Question 1

Which official presides over the county commissioners court?

Accepted Answer

A) county judge 
B) county clerk 
C) county attorney 
D) county tax assessor-collector 
E) sheriff 
A) county judge 
B) county clerk 
C) county attorney 
D) county tax assessor-collector 
E) sheriff

Question 2

Which of these is not an argument of opponents of nonpartisan elections?

Accepted Answer

A) Nonpartisan elections rob the voters of the most important symbol that they have for making electoral choices. 
B) Such elections contribute to low voter turnout. 
C) The development of strong state parties is undermined by nonpartisan electionsbecause the grassroots are weak. 
D) Nonpartisan elections encourage the development of civic organizations, which are basically political parties whose purposes are not always clear to the voters. 
E) These elections enhance the community's ability to effectively criticize the government in power. 
A) Nonpartisan elections rob the voters of the most important symbol that they have for making electoral choices. 
B) Such elections contribute to low voter turnout. 
C) The development of strong state parties is undermined by nonpartisan electionsbecause the grassroots are weak. 
D) Nonpartisan elections encourage the development of civic organizations, which are basically political parties whose purposes are not always clear to the voters. 
E) These elections enhance the community's ability to effectively criticize the government in power.

Question 3

Cities in Texas with a population over _____ may choose to form their own city charters.

Accepted Answer

A) 1,000 
B) 5,000 
C) 10,000 
D) 20,000 
E) 50,000 
A) 1,000 
B) 5,000 
C) 10,000 
D) 20,000 
E) 50,000

Question 4

​General law cities _____.

Accepted Answer

A) are usually less than 5,000 in population 
B) operate under less flexible laws than home-rule cities 
C) must use a mayor-council form of government 
D) are usually less than 5,000 population and operate under less flexible laws than home-rule cities 
E) are usually less than 5,000 population,operate under less flexible laws than home-rule cities, and must use a mayor-council form of government 
A) are usually less than 5,000 in population 
B) operate under less flexible laws than home-rule cities 
C) must use a mayor-council form of government 
D) are usually less than 5,000 population and operate under less flexible laws than home-rule cities 
E) are usually less than 5,000 population,operate under less flexible laws than home-rule cities, and must use a mayor-council form of government

Question 5

Which of the following is not a criticism of special districts?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Most voters know little about them or their operations. 
B) ​They cover very large geographic areas and are overly dependent on state control. 
C) ​They are uneconomical, with high interest rates on taxpayer-supported bonds. 
D) ​They complicate government, especially in urban areas. 
E) ​They promote haphazard development and inefficiency. 
A) ​Most voters know little about them or their operations. 
B) ​They cover very large geographic areas and are overly dependent on state control. 
C) ​They are uneconomical, with high interest rates on taxpayer-supported bonds. 
D) ​They complicate government, especially in urban areas. 
E) ​They promote haphazard development and inefficiency.

Question 6

​How is the organization/structure of the county government like that of the state executive branch?

Accepted Answer

The organization and structure of county

Question 7

Counties are responsible for _____.

Accepted Answer

A) enforcing state law 
B) keeping many state records such as titles and deeds 
C) collecting many state taxes 
D) conducting state elections 
E) all of these 
A) enforcing state law 
B) keeping many state records such as titles and deeds 
C) collecting many state taxes 
D) conducting state elections 
E) all of these

Question 8

​"White flight" involves affluent,mainly Anglo residents who _____.

Accepted Answer

A) move outside of city limits 
B) ​avoid paying city taxes 
C) ​continue to enjoy city amenities such as libraries, airports, and museums 
D) ​may be partially controlled through the city's use of the ETJ 
E) ​all of these 
A) move outside of city limits 
B) ​avoid paying city taxes 
C) ​continue to enjoy city amenities such as libraries, airports, and museums 
D) ​may be partially controlled through the city's use of the ETJ 
E) ​all of these

Question 9

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 2 and 11): In what ways does the Texas Constitution limit county government in Texas?What changes to the state's constitution would make county government more effective?

Accepted Answer

The Texas Constitution places several li

Question 10

​Annexation power allows cities to do all of these except _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​annex another incorporated city 
B) ​prevent suburbs from incorporating and blocking a city's growth 
C) ​prevent "white flight" 
D) ​expand their tax bases 
E) bring adjacent areas inside the city's boundaries 
A) ​annex another incorporated city 
B) ​prevent suburbs from incorporating and blocking a city's growth 
C) ​prevent "white flight" 
D) ​expand their tax bases 
E) bring adjacent areas inside the city's boundaries

Question 11

Your text claims that special districts are profoundly undemocratic and that they are "hidden governments."Explain what this means and in what waysspecial districts arehidden.Do you agree that these districts are undemocratic?Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

Special districts are considered profoun

Question 12

​Why are there concerns about the long-term economic challenges faced by local governments?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Texas has an increasing number of residents with less revenue to provide services. 
B) ​The public opposes tax increases. 
C) State and national governments are unableto provide funds. 
D) ​State and national governments mandatespending money on certain programs. 
E) ​All of these are reasons for concern. 
A) ​Texas has an increasing number of residents with less revenue to provide services. 
B) ​The public opposes tax increases. 
C) State and national governments are unableto provide funds. 
D) ​State and national governments mandatespending money on certain programs. 
E) ​All of these are reasons for concern.

Question 13

​According to your text,regardless of the size of a county,the most important power of the county commissioners court is that of _____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​conducting elections 
B) ​controlling the budget 
C) ​carrying out state programs 
D) ​hiring county employees 
E) ​running county jails 
A) ​conducting elections 
B) ​controlling the budget 
C) ​carrying out state programs 
D) ​hiring county employees 
E) ​running county jails

Question 14

Explainthe management practices of county governmentfor hiring employees,purchasing,and the administration of roads and bridges.In what sense are these practices inefficient?In what sense do these practices suggest corruption?

Accepted Answer

The management practices of county gover

Question 15

In whichform of municipal government does the council act as a policymaking body and appoint a chief administrator for the city?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

County commissioners in Texas are _____.

Accepted Answer

A) appointed by the county judge 
B) elected by precinct in partisan elections 
C) chosen in an at-large election 
D) elected by precinct in nonpartisan elections 
E) chosen by the county elections administrator 
A) appointed by the county judge 
B) elected by precinct in partisan elections 
C) chosen in an at-large election 
D) elected by precinct in nonpartisan elections 
E) chosen by the county elections administrator

Question 17

Which of these is a criticism of the council-manager form ofgovernment?

Accepted Answer

A) The manager is not directly responsible to the voters, and the council is chosen by partisan election. 
B) The values of the business community tend to be promoted, and the mayor may use the spoils system to staff government with his or her friends. 
C) The manager is not directly responsible to the voters, and the values of the business community tend to be promoted. 
D) The values of the business community tend to be promoted, and the council is chosen by partisan election. 
E) The council is chosen by partisan election, and the mayor may use the spoils system to staff government with his or her friends. 
A) The manager is not directly responsible to the voters, and the council is chosen by partisan election. 
B) The values of the business community tend to be promoted, and the mayor may use the spoils system to staff government with his or her friends. 
C) The manager is not directly responsible to the voters, and the values of the business community tend to be promoted. 
D) The values of the business community tend to be promoted, and the council is chosen by partisan election. 
E) The council is chosen by partisan election, and the mayor may use the spoils system to staff government with his or her friends.

Question 18

All of these issues or developments have affected and will affect local government except _____.

Accepted Answer

A) the necessity for increased strategic planning 
B) the loss of population in metropolitan areas 
C) the desirability of increased interlocal cooperation 
D) increased needs for funding 
E) the need for ordinance-making power for counties 
A) the necessity for increased strategic planning 
B) the loss of population in metropolitan areas 
C) the desirability of increased interlocal cooperation 
D) increased needs for funding 
E) the need for ordinance-making power for counties

Question 19

Which statement best summarizes the weaknesses of the strong mayor-council form of city government?

Accepted Answer

A) ​Mayor-council cities may be less efficient and have less consensus on policy. 
B) ​It often has full-time paid elected officials. 
C) ​It better copes with the problems of major urban areas. 
D) ​Most officials are elected rather than hired or appointed. 
E) ​The mayor has strong executive power. 
A) ​Mayor-council cities may be less efficient and have less consensus on policy. 
B) ​It often has full-time paid elected officials. 
C) ​It better copes with the problems of major urban areas. 
D) ​Most officials are elected rather than hired or appointed. 
E) ​The mayor has strong executive power.

Question 20

Which of these is not a major item of expenditure for cities in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A) education 
B) police and fire protection 
C) utilities 
D) solid-waste disposal 
E) parks and recreation 
A) education 
B) police and fire protection 
C) utilities 
D) solid-waste disposal 
E) parks and recreation

Which official presides over the county commissioners court?

Which of these is not an argument of opponents of nonpartisan elections?

Cities in Texas with a population over _____ may choose to form their own city charters.

General law cities _____.

Which of the following is not a criticism of special districts?

How is the organization/structure of the county government like that of the state executive branch?

Counties are responsible for _____.

"White flight" involves affluent,mainly Anglo residents who _____.

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 2 and 11): In what ways does the Texas Constitution limit county government in Texas?What changes to the state's constitution would make county government more effective?

Annexation power allows cities to do all of these except _____.

Your text claims that special districts are profoundly undemocratic and that they are "hidden governments."Explain what this means and in what waysspecial districts arehidden.Do you agree that these districts are undemocratic?Why or why not?

Why are there concerns about the long-term economic challenges faced by local governments?

According to your text,regardless of the size of a county,the most important power of the county commissioners court is that of _____.

Explainthe management practices of county governmentfor hiring employees,purchasing,and the administration of roads and bridges.In what sense are these practices inefficient?In what sense do these practices suggest corruption?

In whichform of municipal government does the council act as a policymaking body and appoint a chief administrator for the city?

County commissioners in Texas are _____.

Which of these is a criticism of the council-manager form ofgovernment?

All of these issues or developments have affected and will affect local government except _____.

Which statement best summarizes the weaknesses of the strong mayor-council form of city government?

Which of these is not a major item of expenditure for cities 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

Which official presides over the county commissioners court?

Which of these is not an argument of opponents of nonpartisan elections?

Cities in Texas with a population over _____ may choose to form their own city charters.

​General law cities _____.

Which of the following is not a criticism of special districts?

​How is the organization/structure of the county government like that of the state executive branch?

Counties are responsible for _____.

​"White flight" involves affluent,mainly Anglo residents who _____.

Cross-Chapter Essay Question (Chapters 2 and 11): In what ways does the Texas Constitution limit county government in Texas?What changes to the state's constitution would make county government more effective?

​Annexation power allows cities to do all of these except _____.

Your text claims that special districts are profoundly undemocratic and that they are "hidden governments."Explain what this means and in what waysspecial districts arehidden.Do you agree that these districts are undemocratic?Why or why not?

​Why are there concerns about the long-term economic challenges faced by local governments?

​According to your text,regardless of the size of a county,the most important power of the county commissioners court is that of _____.

Explainthe management practices of county governmentfor hiring employees,purchasing,and the administration of roads and bridges.In what sense are these practices inefficient?In what sense do these practices suggest corruption?

In whichform of municipal government does the council act as a policymaking body and appoint a chief administrator for the city?

County commissioners in Texas are _____.

Which of these is a criticism of the council-manager form ofgovernment?

All of these issues or developments have affected and will affect local government except _____.

Which statement best summarizes the weaknesses of the strong mayor-council form of city government?

Which of these is not a major item of expenditure for cities 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

General law cities _____.

How is the organization/structure of the county government like that of the state executive branch?

"White flight" involves affluent,mainly Anglo residents who _____.

Annexation power allows cities to do all of these except _____.

Why are there concerns about the long-term economic challenges faced by local governments?

According to your text,regardless of the size of a county,the most important power of the county commissioners court is that of _____.