Deck 3: Local Governments

Question 1

Approximately _______ percent of Texans reside in cities.

A) 3
B) 52
C) 80
D) 97

Answer 1

C

Question 2

If city voters want to repeal an existing city ordinance, they may do so through a(n)

A) initiative.
B) recall.
C) vote of no confidence.
D) referendum.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The main advantage that a home-rule city has over a general-law city is that a home-rule city

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

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In Texas, most general-law cities are

A) very large in population.
B) very small in population.
C) equal in population to home-rule cities.
D) governed by strong mayor-council forms of government.

Question 5

In Texas, if a community with over 5,000 people wanted to be incorporated as a city, it may be incorporated as a

A) village.
B) home-rule city.
C) county.
D) borough.

Question 6

A typical percentage of voter turnout for a Texas local election is

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

Question 7

The minimum population requirement in Texas for becoming a city is

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

Question 8

In Texas, all of following are unique to home-rule cities, except

A) popular elections.
B) recall.
C) initiative.
D) referendum.

Question 9

A city charter does all of the following, except

A) establish powers of municipal officers.
B) set terms of office for council members.
C) provide procedures for passing ordinances.
D) establish state law.

Question 10

In Texas, a community with a population of less than 5,000 may become a(n)

A) home-rule city.
B) sovereign entity.
C) township.
D) general-law city.

Question 11

The process for removing an elected official during his/her term through a popular vote, is referred toas

A) impeachment.
B) recall.
C) initiative.
D) referendum.

Question 12

In Houston, a strong mayor-council city, _____________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

Question 13

While a municipal government may not pass a law that binds all Texans, it can pass a(n) _________, which has the force of law within the city.

A) statute
B) ordinance
C) rule
D) order

Question 14

Which 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

Question 15

A proposed law arising from a citizen petition is called a(n)

A) initiative.
B) referendum.
C) recall.
D) impeachment.

Question 16

In Texas, cities operating with the strong mayor-council form of government have which of the following characteristics?

A) Council members elected by single-member districts
B) A mayor elected at-large within the city
C) A mayor with power to veto council actions
D) All of these choices are true.

Question 17

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

Question 18

An ordinance may be established by all but

A) the state legislature.
B) a city council.
C) a city commission.
D) a referendum.

Question 19

There are a variety of forms of local government in Texas, including

A) municipal governments, townships, and special districts.
B) county governments, boroughs, and special districts.
C) county government, villages, and cities.
D) special districts, counties, and cities.

Question 20

Approximately how many municipalities are there in Texas?

A) 200
B) 350
C) 900
D) 1,200

Question 21

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

A) a greater diversity of representation.
B) more voters to participate.
C) less frequent elections.
D) less diversity of representation.

Question 22

To improve diversity among elected officials, some Texas local governments use a(n) ___________ system in which voters may 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

Question 23

Cities must redistrict every __________ years.

A) 2
B) 5
C) 10
D) 20

Question 24

Most Texas cities struggle to provide basic services because

A) sales and property taxes are regressive and limited by state law.
B) Texas voters are increasingly hostile to increases in property taxes.
C) state assistance to Texas cities is low.
D) All of these choices contribute to the financial dilemma faced by Texas cities.

Question 25

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

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.

Question 26

Under the Texas Constitution, counties

A) pass laws to be implemented by cities.
B) possess home-rule and ordinance-making authority.
C) are administrative arms of the state.
D) are primarily responsible for conducting common school education.

Question 27

A major job of municipal governments in Texas home-rule cities is to provide services like

A) parks, income security, and education.
B) highways, welfare, and education.
C) police, trash collection, and water.
D) public assistance, education, and military protection.

Question 28

In the ___________ form of municipal government, the mayor shares appointive and removal power with a city council.

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

Question 29

The number of counties in Texas is

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

Question 30

Adopting the county's budget and setting the property tax rate is the duty of the county

A) sheriff.
B) tax assessor-collector.
C) treasurer.
D) commissioners court.

Question 31

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

A) elect all officials by single-member districts.
B) ensure there is an equal population in each precinct.
C) do away with the partisan nature of county elections.
D) redistrict every five years.

Question 32

Since Texas voters tend to be resistant to property tax increases, municipal governments are often forced to

A) rely on new or increased fees on services such as garbage collection.
B) stop hiring or freeze the wages of municipal employees.
C) cut services, particularly for inner-city residents.
D) All of these choices are actions taken by municipal governments to deal with inadequate property tax revenue.

Question 33

In theory, the council-manager form of government has

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

Question 34

The two largest sources of tax revenue for Texas municipalities are

A) sales tax and property tax.
B) income tax and excise tax.
C) tariffs and sales tax.
D) property tax and income tax.

Question 35

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)

Question 36

Functions performed by counties in Texas include

A) conducting elections, enforcing criminal law, and administering job-training programs.
B) operating courts, conducting elections, and providing higher education.
C) conducting elections, registration of voters, and enforcing criminal law.
D) providing higher education, conducting elections, and collecting all state taxes.

Question 37

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

Question 38

None of the 10 largest cities in Texas have a

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

Question 39

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

Question 40

To cut costs and introduce residents to e-technology, Bexar county created a

A) bookless digital library where patrons scan their library card and check in and out virtual books.
B) Facebook page to link all citizens together and build community.
C) phone app for paying fines and tickets.
D) All of these choices were created by Bexar county.

Question 41

Which is a common source of funding for counties?

A) Shared state revenue from liquor sales, motor vehicle taxes and fees, and traffic fines
B) Federal grants-in-aid
C) Money borrowed through bonds
D) All of these choices are sources of funding for counties.

Question 42

Approximately how many noneducational special districts does Texas have?

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

Question 43

In most rural Texas counties, each county commissioner is 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.

Question 44

A unit of local government performing a single function (such as providing schools or hospitals) for a designated geographic area is a

A) council of government.
B) municipal government.
C) county government.
D) special-district government.

Question 45

In most counties, who receives and pays out county funds?

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

Question 46

Which county official is responsible for recordkeeping and conducting elections?

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

Question 47

Of the following county officials, who is appointed by the district judge?

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

Question 48

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

A) metro governments.
B) special districts.
C) councils of government.
D) interest groups.

Question 49

About what percentage of Texans live in metropolitan areas?

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

Question 50

Collecting vehicle county taxes and fees and registering voters is the responsibility of the

A) county tax appraiser.
B) county clerk.
C) county tax assessor-collector.
D) county auditor.

Question 51

Public education in the state of Texas is provided directly by

A) the federal government.
B) local school districts.
C) city government.
D) county government.

Question 52

The term metro government refers to

A) consolidating 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.

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

Question 54

The segment of Texas higher education that receives support from property taxes is the

A) junior and community colleges.
B) University of Texas system.
C) State Technical Institute system.
D) Texas A&M system.

Question 55

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) All of these choices represent the state and provide legal advice to county officials.

Question 56

In the 50 counties with no county attorney, the function is performed by

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

Question 57

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

A) Many local needs cut across the boundaries of cities and counties.
B) Restrictive provisions in the state constitution make it difficult for an existing government to take on new tasks.
C) Individuals create special districts to make money for themselves.
D) All of these choices are reasons why Texas has so many special districts.

Question 58

As many as 400,000 Texans live in about 2,300 colonias, which are

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.

Question 59

Which of the following would not be an example of a special district?

A) Water supply district
B) Congressional district
C) Fire protection district
D) Sewage district

Question 60

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

Question 61

Describe the sources of funding for public school districts in Texas and explain the funding challenges facing public education. What should the state government do to address issues of inequity and inadequate funding?

Question 62

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

Question 63

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

Question 64

Provide a basic understanding of the role of property taxes in local government financing, including a description of the role played by the 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 to be abandoned, what alternative tax source might replace it?

Question 65

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 66

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 67

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 68

Why is local government so important to a citizen's quality of life? If local government is so important, why is it so difficult to get people as involved as they need to be? What can be done to increase local awareness and civic engagement?

Question 69

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

Question 70

Explain why municipal (city) governments are formed in Texas. Include a description of the minimum number of people required to form a city, the types of city government charters available, and the basic functions cities perform.

Question 71

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

Question 72

Explain why special districts are created in Texas. 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 73

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 74

The unincorporated area outside a city's boundaries into which it may annex is referred to as

A) extraterritorial jurisdiction.
B) metropolitan area.
C) municipality.
D) merged territory.

Question 75

Describe the authority under which school districts must operate. Include an understanding of district autonomy and state authority, including the role of the State Board of Education, and the role of federal regulations in the administration of education at the local level.

Question 76

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