Question 1

What is the function of the twenty-four councils of government in Texas today?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are a board that establishes new special districts when needed. 
B)  They are a regional board meant to coordinate local planning and economic development. 
C)  They are a tax board meant to establish local property tax rates. 
D)  They are an administrative board that runs utility districts in rural areas. 
E)  They are a regional board meant to establish user fees for regional waterways and recreational areas. 
A)  They are a board that establishes new special districts when needed. 
B)  They are a regional board meant to coordinate local planning and economic development. 
C)  They are a tax board meant to establish local property tax rates. 
D)  They are an administrative board that runs utility districts in rural areas. 
E)  They are a regional board meant to establish user fees for regional waterways and recreational areas. B

Question 2

A school district is

Accepted Answer

A)  a special district. 
B)  administered by the county commissioners' court. 
C)  ruled by the state government in Austin. 
D)  established by each incorporated city. 
E)  governed by a board of trustees appointed by the city. 
A)  a special district. 
B)  administered by the county commissioners' court. 
C)  ruled by the state government in Austin. 
D)  established by each incorporated city. 
E)  governed by a board of trustees appointed by the city. A

Question 3

Which of the following cities currently has a city government with a strong mayor-council form of government?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dallas 
B)  San Antonio 
C)  Austin 
D)  Houston 
E)  Galveston 
A)  Dallas 
B)  San Antonio 
C)  Austin 
D)  Houston 
E)  Galveston D

Question 4

In Texas, what is the name of the officer who presides over the county commissioners' court?

Accepted Answer

A)  county judge 
B)  executive commissioner 
C)  justice of the peace 
D)  sheriff 
E)  constable 
A)  county judge 
B)  executive commissioner 
C)  justice of the peace 
D)  sheriff 
E)  constable

Question 5

Special districts are the most common form of government in Texas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

The chief law-enforcement officer in county governments is the

Accepted Answer

A)  sheriff. 
B)  constable. 
C)  justice of the peace. 
D)  city police chief. 
E)  county attorney. 
A)  sheriff. 
B)  constable. 
C)  justice of the peace. 
D)  city police chief. 
E)  county attorney.

Question 7

How are most special districts in Texas administered?

Accepted Answer

A)  County judges administer all special districts within their jurisdiction. 
B)  They are run by a board elected by residents within the district. 
C)  For each special district, the governor appoints members to a review board. 
D)  They are run by special district administrators who answer directly to the state legislature. 
E)  The county commissioner's court administers all special districts within its jurisdiction. 
A)  County judges administer all special districts within their jurisdiction. 
B)  They are run by a board elected by residents within the district. 
C)  For each special district, the governor appoints members to a review board. 
D)  They are run by special district administrators who answer directly to the state legislature. 
E)  The county commissioner's court administers all special districts within its jurisdiction.

Question 8

In large Texas counties, the ______ prepares the county budget.

Accepted Answer

A)  sheriff 
B)  constable 
C)  auditor 
D)  clerk 
E)  tax assessor-collector 
A)  sheriff 
B)  constable 
C)  auditor 
D)  clerk 
E)  tax assessor-collector

Question 9

The commissioner form of city government was developed as a response to the

Accepted Answer

A)  end of Reconstruction in 1876. 
B)  hurricane at Galveston in 1900. 
C)  Great Depression of 1929. 
D)  discovery of oil in 1901. 
E)  tornado at Wichita Falls in 1978. 
A)  end of Reconstruction in 1876. 
B)  hurricane at Galveston in 1900. 
C)  Great Depression of 1929. 
D)  discovery of oil in 1901. 
E)  tornado at Wichita Falls in 1978.

Question 10

Which of the following is not provided by a special district?

Accepted Answer

A)  hospitals 
B)  schools 
C)  flood control 
D)  city police 
E)  utilities 
A)  hospitals 
B)  schools 
C)  flood control 
D)  city police 
E)  utilities

Question 11

The strong mayor form of government was created as a response to the 1900 Galveston hurricane disaster.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The chief financial officer for a city is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  city controller. 
B)  sheriff. 
C)  mayor. 
D)  city manager. 
E)  city auditor. 
A)  city controller. 
B)  sheriff. 
C)  mayor. 
D)  city manager. 
E)  city auditor.

Question 13

The job of serving legal papers at the precinct level of a county goes to the ______.

Accepted Answer

A)  constable 
B)  sheriff 
C)  assistant district attorney 
D)  district judge 
E)  county auditor 
A)  constable 
B)  sheriff 
C)  assistant district attorney 
D)  district judge 
E)  county auditor

Question 14

The most important social service provided by counties is

Accepted Answer

A)  the distribution of food stamps. 
B)  the provision of emergency welfare assistance. 
C)  animal control. 
D)  education. 
E)  sanitation. 
A)  the distribution of food stamps. 
B)  the provision of emergency welfare assistance. 
C)  animal control. 
D)  education. 
E)  sanitation.

Question 15

Different types of city government create different political opportunities and problems. Using the different city government types, describe the particular political environments of Texas's three largest cities.

Accepted Answer

The three largest cities in Texas - Hous

Question 16

Community colleges in Texas are allotted their own special districts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

San Antonio operates under which form of city government?

Accepted Answer

A)  mayor-council style 
B)  council-manager style 
C)  commissioner style 
D)  council-mayor style 
E)  at-large style 
A)  mayor-council style 
B)  council-manager style 
C)  commissioner style 
D)  council-mayor style 
E)  at-large style

Question 18

All large cities in Texas have structures of government that give strong executive powers to the mayor.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

A home-rule charter

Accepted Answer

A)  grants a city a small amount of autonomy. 
B)  allows cities to levy unlimited amounts of property taxes. 
C)  makes it harder for a city to borrow money than general-law cities. 
D)  makes it so that a city does not have to be consistent with the state constitution. 
E)  specifies the number of members serving on the city's governing body. 
A)  grants a city a small amount of autonomy. 
B)  allows cities to levy unlimited amounts of property taxes. 
C)  makes it harder for a city to borrow money than general-law cities. 
D)  makes it so that a city does not have to be consistent with the state constitution. 
E)  specifies the number of members serving on the city's governing body.

Question 20

What was the effect of Dallas's shifting from an at-large to a single-member district system in 1991?

Accepted Answer

A)  The change was responsible for the election of a significant number of African American and Hispanic council members. 
B)  The city lost its status as a home-rule city for five years. 
C)  At-large districts benefited the local Republican Party. 
D)  It was challenged in court but found to be constitutional by the Texas supreme court. 
E)  Fewer minorities were elected to citywide offices. 
A)  The change was responsible for the election of a significant number of African American and Hispanic council members. 
B)  The city lost its status as a home-rule city for five years. 
C)  At-large districts benefited the local Republican Party. 
D)  It was challenged in court but found to be constitutional by the Texas supreme court. 
E)  Fewer minorities were elected to citywide offices.

Exam 26: Local Government in Texas

What is the function of the twenty-four councils of government in Texas today?

A school district is

Which of the following cities currently has a city government with a strong mayor-council form of government?

In Texas, what is the name of the officer who presides over the county commissioners' court?

Special districts are the most common form of government in Texas.

The chief law-enforcement officer in county governments is the

How are most special districts in Texas administered?

In large Texas counties, the ______ prepares the county budget.

The commissioner form of city government was developed as a response to the

Which of the following is not provided by a special district?

The strong mayor form of government was created as a response to the 1900 Galveston hurricane disaster.

The chief financial officer for a city is called the

The job of serving legal papers at the precinct level of a county goes to the ______.

The most important social service provided by counties is

Different types of city government create different political opportunities and problems. Using the different city government types, describe the particular political environments of Texas's three largest cities.

Community colleges in Texas are allotted their own special districts.

San Antonio operates under which form of city government?

All large cities in Texas have structures of government that give strong executive powers to the mayor.

A home-rule charter

What was the effect of Dallas's shifting from an at-large to a single-member district system in 1991?

American Political Culture

The Founding and the Constitution

Federalism

Civil Liberties

Civil Rights

Public Opinion

The Media

Political Participation and Voting

Political Parties

Campaigns and Elections

Groups and Interests

Congress

The Presidency

Bureaucracy in a Democracy

The Federal Courts

Government and the Economy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy and Democracy

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Parties and Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Public Policy in Texas

Filters