Question 1

Suburbs have also grown because industries have moved from the central cities in search of

Accepted Answer

Industries have moved from central cities to suburbs in search of cheaper land, lower taxes, less restrictive building codes, and relaxed health codes. Therefore, all the options presented in the answer choices are correct.

Question 2

County governments are least active in the _______ states, where the county is often little more than a judicial and law enforcement district.

Accepted Answer

New England states have a tradition of strong town government, and therefore, county governments in these states often have limited responsibilities and powers.

Question 3

The percentage of Americans who now live in suburban communities is approximately

Accepted Answer

According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2010, slightly over half (50.5%) of the U.S. population lived in suburban areas. This percentage has likely grown since then.

Question 4

Some larger suburban town governments have began to resemble

Accepted Answer

Larger suburban town governments have started to adopt organizational and operational structures similar to those of city governments, including more complex administrative and service provisions.

Question 5

Typical county authorities involve all of the following EXCEPT (a)

Accepted Answer

The typical county authorities include sheriff, county clerk, coroner, and other administrative officials. However, the school board is not a typical county authority but rather a separate entity responsible for managing the local school district. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 6

The town meeting forum is most common in the

Accepted Answer

The town meeting forum is most common in the New England states, particularly in towns with smaller populations that have a tradition of direct democracy. In a town meeting, all eligible voters come together to discuss and vote on various issues related to local government and community affairs.

Question 7

Smaller municipalities located near larger central cities have been swallowed up by the growth of suburbs and absorbed by the larger _______ area composed of the central city and all its suburban areas.

Accepted Answer

The term for a larger urban region including a central city and its surrounding suburbs is "metropolitan area." The other options, such as "megaplex" and "metroplex" may be used colloquially but are not standard terminology. "Urbanex" does not appear to be a commonly used term in this context, and "cosmopolitan" refers more to the diversity and cultural sophistication of a city rather than its geographic size or composition.

Question 8

In terms of population, the largest county in the United States is

Accepted Answer

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2020, Los Angeles County, California has a population of over 10 million people, making it the largest county in the United States in terms of population. Miami-Dade County, Florida has a population of roughly 2.7 million, Cook County, Illinois has a population of about 5.2 million, Harris County, Texas has a population of around 4.7 million, and Maricopa County, Arizona has a population of approximately 4.5 million. Therefore, the best choice is C.

Question 9

Since the founding of the United States, governments have had the power to take private land for public purposes, even without the consent of the landowner.This power, called _________, comes from English common law.

Accepted Answer

The power of the government to take private land for public purposes, even without the consent of the landowner, is called eminent domain. This power is based on English common law, and has been upheld by the US Supreme Court as a necessary tool for the government to carry out its responsibilities. The government must provide just compensation to the landowner for the taking.

Question 10

During the last half of the 20ᵗʰ century, the fastest growing parts of the United States were

Accepted Answer

The fastest growing parts of the United States during the last half of the 20th century were suburban areas. This growth was largely driven by factors such as increased automobile ownership, the desire for more space and privacy, and improvements in transportation infrastructure.

Question 11

Towns are also called

Accepted Answer

The answer of Towns are also called
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Question 12

The major tasks of suburban government are often bound together with those of the

Accepted Answer

Suburban government is often closely tied to, and impacted by, the government of the larger metropolitan area or city of which it is a part. Therefore, the best choice is B)metropolis, which refers to a large city or urban area that includes multiple suburbs.

Question 13

__________ are countywide contests, not elections in which each board member is chosen from a different district; usually, the several top vote-getters all win seats in at-large elections.

Accepted Answer

At-large elections are countywide contests where board members are chosen from the entire county, rather than from specific districts within the county. In at-large elections, the top vote-getters usually win seats on the board.

Question 14

_____________ have cleaner air, lower crime rates, and lower taxes.

Accepted Answer

Suburban areas generally have cleaner air than metropolitan or urban areas due to less traffic and industry. Crime rates tend to be lower in suburban areas due to lower population density and more homogeneous communities. Taxes may also be lower in suburban areas due to a lower demand for public services.

Question 15

The largest jurisdiction within a state is usually a

Accepted Answer

Counties are typically the largest jurisdiction within a state and are responsible for a variety of services such as law enforcement, public works, and public health. Special districts, townships, cities, and municipalities may also exist within a county, but the county itself is generally the largest administrative unit.

Question 16

Baltimore is considered

Accepted Answer

Baltimore is both a city and a county, known officially as the City of Baltimore. It is the largest city in Maryland and the 30th most populous city in the United States.

Question 17

The best example of American direct democracy can be found in

Accepted Answer

The New England town meeting is a form of direct democracy where all eligible voters in a town gather to make decisions on local issues. This system has been in place for centuries and is still used in many New England towns today.

Question 18

The size of counties was originally based on

Accepted Answer

The size of counties was originally based on travel time for reaching the county seat. As travel was difficult and time-consuming in the past, it was important for each county to have a county seat that could be reached within a reasonable amount of time by residents. This led to the creation of counties that were geographically contiguous and had a population that could easily reach the county seat. Although population size and state-mandated requirements may have played a role in some cases, the primary factor in determining the size of counties was travel time.

Question 19

Which of the following actions takes place during an annual New England town meeting?

Accepted Answer

All of the above actions take place during an annual New England town meeting. These meetings provide an opportunity for citizens to participate in the democratic decision-making process of their local government. Appropriations are made for town expenses, taxes are levied to fund those expenses, new laws are passed, and rules are made to govern the town's activities and protect the rights of its citizens.

Question 20

Resistance to mandatory busing to achieve integrated schools in the 1960s and 1970s contributed to so-called

Accepted Answer

Resistance to mandatory busing, which aimed to achieve integration in schools, led to white families moving out of the city and into suburban areas, which became known as "white flight." Therefore, option A is the most appropriate choice.

Quiz 27: Local Governments and Metropolitics