Exam 3: Local Governments

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

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

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.

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?

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

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

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?

Which county official is responsible for recordkeeping and conducting elections?

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

Public education in the state of Texas is provided directly by

Cities must redistrict every __________ years.

Which Supreme Court case applied the "one-person, one-vote" principle to county precincts?

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.

The minimum population requirement in Texas for becoming a city is

None of the 10 largest cities in Texas have a

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.

The number of counties in Texas is

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

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?

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?