Question 1

In Houston, a strong mayor-council city, _____________appoints the chief of police and possesses veto power over ordinary majorities in the city council.

Accepted Answer

A)  the city council 
B)  the mayor 
C)  the city manager 
D)  the appointed city administrator 
A)  the city council 
B)  the mayor 
C)  the city manager 
D)  the appointed city administrator

Question 2

An ordinance may be established by all but

Accepted Answer

A)  the state legislature. 
B)  a city council. 
C)  a city commission. 
D)  a referendum. 
A)  the state legislature. 
B)  a city council. 
C)  a city commission. 
D)  a referendum.

Question 3

Briefly describe the three powers held by home-rule cities that are not held by state government or general-law cities. Explain how the exercise of these powers by citizens may be slowed or blocked.

Accepted Answer

Home-rule cities have three powers that

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A)  a greater diversity of representation. 
B)  more voters to participate. 
C)  less frequent elections. 
D)  less diversity of representation. 
A)  a greater diversity of representation. 
B)  more voters to participate. 
C)  less frequent elections. 
D)  less diversity of representation.

Question 5

Functions performed by counties in Texas include

Accepted Answer

A)  conducting elections, enforcing criminal law, and administering job-training programs. 
B)  operating courts, conducting elections, and providing higher education. 
C)  conducting elections, registration of voters, and enforcing criminal law. 
D)  providing higher education, conducting elections, and collecting all state taxes. 
A)  conducting elections, enforcing criminal law, and administering job-training programs. 
B)  operating courts, conducting elections, and providing higher education. 
C)  conducting elections, registration of voters, and enforcing criminal law. 
D)  providing higher education, conducting elections, and collecting all state taxes.

Question 6

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 7

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

Accepted Answer

A)  The strong mayor-council form 
B)  The weak mayor-council form 
C)  The council-manager form 
D)  The commission form 
A)  The strong mayor-council form 
B)  The weak mayor-council form 
C)  The council-manager form 
D)  The commission form

Question 8

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

Question 9

The main advantage that a home-rule city has over a general-law city is that a home-rule city

Accepted Answer

A)  has greater flexibility in its organization and operation. 
B)  has fewer people to worry about than a general-law city. 
C)  can use state law to operate. 
D)  can use its power to overrule state law. 
A)  has greater flexibility in its organization and operation. 
B)  has fewer people to worry about than a general-law city. 
C)  can use state law to operate. 
D)  can use its power to overrule state law.

Question 10

What is municipal annexation and how are cities limited in their ability to annex surrounding areas?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is municipal annexation and how are...

Question 11

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 12

In Texas, most general-law cities are

Accepted Answer

A)  very large in population. 
B)  very small in population. 
C)  equal in population to home-rule cities. 
D)  governed by strong mayor-council forms of government. 
A)  very large in population. 
B)  very small in population. 
C)  equal in population to home-rule cities. 
D)  governed by strong mayor-council forms of government.

Question 13

About what percentage of Texans live in metropolitan areas?

Accepted Answer

A)  88 
B)  26 
C)  32 
D)  38 
A)  88 
B)  26 
C)  32 
D)  38

Question 14

In Texas, cities operating with the strong mayor-council form of government have which of the following characteristics?

Accepted Answer

A)  Council members elected by single-member districts 
B)  A mayor elected at-large within the city 
C)  A mayor with power to veto council actions 
D)  All of these choices are true. 
A)  Council members elected by single-member districts 
B)  A mayor elected at-large within the city 
C)  A mayor with power to veto council actions 
D)  All of these choices are true.

Question 15

Under the Texas Constitution, counties

Accepted Answer

A)  pass laws to be implemented by cities. 
B)  possess home-rule and ordinance-making authority. 
C)  are administrative arms of the state. 
D)  are primarily responsible for conducting common school education. 
A)  pass laws to be implemented by cities. 
B)  possess home-rule and ordinance-making authority. 
C)  are administrative arms of the state. 
D)  are primarily responsible for conducting common school education.

Question 16

The unincorporated area outside a city's boundaries into which it may annex is referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  extraterritorial jurisdiction. 
B)  metropolitan area. 
C)  municipality. 
D)  merged territory. 
A)  extraterritorial jurisdiction. 
B)  metropolitan area. 
C)  municipality. 
D)  merged territory.

Question 17

Describe the four forms of municipal government used in Texas, including their characteristics and principal strengths and weaknesses. What form of municipal government do you think would be best for your city and why?

Accepted Answer

In Texas, there are four forms of munici

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A)  Many local needs cut across the boundaries of cities and counties. 
B)  Restrictive provisions in the state constitution make it difficult for an existing government to take on new tasks. 
C)  Individuals create special districts to make money for themselves. 
D)  All of these choices are reasons why Texas has so many special districts. 
A)  Many local needs cut across the boundaries of cities and counties. 
B)  Restrictive provisions in the state constitution make it difficult for an existing government to take on new tasks. 
C)  Individuals create special districts to make money for themselves. 
D)  All of these choices are reasons why Texas has so many special districts.

Question 19

In theory, the council-manager form of government has

Accepted Answer

A)  a strong mayor with a weak city manager. 
B)  a weak city manager and a strong council. 
C)  a weak city council and a strong city manager. 
D)  a weak mayor. 
A)  a strong mayor with a weak city manager. 
B)  a weak city manager and a strong council. 
C)  a weak city council and a strong city manager. 
D)  a weak mayor.

Question 20

A city charter does all of the following, except

Accepted Answer

A)  establish powers of municipal officers. 
B)  set terms of office for council members. 
C)  provide procedures for passing ordinances. 
D)  establish state law. 
A)  establish powers of municipal officers. 
B)  set terms of office for council members. 
C)  provide procedures for passing ordinances. 
D)  establish state law.

In Houston, a strong mayor-council city, _____________appoints the chief of police and possesses veto power over ordinary majorities in the city council.

An ordinance may be established by all but

Briefly describe the three powers held by home-rule cities that are not held by state government or general-law cities. Explain how the exercise of these powers by citizens may be slowed or blocked.

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

Functions performed by counties in Texas include

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?

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

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

The main advantage that a home-rule city has over a general-law city is that a home-rule city

What is municipal annexation and how are cities limited in their ability to annex surrounding areas?

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?

In Texas, most general-law cities are

About what percentage of Texans live in metropolitan areas?

In Texas, cities operating with the strong mayor-council form of government have which of the following characteristics?

Under the Texas Constitution, counties

The unincorporated area outside a city's boundaries into which it may annex is referred to as

Describe the four forms of municipal government used in Texas, including their characteristics and principal strengths and weaknesses. What form of municipal government do you think would be best for your city and why?

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

In theory, the council-manager form of government has

A city charter does all of the following, except

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics in Texas

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

The Criminal Justice System

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters

Exam 3: Local Governments

In Houston, a strong mayor-council city, _____________appoints the chief of police and possesses veto power over ordinary majorities in the city council.

An ordinance may be established by all but

Briefly describe the three powers held by home-rule cities that are not held by state government or general-law cities. Explain how the exercise of these powers by citizens may be slowed or blocked.

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

Functions performed by counties in Texas include

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?

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

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

The main advantage that a home-rule city has over a general-law city is that a home-rule city

What is municipal annexation and how are cities limited in their ability to annex surrounding areas?

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?

In Texas, most general-law cities are

About what percentage of Texans live in metropolitan areas?

In Texas, cities operating with the strong mayor-council form of government have which of the following characteristics?

Under the Texas Constitution, counties

The unincorporated area outside a city's boundaries into which it may annex is referred to as

Describe the four forms of municipal government used in Texas, including their characteristics and principal strengths and weaknesses. What form of municipal government do you think would be best for your city and why?

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

In theory, the council-manager form of government has

A city charter does all of the following, except

The Environment of Texas Politics

Federalism and the Texas Constitution

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

The Media and Politics in Texas

The Politics of Interest Groups

The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

Public Policy and Administration

The Judicial Branch

The Criminal Justice System

Finance and Fiscal Policy

Filters