Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

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?

Accepted Answer

Nonpartisan elections at the local gover

Question 3

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?

Accepted Answer

Property taxes play a crucial role in lo

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Public school districts in Texas receive

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

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. 
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 6

What are the three forms of local government in Texas?

Accepted Answer

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 
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 7

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

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?

Accepted Answer

Colonias have developed in Texas primari

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

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 
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 11

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

Accepted Answer

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. 
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 12

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

Approximately what percent of Texans reside in cities?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

Approximately how many municipalities are there in Texas?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

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 
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 17

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

Accepted Answer

The strong mayor-council and weak mayor-

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

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. 
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 19

How can city voters repeal an existing city ordinance?

Accepted Answer

A)  Through an initiative 
B)  Through a recall 
C)  Through a vote of no confidence 
D)  Through a referendum 
E)  Through protest and demonstration 
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 20

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

Accepted Answer

Intergovernmental relations can be chara

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

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?

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

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

What are the three forms of local government in Texas?

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

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?

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

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

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

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

Approximately what percent of Texans reside in cities?

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?

Approximately how many municipalities are there in Texas?

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

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

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

How can city voters repeal an existing city ordinance?

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

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

The Judicial Branch

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Public Policy and Administration

The Criminal Justice System

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Exam 3: Local Governments

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

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?

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

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

What are the three forms of local government in Texas?

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

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?

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

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

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

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

Approximately what percent of Texans reside in cities?

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?

Approximately how many municipalities are there in Texas?

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

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

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

How can city voters repeal an existing city ordinance?

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

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

The Judicial Branch

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Public Policy and Administration

The Criminal Justice System

Filters