Question 1

Why are Texas counties important?

Accepted Answer

A)  They create and regulate cities. 
B)  They act as legislative bodies, making most of the local laws. 
C)  They provide the main form of government in rural areas. 
D)  They have very broad governmental powers. 
E)  There are generally more county governments in Texas than any other form of government. 
A)  They create and regulate cities. 
B)  They act as legislative bodies, making most of the local laws. 
C)  They provide the main form of government in rural areas. 
D)  They have very broad governmental powers. 
E)  There are generally more county governments in Texas than any other form of government. C

Question 2

What type of government is called hidden government because people often do not know it exists?

Accepted Answer

A)  county government 
B)  special districts 
C)  city government 
D)  state government 
E)  councils of government 
A)  county government 
B)  special districts 
C)  city government 
D)  state government 
E)  councils of government B

Question 3

What is an at-large election?

Accepted Answer

A)  an election for offices that receive no official salary 
B)  an election in which voters elect officials from the entire geographical area, rather than from a smaller district within the area 
C)  an election held under the commission system of city government 
D)  an election in which one or more candidates are under criminal indictment 
E)  an election in which anyone can vote, even those not previously registered 
A)  an election for offices that receive no official salary 
B)  an election in which voters elect officials from the entire geographical area, rather than from a smaller district within the area 
C)  an election held under the commission system of city government 
D)  an election in which one or more candidates are under criminal indictment 
E)  an election in which anyone can vote, even those not previously registered B

Question 4

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 5

Which of the following is not a key difference between the mayor-council and the council-manager forms of local government?

Accepted Answer

A)  The council-manager style was meant to reduce the possibility of corruption that the mayor-council system may bring. 
B)  The council-manager system is the most popular form of government throughout the United States for cities with over 10,000 residents. 
C)  In the council-manager system, the chief executive is a city manager, not a mayor. 
D)  In the council-manager system, local politics is viewed as a full-time job, unlike in the mayor-council system. 
E)  In the council-manager system, local politics is viewed as a part-time job, unlike in the mayor-council system. 
A)  The council-manager style was meant to reduce the possibility of corruption that the mayor-council system may bring. 
B)  The council-manager system is the most popular form of government throughout the United States for cities with over 10,000 residents. 
C)  In the council-manager system, the chief executive is a city manager, not a mayor. 
D)  In the council-manager system, local politics is viewed as a full-time job, unlike in the mayor-council system. 
E)  In the council-manager system, local politics is viewed as a part-time job, unlike in the mayor-council system.

Question 6

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 commissioners' 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 commissioners' court administers all special districts within its jurisdiction.

Question 7

Flood control is managed through special districts because

Accepted Answer

A)  flooding is seldom contained in a single city or county. 
B)  the Texas Constitution forbids both cities and the state from spending money on flood prevention. 
C)  the Galveston hurricane of 1900 revealed the inefficiency and slowness of state government in responding to local disasters. 
D)  most cities do not have the infrastructure to handle large flooding. 
E)  most waterways in Texas are managed by special districts. 
A)  flooding is seldom contained in a single city or county. 
B)  the Texas Constitution forbids both cities and the state from spending money on flood prevention. 
C)  the Galveston hurricane of 1900 revealed the inefficiency and slowness of state government in responding to local disasters. 
D)  most cities do not have the infrastructure to handle large flooding. 
E)  most waterways in Texas are managed by special districts.

Question 8

There is no single way to run a city in Texas. What are the differences between a home-rule charter and a general-law city? What are the different forms of city government used in Texas? How do they differ from each other?

Accepted Answer

In Texas, cities can operate under eithe

Question 9

What is the level of popularity of the commissioner system of city government in Texas today?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is the most popular form of city government in Texas. 
B)  No city in Texas today has a pure commissioner system, but a handful claim a variation of the system. 
C)  While less popular than the mayor-council system, over one hundred cities in Texas today use the commissioner style. 
D)  Commissioner systems have never been used in Texas. 
E)  About half the cities in Texas use a pure commissioner form of government. 
A)  It is the most popular form of city government in Texas. 
B)  No city in Texas today has a pure commissioner system, but a handful claim a variation of the system. 
C)  While less popular than the mayor-council system, over one hundred cities in Texas today use the commissioner style. 
D)  Commissioner systems have never been used in Texas. 
E)  About half the cities in Texas use a pure commissioner form of government.

Question 10

What is the main difference between a home-rule city and a general-law city?

Accepted Answer

A)  A general-law city does not have a mayor. 
B)  A general-law city is chartered for localities with a population of fewer than 5,000 persons. 
C)  A general-law city is the name for all cities incorporated after 1901. 
D)  A general-law city has no power to set the property tax. 
E)  A general-law city has no city council. 
A)  A general-law city does not have a mayor. 
B)  A general-law city is chartered for localities with a population of fewer than 5,000 persons. 
C)  A general-law city is the name for all cities incorporated after 1901. 
D)  A general-law city has no power to set the property tax. 
E)  A general-law city has no city council.

Question 11

What is the main difference between a special district and a county?

Accepted Answer

A)  A special district provides only one specific service within a geographic region. 
B)  A county is formed in terms of population density, while a special district is created geographically. 
C)  Special districts are controlled by incorporated cities, unlike county government. 
D)  Special districts are created by municipalities, while counties are created by the state. 
E)  There are no major differences. 
A)  A special district provides only one specific service within a geographic region. 
B)  A county is formed in terms of population density, while a special district is created geographically. 
C)  Special districts are controlled by incorporated cities, unlike county government. 
D)  Special districts are created by municipalities, while counties are created by the state. 
E)  There are no major differences.

Question 12

Analyze the importance of county government in Texas. What are the main governmental tasks of counties? How are counties organized and how is authority distributed?

Accepted Answer

County government in Texas plays a cruci

Question 13

One of the problems with Texas government is that there are no regional councils that promote coordinated planning across local governments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Which of the following statements about counties in Texas is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)  Counties are an administrative arm of the state government. 
B)  There are over 250 counties in Texas. 
C)  Each county has four county commissioners. 
D)  All counties have approximately the same number of people. 
E)  The Texas constitution places many restrictions on the power of county government. 
A)  Counties are an administrative arm of the state government. 
B)  There are over 250 counties in Texas. 
C)  Each county has four county commissioners. 
D)  All counties have approximately the same number of people. 
E)  The Texas constitution places many restrictions on the power of county government.

Question 15

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.

Question 16

What are the main sources of revenue for special districts in Texas?

Accepted Answer

A)  property taxes and user fees 
B)  income taxes and user fees 
C)  income taxes and sales taxes 
D)  sales taxes and property taxes 
E)  property taxes and federal grants 
A)  property taxes and user fees 
B)  income taxes and user fees 
C)  income taxes and sales taxes 
D)  sales taxes and property taxes 
E)  property taxes and federal grants

Question 17

All of the following are functions of county government except

Accepted Answer

A)  law enforcement. 
B)  bridge and road construction. 
C)  flood control. 
D)  record keeping. 
E)  county tax rates. 
A)  law enforcement. 
B)  bridge and road construction. 
C)  flood control. 
D)  record keeping. 
E)  county tax rates.

Question 18

San Antonio and Dallas both have council-manager forms of government.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

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 20

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

Why are Texas counties important?

What type of government is called hidden government because people often do not know it exists?

What is an at-large election?

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

Which of the following is not a key difference between the mayor-council and the council-manager forms of local government?

How are most special districts in Texas administered?

Flood control is managed through special districts because

There is no single way to run a city in Texas. What are the differences between a home-rule charter and a general-law city? What are the different forms of city government used in Texas? How do they differ from each other?

What is the level of popularity of the commissioner system of city government in Texas today?

What is the main difference between a home-rule city and a general-law city?

What is the main difference between a special district and a county?

Analyze the importance of county government in Texas. What are the main governmental tasks of counties? How are counties organized and how is authority distributed?

One of the problems with Texas government is that there are no regional councils that promote coordinated planning across local governments.

Which of the following statements about counties in Texas is incorrect?

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

What are the main sources of revenue for special districts in Texas?

All of the following are functions of county government except

San Antonio and Dallas both have council-manager forms of government.

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 Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas and the Nation

The Texas Constitution

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Crime and Corrections Policy

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Filters

Exam 13: Local Government in Texas

Why are Texas counties important?

What type of government is called hidden government because people often do not know it exists?

What is an at-large election?

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

Which of the following is not a key difference between the mayor-council and the council-manager forms of local government?

How are most special districts in Texas administered?

Flood control is managed through special districts because

There is no single way to run a city in Texas. What are the differences between a home-rule charter and a general-law city? What are the different forms of city government used in Texas? How do they differ from each other?

What is the level of popularity of the commissioner system of city government in Texas today?

What is the main difference between a home-rule city and a general-law city?

What is the main difference between a special district and a county?

Analyze the importance of county government in Texas. What are the main governmental tasks of counties? How are counties organized and how is authority distributed?

One of the problems with Texas government is that there are no regional councils that promote coordinated planning across local governments.

Which of the following statements about counties in Texas is incorrect?

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

What are the main sources of revenue for special districts in Texas?

All of the following are functions of county government except

San Antonio and Dallas both have council-manager forms of government.

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 Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

Texas and the Nation

The Texas Constitution

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Crime and Corrections Policy

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Filters