Question 1

In a council-manager form of government

Accepted Answer

A)  there is a key distinction between policymaking and administration. 
B)  city elections are partisan but the policymaking is noticeably nonpartisan. 
C)  political leadership is equally dispersed amongst its members. 
D)  oversight and review of policies and budgets is minimal. 
E)  the legislative and administrative functions of government are combined. 
A)  there is a key distinction between policymaking and administration. 
B)  city elections are partisan but the policymaking is noticeably nonpartisan. 
C)  political leadership is equally dispersed amongst its members. 
D)  oversight and review of policies and budgets is minimal. 
E)  the legislative and administrative functions of government are combined. A

Question 2

The strong mayor form of city government may be out of favor because a strong mayor often was connected with urban political machines, ward politics, and political corruption.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

In areas surrounding large Texas cities, population growth has forced both cities and counties to wrestle with

Accepted Answer

A)  central city paralysis. 
B)  urban decay. 
C)  urban sprawl. 
D)  private property disputes. 
E)  city boundary disputes. 
A)  central city paralysis. 
B)  urban decay. 
C)  urban sprawl. 
D)  private property disputes. 
E)  city boundary disputes. C

Question 4

The most important decision that a school board makes is the appointment of the

Accepted Answer

A)  principal of each campus. 
B)  director of academic programs. 
C)  football coach. 
D)  school superintendent. 
E)  head of the board. 
A)  principal of each campus. 
B)  director of academic programs. 
C)  football coach. 
D)  school superintendent. 
E)  head of the board.

Question 5

The commission form of government combines the 	 functions.

Accepted Answer

A)  executive, legislative, and judicial 
B)  legislative, administrative, and judicial 
C)  executive, legislative, and mayoral 
D)  executive, judicial, and mayoral 
E)  executive, legislative, and administrative 
A)  executive, legislative, and judicial 
B)  legislative, administrative, and judicial 
C)  executive, legislative, and mayoral 
D)  executive, judicial, and mayoral 
E)  executive, legislative, and administrative

Question 6

____________ can provide funding for revenue bonds a city can use.

Accepted Answer

A)  A city-owned parking garage 
B)  An estate tax 
C)  A municipal bank or credit union 
D)  Tolls on a state highway 
E)  A tax on imports from other states 
A)  A city-owned parking garage 
B)  An estate tax 
C)  A municipal bank or credit union 
D)  Tolls on a state highway 
E)  A tax on imports from other states

Question 7

What was a primary goal in establishing independent school districts?

Accepted Answer

A)  To shift responsibility to county governments while decreasing the financial burden of the state. 
B)  To ensure financial equality in schools across the state. 
C)  To shift responsibility for the schools from politicians to educators and reduce costs. 
D)  To depoliticize education and shift responsibility for it away from county or city government. 
E)  To ensure every child received an education derived from a single curriculum. 
A)  To shift responsibility to county governments while decreasing the financial burden of the state. 
B)  To ensure financial equality in schools across the state. 
C)  To shift responsibility for the schools from politicians to educators and reduce costs. 
D)  To depoliticize education and shift responsibility for it away from county or city government. 
E)  To ensure every child received an education derived from a single curriculum.

Question 8

The two major limit-setting authorities over cities, counties, school districts, and special districts are the

Accepted Answer

A)  commissioners courts and the Texas Constitution. 
B)  Texas Supreme Court and the legislature. 
C)  Texas Constitution and the legislature. 
D)  Texas Constitution and the Court of Criminal Appeals. 
E)  Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Constitution. 
A)  commissioners courts and the Texas Constitution. 
B)  Texas Supreme Court and the legislature. 
C)  Texas Constitution and the legislature. 
D)  Texas Constitution and the Court of Criminal Appeals. 
E)  Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Constitution.

Question 9

Special districts are units of local government created by the 	 to perform specific functions.

Accepted Answer

A)  city 
B)  county 
C)  state 
D)  courts 
E)  governor 
A)  city 
B)  county 
C)  state 
D)  courts 
E)  governor

Question 10

In a place system, candidates

Accepted Answer

A)  file for a specific council seat and run citywide for positions. 
B)  run citywide for council seats; the candidates with the most votes win. 
C)  run for a council seat within a district and are voted by the constituents of the district. 
D)  for city council are elected through a double ballot system. 
E)  file for city council and are chosen by party leaders. 
A)  file for a specific council seat and run citywide for positions. 
B)  run citywide for council seats; the candidates with the most votes win. 
C)  run for a council seat within a district and are voted by the constituents of the district. 
D)  for city council are elected through a double ballot system. 
E)  file for city council and are chosen by party leaders.

Question 11

What characterizes the history of most cities in Texas with respect to their government?

Accepted Answer

A)  Many have functioned under more than one form of government for a variety of reasons. 
B)  Most cities have progressively lost autonomy to the state through the revocation of city charters. 
C)  Many have been eliminated over the years due to annexation by counties. 
D)  Most cities in Texas have only recently adopted the mayor-council form of government. 
E)  Most cities were once home rule before transitioning to general law. 
A)  Many have functioned under more than one form of government for a variety of reasons. 
B)  Most cities have progressively lost autonomy to the state through the revocation of city charters. 
C)  Many have been eliminated over the years due to annexation by counties. 
D)  Most cities in Texas have only recently adopted the mayor-council form of government. 
E)  Most cities were once home rule before transitioning to general law.

Question 12

A law or regulation enacted by a higher level of government that compels a lower level of government to carry out specific actions is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  executive order. 
B)  requirement. 
C)  ordinance. 
D)  mandate. 
E)  civil law. 
A)  executive order. 
B)  requirement. 
C)  ordinance. 
D)  mandate. 
E)  civil law.

Question 13

Because many small governments have limited tax bases and staffs, they enter into contracts with larger governments for various public services.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Although cities are required by law to balance their operating budgets, many municipal construction projects are financed by loans through the issuance of

Accepted Answer

A)  referenda bonds. 
B)  limited agenda bonds. 
C)  general obligation bonds. 
D)  county bonds of indebtedness. 
E)  municipal bonds. 
A)  referenda bonds. 
B)  limited agenda bonds. 
C)  general obligation bonds. 
D)  county bonds of indebtedness. 
E)  municipal bonds.

Question 15

The 	 is usually a voting member of city council but has few other duties in the council-manager form of city government.

Accepted Answer

A)  mayor 
B)  city manager 
C)  city commissioner 
D)  comptroller 
E)  city judge 
A)  mayor 
B)  city manager 
C)  city commissioner 
D)  comptroller 
E)  city judge

Question 16

What are Texas cities primarily dependent on for revenue?

Accepted Answer

A)  City governments rely heavily on revenue generated by city owned facilities. 
B)  Direct aid from the federal government in the form of bonds. 
C)  Money generated through the municipal income tax. 
D)  City governments rely heavily on regressive taxes such as the property tax. 
E)  Money distributed by the state and county governments. 
A)  City governments rely heavily on revenue generated by city owned facilities. 
B)  Direct aid from the federal government in the form of bonds. 
C)  Money generated through the municipal income tax. 
D)  City governments rely heavily on regressive taxes such as the property tax. 
E)  Money distributed by the state and county governments.

Question 17

Describe the basic structure of the different forms of city government and explain the primary differences among them.Under which form would you prefer to live? Why?

Accepted Answer

The basic structure of the different for

Question 18

What characterizes the organizational structure of Texas county government?

Accepted Answer

A)  They vary widely from county to county but all have few implied powers. 
B)  They are tightly organized with a relatively high degree of power and autonomy. 
C)  They are highly fragmented with relatively few implied powers. 
D)  They are slightly fragmented though some have significant powers. 
E)  They are tightly organized with relatively few implied powers. 
A)  They vary widely from county to county but all have few implied powers. 
B)  They are tightly organized with a relatively high degree of power and autonomy. 
C)  They are highly fragmented with relatively few implied powers. 
D)  They are slightly fragmented though some have significant powers. 
E)  They are tightly organized with relatively few implied powers.

Question 19

Contrast the mayor-council and council-manager forms of city government.In your opinion, which provides the most responsive and professional government? Defend your answer.

Accepted Answer

The mayor-council form of city governmen

Question 20

The prevailing constitutional theory on the relationship of local governments to the state is the
System.

Accepted Answer

A)  confederation 
B)  federalism 
C)  unitary 
D)  populist 
E)  subordinate 
A)  confederation 
B)  federalism 
C)  unitary 
D)  populist 
E)  subordinate

In a council-manager form of government

The strong mayor form of city government may be out of favor because a strong mayor often was connected with urban political machines, ward politics, and political corruption.

In areas surrounding large Texas cities, population growth has forced both cities and counties to wrestle with

The most important decision that a school board makes is the appointment of the

The commission form of government combines the functions.

____________ can provide funding for revenue bonds a city can use.

What was a primary goal in establishing independent school districts?

The two major limit-setting authorities over cities, counties, school districts, and special districts are the

Special districts are units of local government created by the to perform specific functions.

In a place system, candidates

What characterizes the history of most cities in Texas with respect to their government?

A law or regulation enacted by a higher level of government that compels a lower level of government to carry out specific actions is a(n)

Because many small governments have limited tax bases and staffs, they enter into contracts with larger governments for various public services.

Although cities are required by law to balance their operating budgets, many municipal construction projects are financed by loans through the issuance of

The is usually a voting member of city council but has few other duties in the council-manager form of city government.

What are Texas cities primarily dependent on for revenue?

Describe the basic structure of the different forms of city government and explain the primary differences among them.Under which form would you prefer to live? Why?

What characterizes the organizational structure of Texas county government?

Contrast the mayor-council and council-manager forms of city government.In your opinion, which provides the most responsive and professional government? Defend your answer.

The prevailing constitutional theory on the relationship of local governments to the state is the System.

The social and economic milieu of texas politics

The texas constitution

Intergovernmental relationships

Interest groups and political power in texas

The mass media in texas politics

The party system in

Elections, campaigns, and political behavior

The texas legislature

The texas executive

The bureaucracy and policy implementation

The judicial system in texas

Contemporary public policy issues in texas

Filters

Exam 12: Local government in texas: cities, towns, counties, and special districts

In a council-manager form of government

The strong mayor form of city government may be out of favor because a strong mayor often was connected with urban political machines, ward politics, and political corruption.

In areas surrounding large Texas cities, population growth has forced both cities and counties to wrestle with

The most important decision that a school board makes is the appointment of the

The commission form of government combines the functions.

____________ can provide funding for revenue bonds a city can use.

What was a primary goal in establishing independent school districts?

The two major limit-setting authorities over cities, counties, school districts, and special districts are the

Special districts are units of local government created by the to perform specific functions.

In a place system, candidates

What characterizes the history of most cities in Texas with respect to their government?

A law or regulation enacted by a higher level of government that compels a lower level of government to carry out specific actions is a(n)

Because many small governments have limited tax bases and staffs, they enter into contracts with larger governments for various public services.

Although cities are required by law to balance their operating budgets, many municipal construction projects are financed by loans through the issuance of

The is usually a voting member of city council but has few other duties in the council-manager form of city government.

What are Texas cities primarily dependent on for revenue?

Describe the basic structure of the different forms of city government and explain the primary differences among them.Under which form would you prefer to live? Why?

What characterizes the organizational structure of Texas county government?

Contrast the mayor-council and council-manager forms of city government.In your opinion, which provides the most responsive and professional government? Defend your answer.

The prevailing constitutional theory on the relationship of local governments to the state is the System.

The social and economic milieu of texas politics

The texas constitution

Intergovernmental relationships

Interest groups and political power in texas

The mass media in texas politics

The party system in

Elections, campaigns, and political behavior

The texas legislature

The texas executive

The bureaucracy and policy implementation

The judicial system in texas

Contemporary public policy issues in texas

Filters