Question 1

​Explain why citizens might be confused about what special districts are and how they function.

Accepted Answer

Citizens might be confused about what special districts are and how they function for several reasons. First, special districts are a lesser-known form of government compared to city, county, and state governments, so many people may not be familiar with their existence or purpose. Additionally, special districts can vary widely in their functions and responsibilities, which can make it difficult for citizens to understand their specific roles in their communities.

Furthermore, special districts often have specific boundaries that may not align with city or county boundaries, leading to confusion about which government entity is responsible for certain services or infrastructure. The funding and governance structure of special districts can also be complex, with some being funded through property taxes, while others may rely on user fees or other sources of revenue. This can make it challenging for citizens to understand how their tax dollars are being used and who is accountable for the decisions made within the special district.

Overall, the lack of awareness and understanding of special districts, combined with their diverse functions and funding mechanisms, can contribute to citizen confusion about what they are and how they operate. It is important for special districts to engage in transparent communication and outreach efforts to help citizens better understand their roles and responsibilities within their communities.

Question 2

The primary source of funding for Texas cities and other local governments is _____.

Accepted Answer

A) the ad valorem property tax 
B) imposing user fees 
C) relying on intergovernmental transfers of money 
D) issuing revenue bonds 
E) adding an income tax 
A) the ad valorem property tax 
B) imposing user fees 
C) relying on intergovernmental transfers of money 
D) issuing revenue bonds 
E) adding an income tax A

Question 3

The most numerous type of government in Texas is _____.

Accepted Answer

A) general-law cities 
B) home-rule cities 
C) school districts 
D) counties 
E) special districts 
A) general-law cities 
B) home-rule cities 
C) school districts 
D) counties 
E) special districts E

Question 4

​Explain the spoils system at the county level.Some argue that it is pluralist,while others argue that it is elitist.What do you think? Explain why you chose your answer.

Accepted Answer

The spoils system at the county level re

Question 5

​What form of city government is preferable?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Choosing any one form of government over the other makes no real difference, as other factors like the quality of the candidatesare more important. 
B) ​It depends on how many conflicts exist between the mayor and the city council. 
C) ​It depends on the size of the city and the degree of ethnic and social class diversity. 
D) ​Either a mayor-manager or a council-manager form is preferable. 
E) ​It depends on the salary paid to the mayor or the manager. 
A) ​Choosing any one form of government over the other makes no real difference, as other factors like the quality of the candidatesare more important. 
B) ​It depends on how many conflicts exist between the mayor and the city council. 
C) ​It depends on the size of the city and the degree of ethnic and social class diversity. 
D) ​Either a mayor-manager or a council-manager form is preferable. 
E) ​It depends on the salary paid to the mayor or the manager.

Question 6

Although the county's governing body is called the commissioners court,​_____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​its function is legislative (policymaking) 
B) ​only in small, rural areas do some county judges function as the judicial branch 
C) ​its function is executive (policy administration) 
D) ​it has responsibilities for conducting elections and running county jails 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​its function is legislative (policymaking) 
B) ​only in small, rural areas do some county judges function as the judicial branch 
C) ​its function is executive (policy administration) 
D) ​it has responsibilities for conducting elections and running county jails 
E) ​all of these

Question 7

​Texas relies heavily on special districts because ______.

Accepted Answer

A) ​some problems, like flooding, cross city or county boundaries 
B) some projects are too expensive for one unit of government 
C) ​many local governments were created under the Texas Constitution in the 1870s and are not capable of addressing complex modern problems 
D) ​they are easy to organize and operate 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​some problems, like flooding, cross city or county boundaries 
B) some projects are too expensive for one unit of government 
C) ​many local governments were created under the Texas Constitution in the 1870s and are not capable of addressing complex modern problems 
D) ​they are easy to organize and operate 
E) ​all of these

Question 8

Describe the differences between partisan and nonpartisan elections and how that impacts city governance in Texas.Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of at-large systems and district systems for city elections.

Accepted Answer

Partisan elections in Texas refer to ele

Question 9

Under a "spoils system" of selection,public employees are chosen based on _____.

Accepted Answer

A) their scores on a merit exam 
B) their education level 
C) their civil service classification level 
D) affirmative action quota systems 
E) who they supported and gave money to in the last election 
A) their scores on a merit exam 
B) their education level 
C) their civil service classification level 
D) affirmative action quota systems 
E) who they supported and gave money to in the last election

Question 10

​Which of these isnot a recommendation for improving county government?

Accepted Answer

A) ​government consolidation / city-county cooperation 
B) ​appointed county commissioners 
C) ​centralized purchasing 
D) ​unit system of road construction/maintenance 
E) ​professional management of personnel and purchasing services 
A) ​government consolidation / city-county cooperation 
B) ​appointed county commissioners 
C) ​centralized purchasing 
D) ​unit system of road construction/maintenance 
E) ​professional management of personnel and purchasing services

Question 11

Advocates of district elections argue which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) Minorities and people without personal wealth have a better chance of being elected. 
B) Individuals electedare more likely to address the problems of the district. 
C) Diversity on a city council is more likely, ensuring broad representation of political viewpoints. 
D) Minorities and people without personal wealth have a better chance of being elected; and diversity on a city council is more likely, ensuring broad representation of political viewpoints. 
E) Minorities and people without personal wealth have a better chance of being elected; individuals elected are more likely to address the problems of the district; and diversity on a city council is more likely, ensuring broad representation of political viewpoints. 
A) Minorities and people without personal wealth have a better chance of being elected. 
B) Individuals electedare more likely to address the problems of the district. 
C) Diversity on a city council is more likely, ensuring broad representation of political viewpoints. 
D) Minorities and people without personal wealth have a better chance of being elected; and diversity on a city council is more likely, ensuring broad representation of political viewpoints. 
E) Minorities and people without personal wealth have a better chance of being elected; individuals elected are more likely to address the problems of the district; and diversity on a city council is more likely, ensuring broad representation of political viewpoints.

Question 12

Which statement does notsupportthe idea that county government is not democratic?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Voter turnout in county elections is low. 
B) ​The media tends to ignore county government and focus on city governments. 
C) ​County officials rely on the spoils system for hiring county employees. 
D) ​Most county officials are elected in competitive elections. 
E) ​Controlling contracts for road and bridges gives county commissioners hidden power and political influence. 
A) ​Voter turnout in county elections is low. 
B) ​The media tends to ignore county government and focus on city governments. 
C) ​County officials rely on the spoils system for hiring county employees. 
D) ​Most county officials are elected in competitive elections. 
E) ​Controlling contracts for road and bridges gives county commissioners hidden power and political influence.

Question 13

Whichform of city government is said to have originated in Galveston near the turn of the century?

Accepted Answer

A) strong mayor-council 
B) weak mayor-council 
C) commission 
D) council-manager 
E) urban machine 
A) strong mayor-council 
B) weak mayor-council 
C) commission 
D) council-manager 
E) urban machine

Question 14

Which of these is not a criticism of decentralized purchasing and control of roads by individual county commissioners?

Accepted Answer

A) ​The system is democratic because it puts power in the hands of elected, rather than appointed, officials. 
B) ​Counties lose money by not purchasing in quantity. 
C) ​Vendors and construction companies do favors for county officials in order to get contracts. 
D) ​There is duplication of equipment. 
E) ​There is poor planning and coordination. 
A) ​The system is democratic because it puts power in the hands of elected, rather than appointed, officials. 
B) ​Counties lose money by not purchasing in quantity. 
C) ​Vendors and construction companies do favors for county officials in order to get contracts. 
D) ​There is duplication of equipment. 
E) ​There is poor planning and coordination.

Question 15

The type of municipal election in which voters choose all of the members of the city council and vote for as many candidates as there are positions on the council is called a(n)_____ system.

Accepted Answer

A) at-large 
B) place 
C) district 
D) precinct 
E) primary 
A) at-large 
B) place 
C) district 
D) precinct 
E) primary

Question 16

​A constitution is to a state as a_____ is to a city.

Accepted Answer

A) ​law 
B) ​ordinance 
C) ​charter 
D) ​form of government 
E) ​home rule 
A) ​law 
B) ​ordinance 
C) ​charter 
D) ​form of government 
E) ​home rule

Question 17

Residents of the ETJ​​ _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​pay city taxes 
B) ​receive city services 
C) ​conform to city building and construction regulations 
D) ​vote in city elections 
E) ​all of these 
A) ​pay city taxes 
B) ​receive city services 
C) ​conform to city building and construction regulations 
D) ​vote in city elections 
E) ​all of these

Question 18

Except in the few counties using a unit system,the construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges is the responsibility of _____.

Accepted Answer

A) the county judge 
B) individual county commissioners 
C) the assessor-collector of taxes 
D) the county engineer 
E) the county clerk 
A) the county judge 
B) individual county commissioners 
C) the assessor-collector of taxes 
D) the county engineer 
E) the county clerk

Question 19

Every county in Texas,regardless of its size,is divided into _____.

Accepted Answer

A) four precincts 
B) five precincts 
C) eight precincts 
D) five wards 
E) six districts 
A) four precincts 
B) five precincts 
C) eight precincts 
D) five wards 
E) six districts

Question 20

Which of these is the most commonly used form of home-rule city government in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A) council-manager 
B) mayor-council 
C) mayor-manager 
D) county commissioners court 
E) commission 
A) council-manager 
B) mayor-council 
C) mayor-manager 
D) county commissioners court 
E) commission

Explain why citizens might be confused about what special districts are and how they function.

The primary source of funding for Texas cities and other local governments is _____.

The most numerous type of government in Texas is _____.

Explain the spoils system at the county level.Some argue that it is pluralist,while others argue that it is elitist.What do you think? Explain why you chose your answer.

What form of city government is preferable?

Although the county's governing body is called the commissioners court,_____.

Texas relies heavily on special districts because ______.

Describe the differences between partisan and nonpartisan elections and how that impacts city governance in Texas.Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of at-large systems and district systems for city elections.

Under a "spoils system" of selection,public employees are chosen based on _____.

Which of these isnot a recommendation for improving county government?

Advocates of district elections argue which of the following?

Which statement does notsupportthe idea that county government is not democratic?

Whichform of city government is said to have originated in Galveston near the turn of the century?

Which of these is not a criticism of decentralized purchasing and control of roads by individual county commissioners?

The type of municipal election in which voters choose all of the members of the city council and vote for as many candidates as there are positions on the council is called a(n)_____ system.

A constitution is to a state as a_____ is to a city.

Residents of the ETJ _____.

Except in the few counties using a unit system,the construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges is the responsibility of _____.

Every county in Texas,regardless of its size,is divided into _____.

Which of these is the most commonly used form of home-rule city government in Texas?

The Context of Texas Politics

The Constitutional Setting

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Voting,campaigns,and Elections

The Texas Legislature

The Governor

The Administrative State

The Judiciary

The Substance of Justice

The State Economy and the Financing of State Government

Public Policy: People

Public Policy: Resources

Filters

Exam 11: Local Government

​Explain why citizens might be confused about what special districts are and how they function.

The primary source of funding for Texas cities and other local governments is _____.

The most numerous type of government in Texas is _____.

​Explain the spoils system at the county level.Some argue that it is pluralist,while others argue that it is elitist.What do you think? Explain why you chose your answer.

​What form of city government is preferable?

Although the county's governing body is called the commissioners court,​_____.

​Texas relies heavily on special districts because ______.

Describe the differences between partisan and nonpartisan elections and how that impacts city governance in Texas.Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of at-large systems and district systems for city elections.

Under a "spoils system" of selection,public employees are chosen based on _____.

​Which of these isnot a recommendation for improving county government?

Advocates of district elections argue which of the following?

Which statement does notsupportthe idea that county government is not democratic?

Whichform of city government is said to have originated in Galveston near the turn of the century?

Which of these is not a criticism of decentralized purchasing and control of roads by individual county commissioners?

The type of municipal election in which voters choose all of the members of the city council and vote for as many candidates as there are positions on the council is called a(n)_____ system.

​A constitution is to a state as a_____ is to a city.

Residents of the ETJ​​ _____.

Except in the few counties using a unit system,the construction and maintenance of county roads and bridges is the responsibility of _____.

Every county in Texas,regardless of its size,is divided into _____.

Which of these is the most commonly used form of home-rule city government in Texas?

The Context of Texas Politics

The Constitutional Setting

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Voting,campaigns,and Elections

The Texas Legislature

The Governor

The Administrative State

The Judiciary

The Substance of Justice

The State Economy and the Financing of State Government

Public Policy: People

Public Policy: Resources

Filters

Explain why citizens might be confused about what special districts are and how they function.

Explain the spoils system at the county level.Some argue that it is pluralist,while others argue that it is elitist.What do you think? Explain why you chose your answer.

What form of city government is preferable?

Although the county's governing body is called the commissioners court,_____.

Texas relies heavily on special districts because ______.

Which of these isnot a recommendation for improving county government?

A constitution is to a state as a_____ is to a city.

Residents of the ETJ _____.