Question 1

The presiding officer of the commissioners court is the _______ who is joined by ___ county commissioners.

Accepted Answer

A)  county mayor; four 
B)  district attorney; three 
C)  county judge; four 
D)  county manager; three 
E)  high commissioner; four 
A)  county mayor; four 
B)  district attorney; three 
C)  county judge; four 
D)  county manager; three 
E)  high commissioner; four

Question 2

The population characteristics of Texas cities change over time, and major metropolitan areas have experienced a(n) 	 to the suburbs.

Accepted Answer

A)  "Hispanic flight" 
B)  "white flight" 
C)  "African American flight" 
D)  "senior's flight" 
E)  "affluent flight" 
A)  "Hispanic flight" 
B)  "white flight" 
C)  "African American flight" 
D)  "senior's flight" 
E)  "affluent flight"

Question 3

Some areas, particularly in West Texas, still have a lot of elbow room, but most Texans live in cities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The mayor-council form of government is the most common form of city government in Texas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

What are five of the solutions given in the text for the problems of local governments in Texas? Which one would you support? Why?

Accepted Answer

Five solutions given in the text for the

Question 6

Privatization gives cities options for

Accepted Answer

A)  dealing with ceilings on bond debts for capital improvements by renting facilities from private contractors. 
B)  new leaders for the government because they are having trouble finding candidates to run for office. 
C)  tax collection by allowing them to collect fees for services not allowed by the Texas Constitution. 
D)  city management, then the city councils can spend their time developing new ordinances instead of worrying about administrative duties. 
E)  dealing with disagreements and conflicts with county and other city governments. 
A)  dealing with ceilings on bond debts for capital improvements by renting facilities from private contractors. 
B)  new leaders for the government because they are having trouble finding candidates to run for office. 
C)  tax collection by allowing them to collect fees for services not allowed by the Texas Constitution. 
D)  city management, then the city councils can spend their time developing new ordinances instead of worrying about administrative duties. 
E)  dealing with disagreements and conflicts with county and other city governments.

Question 7

The _______ is responsible for issuing various licenses required by state law such as a marriage license.

Accepted Answer

A)  county judge 
B)  district clerk 
C)  county clerk 
D)  precinct commissioner 
E)  constable 
A)  county judge 
B)  district clerk 
C)  county clerk 
D)  precinct commissioner 
E)  constable

Question 8

Of the eight largest cities in Texas, only Houston and Dallas have minority populations exceeding 50 percent.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Define special districts, including an explanation for their proliferation in Texas.In what ways have their creation been positive and negative?

Accepted Answer

Special districts are local government e

Question 10

The bonds issued by a city are secured by its

Accepted Answer

A)  taxing power. 
B)  judicial courts. 
C)  manager. 
D)  mayor. 
E)  general assets. 
A)  taxing power. 
B)  judicial courts. 
C)  manager. 
D)  mayor. 
E)  general assets.

Question 11

Citizens can petition their city council for a rollback election

Accepted Answer

A)  to prevent the city from embarking on a certain project. 
B)  to nullify any tax increase of more than 8 percent in a given year. 
C)  in an attempt to recall a mayor who has underperformed. 
D)  to prevent a budget from being passed that will negatively affect the city. 
E)  to nullify any changes in taxation policy from a former administration. 
A)  to prevent the city from embarking on a certain project. 
B)  to nullify any tax increase of more than 8 percent in a given year. 
C)  in an attempt to recall a mayor who has underperformed. 
D)  to prevent a budget from being passed that will negatively affect the city. 
E)  to nullify any changes in taxation policy from a former administration.

Question 12

What do you consider to be the most important problems and inequities in public education today?
How have historical patterns in local school administration contributed to the existence of those problems and inequities? What are some recommended solutions?

Accepted Answer

The most important problems and inequiti

Question 13

Since special districts can be created by the legislature, it is easier to create another layer of government than it is to change the powers of existing governments by

Accepted Answer

A)  amending the state constitution. 
B)  calling special sessions of the legislature. 
C)  electing new individuals to government offices. 
D)  overriding the governor's veto of those changes. 
E)  creating new statutes to split authority. 
A)  amending the state constitution. 
B)  calling special sessions of the legislature. 
C)  electing new individuals to government offices. 
D)  overriding the governor's veto of those changes. 
E)  creating new statutes to split authority.

Question 14

Some tools that cities use to enhance the economic development in their area are

Accepted Answer

A)  tax abatements, lowered utility bills, and establishing trade, and commerce offices in "sister cities." 
B)  tax abatements, tax referrals, enticing company officials with sweeteners, and housing assistance. 
C)  lowered utility bills, tax referrals, and establishing recharge zones to prod deteriorating areas into enhancing economic services. 
D)  establishing relationships with "sister cities", tax referrals, reduced utility bills, and finding employment for out of work residents. 
E)  wooing foreign firms with cheap labor in enterprise zones where the minimum wage is waived, tax abatements, and reduced utility bills. 
A)  tax abatements, lowered utility bills, and establishing trade, and commerce offices in "sister cities." 
B)  tax abatements, tax referrals, enticing company officials with sweeteners, and housing assistance. 
C)  lowered utility bills, tax referrals, and establishing recharge zones to prod deteriorating areas into enhancing economic services. 
D)  establishing relationships with "sister cities", tax referrals, reduced utility bills, and finding employment for out of work residents. 
E)  wooing foreign firms with cheap labor in enterprise zones where the minimum wage is waived, tax abatements, and reduced utility bills.

Question 15

A special district is governed by a board, either appointed by other governmental units or elected in partisan elections.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Most Texas cities have home rule which places more restrictions on them than general laws cities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

In the mayor-council form of government,

Accepted Answer

A)  the council is chosen by a popularly elected mayor who exercises executive control. 
B)  the city council chooses the mayor out of its membership every 6 months. 
C)  the mayor is the executive but shares legislative power with the city council. 
D)  the legislative function is assigned to the city council and the executive function to the mayor. 
E)  the city council has legislative authority but can be disbanded at an time by the mayor. 
A)  the council is chosen by a popularly elected mayor who exercises executive control. 
B)  the city council chooses the mayor out of its membership every 6 months. 
C)  the mayor is the executive but shares legislative power with the city council. 
D)  the legislative function is assigned to the city council and the executive function to the mayor. 
E)  the city council has legislative authority but can be disbanded at an time by the mayor.

Question 18

Why is the strong mayor form of government found in only one major city in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  Multiple mayors were embroiled in scandals in the 1970s leading to a move away from this system. 
B)  This form of government only came about recently in the 1990s. 
C)  Cities have been moving away from this and towards more fragmented forms of government. 
D)  It is a difficult system of government to devise a charter for. 
E)  Texas has a tradition of decentralized government that didn't allow this system to take root. 
A)  Multiple mayors were embroiled in scandals in the 1970s leading to a move away from this system. 
B)  This form of government only came about recently in the 1990s. 
C)  Cities have been moving away from this and towards more fragmented forms of government. 
D)  It is a difficult system of government to devise a charter for. 
E)  Texas has a tradition of decentralized government that didn't allow this system to take root.

Question 19

Texas local governments are creations of the state and have only those powers granted to them by the state constitution and statutes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

A notable feature of city elections in Texas is the use of

Accepted Answer

A)  single-member districts. 
B)  multimember districts. 
C)  the all-city system. 
D)  party labels. 
E)  the at-large system. 
A)  single-member districts. 
B)  multimember districts. 
C)  the all-city system. 
D)  party labels. 
E)  the at-large system.

The presiding officer of the commissioners court is the _____ who is joined by _ county commissioners.

The population characteristics of Texas cities change over time, and major metropolitan areas have experienced a(n) to the suburbs.

Some areas, particularly in West Texas, still have a lot of elbow room, but most Texans live in cities.

The mayor-council form of government is the most common form of city government in Texas.

What are five of the solutions given in the text for the problems of local governments in Texas? Which one would you support? Why?

Privatization gives cities options for

The _______ is responsible for issuing various licenses required by state law such as a marriage license.

Of the eight largest cities in Texas, only Houston and Dallas have minority populations exceeding 50 percent.

Define special districts, including an explanation for their proliferation in Texas.In what ways have their creation been positive and negative?

The bonds issued by a city are secured by its

Citizens can petition their city council for a rollback election

What do you consider to be the most important problems and inequities in public education today? How have historical patterns in local school administration contributed to the existence of those problems and inequities? What are some recommended solutions?

Since special districts can be created by the legislature, it is easier to create another layer of government than it is to change the powers of existing governments by

Some tools that cities use to enhance the economic development in their area are

A special district is governed by a board, either appointed by other governmental units or elected in partisan elections.

Most Texas cities have home rule which places more restrictions on them than general laws cities.

In the mayor-council form of government,

Why is the strong mayor form of government found in only one major city in Texas?

Texas local governments are creations of the state and have only those powers granted to them by the state constitution and statutes.

A notable feature of city elections in Texas is the use of

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

The presiding officer of the commissioners court is the _______ who is joined by ___ county commissioners.

The population characteristics of Texas cities change over time, and major metropolitan areas have experienced a(n) to the suburbs.

Some areas, particularly in West Texas, still have a lot of elbow room, but most Texans live in cities.

The mayor-council form of government is the most common form of city government in Texas.

What are five of the solutions given in the text for the problems of local governments in Texas? Which one would you support? Why?

Privatization gives cities options for

The _______ is responsible for issuing various licenses required by state law such as a marriage license.

Of the eight largest cities in Texas, only Houston and Dallas have minority populations exceeding 50 percent.

Define special districts, including an explanation for their proliferation in Texas.In what ways have their creation been positive and negative?

The bonds issued by a city are secured by its

Citizens can petition their city council for a rollback election

What do you consider to be the most important problems and inequities in public education today? How have historical patterns in local school administration contributed to the existence of those problems and inequities? What are some recommended solutions?

Since special districts can be created by the legislature, it is easier to create another layer of government than it is to change the powers of existing governments by

Some tools that cities use to enhance the economic development in their area are

A special district is governed by a board, either appointed by other governmental units or elected in partisan elections.

Most Texas cities have home rule which places more restrictions on them than general laws cities.

In the mayor-council form of government,

Why is the strong mayor form of government found in only one major city in Texas?

Texas local governments are creations of the state and have only those powers granted to them by the state constitution and statutes.

A notable feature of city elections in Texas is the use of

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

The presiding officer of the commissioners court is the _____ who is joined by _ county commissioners.