elected at large within the city
E) A mayor with no veto power and a mayor elected at large within the city

Question 28

Who is responsible for adopting the county's budget and setting the property tax rate?

A) County sheriff
B) County tax assessor-collector
C) County treasurer
D) County commissioner's court
E) County clerk

Question 29

As a result of the Court's 1968 ruling in Avery v.Midland County,what must Texas counties do?

A) Elect all officials by single-member districts
B) Ensure there is a substantially equal population in each precinct
C) Do away with the partisan nature of county elections
D) Redistrict every five years
E) Gerrymander districts to give the greatest advantage to minorities

Question 30

Under a municipal annexation law enacted by the legislature in 1963 in an attempt to assist cities grappling with suburban sprawl,which of the following statements is not true?

A) Cities have extraterritorial jurisdiction,or limited authority,outside their city boundaries.
B) Within the extraterritorial jurisdiction,a home-rule city could regulate some aspects of development.
C) Within the extraterritorial jurisdiction,a home-rule city could annex contiguous unincorporated areas without a vote by those who live there.
D) Within the extraterritorial jurisdiction,incorporated areas could not be annexed without consent of their residents.
E) Within the extraterritorial jurisdiction,cities have unlimited authority outside their city boundaries.

Question 31

Approximately what percent of Texans reside in cities?

A) 3
B) 52
C) 85
D) 97
E) 24

Question 32

In Texas,what are voluntary associations of local governments that perform regional planning activities,among other things,called?

A) Metro governments
B) Special districts
C) Councils of government
D) Interest groups
E) Confederation of governments

Question 33

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a council-manager form of government?

A) A mayor with power to veto council actions
B) A city manager appointed by the city council
C) An elected mayor and city council
D) A city manager responsible for managing the city's departments
E) A city manager who exerts strong influence

Question 34

What term is used to describe the process for removing an elected official from office through a popular vote?

A) Impeachment
B) Recall
C) Initiative
D) Referendum
E) Reconciliation

Question 35

Which of the following is a reason that Texas has so many special districts?

A) Many local needs are confined to the boundaries of cities and counties.
B) Restrictive provisions in the municipal charters make it difficult for an existing government to take on new tasks.
C) Individuals create special districts to make money for the state.
D) The state provides an abundance of provisions to meet local needs.
E) Many local needs cut across the boundaries of cities and counties,and individuals create special districts to make money for themselves.

Question 36

Which county official represents the state in civil and criminal cases and provides legal advice to county officials?

A) County attorney
B) Attorney general
C) County judge
D) District judge
E) District attorney

Question 37

What causes most Texas cities to struggle with providing basic services?

A) Sales and property taxes are progressive and limited by state law.
B) Texas voters are increasingly hostile to decreases in property taxes,and sales and property taxes are regressive.
C) State assistance to Texas cities is low,and Texas voters are hostile to increases in property taxes.
D) Sales and property taxes are not limited by state law.
E) Regressive sales and property taxes are limited by state law,and state assistance to Texas cities is low.

Question 38

Approximately how many municipalities are there in Texas?

A) 200
B) 350
C) 900
D) 1,200
E) 2,499

Question 39

Which unit of local government performs a single function (such as providing schools or hospitals)for a designated geographic area?

A) Council of government
B) Municipal government
C) County government
D) Special-district government
E) Township government

Question 40

How many counties are in Texas?

A) 254
B) 906
C) 1,213
D) 4,128
E) 439

Question 41

In Texas,which of the following are unique to home-rule cities?

A) Popular elections,recall,and initiative
B) Recall,popular elections,and referendum
C) Initiative,popular elections,and referendum
D) Referendums only
E) Recall,initiative,and referendum

Question 42

Which of the following statements regarding political parties in Texas municipal elections is true?

A) Support of a political party is the single determining factor.
B) Candidates run without party labels in these nonpartisan elections.
C) Political parties nominate candidates to run for office.
D) The amount of involvement varies from city to city.
E) Political parties select delegates for the convention where candidates are chosen.

Question 43

What are the three forms of local government in Texas?

A) Municipal governments,townships,and special districts
B) County governments,boroughs,and special districts
C) County government,villages,and municipalities
D) Special districts,counties,and municipalities
E) Metropolitans,counties,and cities

Question 44

Which of the following can establish an ordinance?

A) The state legislature
B) A city council,a city commission,and a referendum
C) A city commission,a state legislature,and a metropolitan
D) A referendum,a metropolitan,and a state legislature
E) A metropolitan

Question 45

What are colonias?

A) Impoverished housing settlements often without running water or sewage systems
B) Elite gated communities for the wealthy and powerful
C) Colonies of Texas expatriates in other nations
D) Cities contained within giant geodesic domes
E) Gentrified communities populated by millennials

Question 46

A community in Texas with a population of less than 5,000 residents may become which type of municipality?

A) Home-rule city
B) Sovereign entity
C) Township
D) General-law city
E) Metropolitan city

Question 47

What is a proposed law arising from a citizen petition called?

A) Initiative
B) Referendum
C) Recall
D) Impeachment
E) Directive

Question 48

Which of the following views of local government power dictates that local government should only have those powers expressly granted by the state?

A) Dillon's Rule
B) Ogden's Rule
C) Cooley's Rule
D) Perry's Rule
E) Austin's Rule

Question 49

While a municipal government may not pass a law that binds all Texans,what can it pass that has the force of law within the city?

A) Statute
B) Ordinance
C) Rule
D) Order
E) Directive

Question 50

What main advantage does a home-rule city have over a general-law city?

A) A home-rule city has greater flexibility in its organization and operation.
B) A home-rule city has fewer people to worry about than a general-law city.
C) A home-rule city can use state law to operate.
D) A home-rule city can use its power to overrule state law.
E) A home-rule city can legally become a sanctuary city.

Question 51

What is one reason big cities in Texas have suffered less from urban decay,the evacuation of industry,and declining tax bases compared with many other U.S.cities?

A) The state's broad annexation laws
B) Extraterritorial jurisdiction
C) Mandates
D) Changing demographics
E) Excessive taxes

Question 52

In theory,the council-manager form of government has which of the following?

A) A strong mayor with a weak city manager
B) A weak city manager
C) A weak city council and a strong city manager
D) A weak mayor
E) A strong council

Question 53

Who has responsibility for enforcing the law and keeping the peace in each county?

A) County sheriff
B) County judge
C) Justice of the peace
D) County court of law judge
E) County constable

Question 54

In which form of municipal government does the mayor share appointive and removal power with a city council?

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

Question 55

Which segment of Texas higher education receives support from property taxes?

A) Junior and community colleges
B) University of Texas system
C) State Technical Institute system
D) Texas A&M system
E) Prairie View University

Question 56

Which of the following statements regarding most general-law cities in Texas is true?

A) They are very large in population.
B) They are very small in population.
C) They are equal in population to home-rule cities.
D) They are governed by strong mayor-council forms of government.
E) There are fewer of them than home-rule cities.

Question 57

Who is responsible for collecting vehicle county taxes and fees and registering voters?

A) County tax appraiser
B) County clerk
C) County tax assessor-collector
D) County auditor
E) County judge

Question 58

Who receives and pays out county funds in most counties?

A) County sheriff
B) County judge
C) County tax assessor-collector
D) County treasurer
E) County commissioner

Question 59

Which elected county official has both administrative responsibility for most county agencies and judicial responsibilities?

A) County clerk
B) County court of law judge
C) County judge
D) County sheriff
E) County attorney

Question 60

Which term refers to the limited authority a city has outside its boundaries?

A) Extraterritorial jurisdiction
B) Metropolitan area
C) Municipality
D) Merged territory
E) Extraordinary jurisdiction

Question 61

What is a typical percentage of voter turnout for a Texas local election?

A) 90 percent
B) 75 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 10 percent or less
E) 66 percent

Question 62

Detail the two main categories of special districts (school and noneducation special districts).Choose a type of special district and provide an understanding of its general functions and the services it provides.

Question 63

Local governments face mandates from both the national and state governments.What are some examples of mandates at the local level?

Question 64

Explain why special districts are created in Texas.

Question 65

Describe the differences and similarities between the strong mayor-council and weak mayor-council forms of municipal government.

Question 66

How have at-large elections led to the underrepresentation of ethnic minorities in some Texas cities? Why do single-member districts tend to improve diversity in representation?

Question 67

What is the role of a council of governments (COGs)?

Question 68

Why have colonias developed in Texas,and what challenges do residents of colonias face? What role should state and local governments play in addressing those challenges?

Question 69

Explain the funding challenges facing public education.What should the state government do to address issues of inequity and inadequate funding?

Question 70

Describe the four forms of municipal government used in Texas,including their characteristics and principal strengths and weaknesses.What form of municipal government do you think would be best for your city and why?

Question 71

What is municipal annexation,and how are cities limited in their ability to annex surrounding areas?

Question 72

Would it be appropriate to describe home-rule cities as a type of direct democracy? Why or why not?

Question 73

Are intergovernmental relations marked by conflict,cooperation,or both?

Question 74

In Houston,a strong mayor-council city,who appoints the chief of police and possesses veto power over ordinary majorities in the city council?

A) The city council
B) The mayor
C) The city manager
D) The appointed city administrator
E) The voters

Question 75

Describe the structure and main responsibilities of county government in Texas.Should there be changes in the present constitutional provisions regarding county structure and power? If so,what is needed?

Question 76

Describe the sources of funding for public school districts in Texas.

Question 77

What is the difference between Dillon's Rule and the Cooley Doctrine? Which does Texas follow more closely,and in what ways does this affect the relationship between state and local governments?

Question 78

Provide a basic understanding of the role of property taxes in local government financing,including a description of the role played by county tax appraisal districts.What problems arise from the use of property taxes,and for whom are the problems most challenging? If the property tax were abandoned,what alternative tax source might replace it?

Question 79

Explain the advantages and disadvantages of nonpartisan elections at the local government level.Do you think it would benefit local government if candidates ran with a party label? Why or why not?

Question 80

Briefly describe the three powers held by home-rule cities that are not held by state government or general-law cities and explain how the exercise of these powers by citizens may be slowed or blocked.