Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

The council-manager form of government is often seen as more responsive to the elite and middle class because it emphasizes professional management and can be less directly accountable to the general public, including working-class and minority groups.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The most common form of municipal structure in Texas is the council-manager form, where the city council appoints a professional city manager to carry out the day-to-day operations of the municipality. This form of government is used by over 1,000 municipalities in Texas. The strong mayor-council form is used in some larger cities, but it is not as common. The weak mayor-council and commission forms are rarely used in Texas municipalities. The metropolitan form does not exist in Texas.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Local school districts provide public education in the state of Texas. While the federal government provides funding and sets some guidelines, the actual implementation of education is left to the local level. City government, county government, and councils of government may have some involvement in education but they are not directly responsible for providing public education.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Sales tax and property tax are the two largest sources of tax revenue for Texas municipalities. Sales tax accounts for approximately 28% of total municipal revenue, while property tax accounts for approximately 58%. Income tax and excise tax are not major sources of revenue for municipalities in Texas. Tariffs and franchise tax are not significant sources of revenue for local governments in Texas. User fees may provide some revenue, but they are generally not major sources of revenue for Texas municipalities.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Historically, at-large elections in Texas cities have resulted in less diversity of representation. This is because at-large elections tend to favor the majority group and can make it more difficult for minority candidates to get elected.

Question 6

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.

Accepted Answer

Counties in Texas are administrative arms of the state and are responsible for carrying out state laws and providing services within their jurisdiction. They do not possess home-rule authority (B) and are not primarily responsible for conducting common school education (D). Option A is incorrect as counties do not have the authority to pass laws to be implemented by cities. Option E is also incorrect as counties are considered locally controlled governments by county officials and residents.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

In the strong mayor-council form of government, the mayor is typically elected at large and has significant executive powers, including veto power. Council members can be elected either by single-member districts or at-large.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

The County commissioner's court is responsible for adopting the county's budget and setting the property tax rate. This group is made up of elected officials who are responsible for various aspects of county government, including the budget and taxes.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

The Court's 1968 ruling in Avery v. Midland County required Texas counties to ensure that there is a substantially equal population in each precinct. This is known as the "one person, one vote" principle and is a key aspect of ensuring fair representation in elections. The ruling did not mandate the use of single-member districts or require the elimination of partisanship in county elections, nor did it establish a specific timeline for redistricting. Gerrymandering to give an advantage to any particular group, including minorities, is generally considered unconstitutional.

Question 10

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.

Accepted Answer

The statement that cities have unlimited authority outside their city boundaries is not true. Cities have extraterritorial jurisdiction, but it is limited authority and they cannot exercise unlimited authority outside their boundaries.

Question 11

Approximately what percent of Texans reside in cities?
A) 3
B) 52
C) 85
D) 97
E) 24

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S Census Bureau, approximately 85% of Texans reside in urban areas/cities.

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

Councils of government (COGs) are voluntary associations of local governments that perform regional planning activities, as well as other functions such as facilitating intergovernmental cooperation, providing technical assistance, and administering grant programs. Texas has 24 COGs that cover every region of the state.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

In a council-manager form of government, the mayor typically serves as a figurehead with limited executive power and does not have the power to veto council actions. The city manager is responsible for managing the city's departments and exerts strong influence, while the mayor and city council are elected by the people.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

The term for removing an elected official from office through a popular vote is called a recall. Impeachment is a process for removing an elected official through a formal charge of misconduct, typically carried out by a legislative body. Initiative and referendum are processes for creating or changing laws through direct citizen participation. Reconciliation is a term used in diplomacy to describe the process of resolving conflicts between two parties.

Question 15

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is a reason...

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The county attorney is the county official who represents the state in civil and criminal cases and provides legal advice to county officials. The attorney general represents the state in cases that have statewide significance, not just at the county level. County judges and district judges preside over court proceedings, but they do not represent the state. District attorneys prosecute criminal cases on behalf of the state, but they do not provide legal advice to county officials.

Question 17

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What causes most Texas cities to struggle...

Question 18

Approximately how many municipalities are there in Texas?
A) 200
B) 350
C) 900
D) 1,200
E) 2,499

Accepted Answer

Texas has approximately 1,200 municipalities, reflecting its large size and diverse population.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

Special-district government is a unit of local government that performs a single function for a designated geographic area, such as providing schools or hospitals. Unlike counties or municipalities, which provide a wide range of services, special districts are created to focus on a specific need or service. Examples of special districts include school districts, water districts, and fire districts.

Question 20

How many counties are in Texas?
A) 254
B) 906
C) 1,213
D) 4,128
E) 439

Accepted Answer

Texas has 254 counties, making it the state with the second-highest number of counties in the United States, after Georgia's 159 counties.

Quiz 3: Local Governments

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Approximately what percent of Texans reside in cities?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Approximately how many municipalities are there in Texas?

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

How many counties are in Texas?