Question 1

Unfunded mandates were once a constant source of friction between the states and their local governments, but most states now pay most of the costs associated with mandated policies that affect local governments.

Accepted Answer

Unfunded mandates continue to be a source of tension between state and local governments because states often pass laws or regulations that require local governments to perform certain actions without providing the necessary funding to implement those mandates.

Question 2

City-county consolidations, the merger of city and county governments into a single jurisdiction, have been popular during the past thirty years. To date, more than 120 cities and counties have consolidated.

Accepted Answer

While city-county consolidations have been considered and occasionally implemented in the United States, the number that have successfully merged into a single jurisdiction is much smaller than 120. These consolidations are relatively rare and challenging to achieve due to various political, legal, and community concerns.

Question 3

Voters often clamor for more efficient government, but when presented the opportunity on the ballot to support regionalization through city-county consolidations or other similar initiatives, they often defeat the proposal.

Accepted Answer

Voters frequently express a desire for more efficient government operations, which can theoretically be achieved through regionalization efforts such as city-county consolidations. However, when these proposals are actually put to a vote, they are often rejected. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including concerns over loss of local control, fear of increased taxes, or skepticism about the promised efficiencies and benefits.

Question 4

Dillon's rule holds that local governments are "creatures of their states."

Accepted Answer

Dillon's Rule is a legal principle that states local governments only have the powers that are expressly granted to them by the state government. This means local governments are indeed considered "creatures of their states," as they have no inherent sovereignty of their own and can only act within the limits set by state law.

Question 5

Local officials express concern that neither their policy-making power nor their financial authority has kept pace with the increased administrative responsibilities placed on them by state governments.

Accepted Answer

Local officials often express concerns about the imbalance between the increased administrative responsibilities delegated to them by state governments and their own policy-making and financial powers, which may not have expanded correspondingly to manage these added duties effectively.

Question 6

The new urbanism

Accepted Answer

The answer of The new urbanism
...

Question 7

Under regional government, local jurisdictions

Accepted Answer

Regional government often involves local jurisdictions surrendering a portion of their political power to achieve broader, area-wide solutions to problems that transcend local boundaries. This can lead to more efficient and effective handling of issues that affect multiple jurisdictions, such as transportation, environmental protection, and economic development.

Question 8

The more recently a state has adopted its constitution, the less likely it contains provisions that strengthen local government.

Accepted Answer

Many newer state constitutions include provisions that aim to strengthen local government autonomy and powers, reflecting a modern trend towards decentralization and local governance.

Question 9

State legislatures are the trustees of the basic rules of local governance in America. The laws and constitutions of each state are the basic legal instruments of local governance.

Accepted Answer

State legislatures have the authority to create, modify, and oversee the laws and regulations that govern local entities within their states, making them trustees of the basic rules of local governance. The state constitutions and laws serve as the foundational legal framework for local governance.

Question 10

City-county consolidations are efforts to provide a regional government,

Accepted Answer

City-county consolidations involve merging area jurisdictions into a single countywide government to streamline administration and services.

Question 11

Edge cities are new boom towns featuring retail shops, malls, restaurants, office buildings, and housing developments far from the closest central city.

Accepted Answer

Edge cities are characterized by significant commercial development, including retail spaces, office buildings, and residential areas, typically located on the outskirts of major cities or in suburban areas, serving as new centers of economic and social activity.

Question 12

City-county consolidations were once thought to be the wave of the future, but to date there are only _________ cities and counties that have consolidated.

Accepted Answer

City-county consolidations, where a city and county government merge into a single entity, are relatively rare in the United States. As of my last update, there are thirty-three such consolidated city-county governments. This approach to local governance is not as widespread as once predicted, reflecting the complexity and diversity of local government structures across the country.

Question 13

Infrastructure generally refers to the physical network of a community-which includes roads, bridges, airports, water and sewer systems, etc.

Accepted Answer

Infrastructure refers to the fundamental facilities and systems serving a country, city, or area, including the services and facilities necessary for its economy to function, such as transportation (roads, bridges, airports), utilities (water and sewer systems), and other essential services.

Question 14

Unfunded mandates are a persistent source of friction between state and local levels of government.

Accepted Answer

Unfunded mandates are directives from higher levels of government (such as the federal government to the states) that require lower levels of government to perform certain actions, without providing the necessary funding to carry out those actions. This often leads to friction as state and local governments must find ways to fund these mandates, which can strain their budgets and lead to conflicts over priorities and resources.

Question 15

In 2004, Arizona adopted a Growing Smarter Act that discouraged urban sprawl.

Accepted Answer

The Growing Smarter Act, adopted by Arizona in 1998 and expanded in 2000, was designed to manage growth and discourage urban sprawl by promoting smarter land use planning and conservation.

Question 16

Urban sprawl refers to development beyond the central city and is characterized by low densities, rapid land consumption, and dependence on the automobile.

Accepted Answer

Urban sprawl is indeed characterized by the expansion of urban areas into the outskirts of cities, leading to low-density, automobile-dependent communities that consume land rapidly.

Question 17

Estimates now suggest that there are in excess of 200,000 shadow governments in operation across the United States.

Accepted Answer

The question states that "Estimates now suggest that there are in excess of 200,000 shadow governments in operation across the United States." This means that there are more than 200,000 shadow governments in operation across the United States.

Question 18

Infrastructure generally refers to the physical network of a community-which includes roads, bridges, airports, water and sewer systems, etc.

Accepted Answer

Infrastructure includes physical components such as roads, bridges, airports, water and sewer systems, and other public utilities.

Question 19

Which of the following is not an anticipated benefit of city-county consolidations?

Accepted Answer

City-county consolidations are generally pursued to make government more efficient and responsive, not to distance it from citizens. The idea is to streamline services and governance, not to create a barrier between the government and the people it serves.

Question 20

Urban sprawl creates considerable transportation and revenue pressures for cities.

Accepted Answer

Urban sprawl leads to increased distances between residential areas, workplaces, and amenities, which in turn requires more extensive transportation infrastructure and services. This can strain city budgets due to the higher costs of extending roads, public transit, and utilities to dispersed developments. Additionally, sprawl can dilute tax revenue by spreading it over a larger area with potentially less efficient land use.

Quiz 12: State Local Relations

Unfunded mandates were once a constant source of friction between the states and their local governments, but most states now pay most of the costs associated with mandated policies that affect local governments.

City-county consolidations, the merger of city and county governments into a single jurisdiction, have been popular during the past thirty years. To date, more than 120 cities and counties have consolidated.

Voters often clamor for more efficient government, but when presented the opportunity on the ballot to support regionalization through city-county consolidations or other similar initiatives, they often defeat the proposal.

Dillon's rule holds that local governments are "creatures of their states."

Local officials express concern that neither their policy-making power nor their financial authority has kept pace with the increased administrative responsibilities placed on them by state governments.

The new urbanism

Under regional government, local jurisdictions

The more recently a state has adopted its constitution, the less likely it contains provisions that strengthen local government.

State legislatures are the trustees of the basic rules of local governance in America. The laws and constitutions of each state are the basic legal instruments of local governance.

City-county consolidations are efforts to provide a regional government,

Edge cities are new boom towns featuring retail shops, malls, restaurants, office buildings, and housing developments far from the closest central city.

City-county consolidations were once thought to be the wave of the future, but to date there are only _________ cities and counties that have consolidated.

Infrastructure generally refers to the physical network of a community-which includes roads, bridges, airports, water and sewer systems, etc.

Unfunded mandates are a persistent source of friction between state and local levels of government.

In 2004, Arizona adopted a Growing Smarter Act that discouraged urban sprawl.

Urban sprawl refers to development beyond the central city and is characterized by low densities, rapid land consumption, and dependence on the automobile.

Estimates now suggest that there are in excess of 200,000 shadow governments in operation across the United States.

Infrastructure generally refers to the physical network of a community-which includes roads, bridges, airports, water and sewer systems, etc.

Which of the following is not an anticipated benefit of city-county consolidations?

Urban sprawl creates considerable transportation and revenue pressures for cities.