Question 1

Community colleges in Texas are allotted their own special districts.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Each county in Texas is required by the state constitution to have approximately the same number of residents.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Special districts in Texas are

Accepted Answer

A)  democratic in theory, but often not in practice. 
B)  created and administered by county clerks. 
C)  the best example of participatory democracy in Texas. 
D)  a less common form of government than fifty years ago. 
E)  among the most studied areas of Texas politics. 
A)  democratic in theory, but often not in practice. 
B)  created and administered by county clerks. 
C)  the best example of participatory democracy in Texas. 
D)  a less common form of government than fifty years ago. 
E)  among the most studied areas of Texas politics.

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

Dallas 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 6

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 7

Since 1954, there have been no home-rule chartered cities in Texas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Commissioner forms of government were at their height of popularity

Accepted Answer

A)  in 1882, at the height of the Grange movement. 
B)  in 1918, during the Progressive era. 
C)  in 1936, during the New Deal. 
D)  in 1978, as a result of the economic recession. 
E)  in the 2000s, as hurricanes became more frequent. 
A)  in 1882, at the height of the Grange movement. 
B)  in 1918, during the Progressive era. 
C)  in 1936, during the New Deal. 
D)  in 1978, as a result of the economic recession. 
E)  in the 2000s, as hurricanes became more frequent.

Question 10

County governments are most important for administering rural areas throughout Texas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The chief executive officer of each county in Texas is the sheriff.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

School boards can do all of the following $\bold{EXCEPT}$

Accepted Answer

A)  adopt a budget for the district. 
B)  draft standardized evaluation exams. 
C)  select textbooks for classroom use. 
D)  hire principals and faculty. 
E)  set overall policy for the school district. 
A)  adopt a budget for the district. 
B)  draft standardized evaluation exams. 
C)  select textbooks for classroom use. 
D)  hire principals and faculty. 
E)  set overall policy for the school district.

Question 13

Which problem has been found recently in the system of special districts?

Accepted Answer

A)  State investigations have discovered numerous "phantom districts" that do not provide a service, yet bill the local counties for administrative costs. 
B)  Real estate developers have moved a few people onto land, rent free, who then vote for huge bond measures that future residents are obliged to pay. 
C)  The special districts for homeland security throughout Texas were uncoordinated and ill-prepared for September 11. 
D)  There has been widespread corruption among board members receiving bribes from citizens to lower their user fees. 
E)  Some districts have dealt with people buying property just outside the district boundaries and then demanding services from the district without having to pay for them. 
A)  State investigations have discovered numerous "phantom districts" that do not provide a service, yet bill the local counties for administrative costs. 
B)  Real estate developers have moved a few people onto land, rent free, who then vote for huge bond measures that future residents are obliged to pay. 
C)  The special districts for homeland security throughout Texas were uncoordinated and ill-prepared for September 11. 
D)  There has been widespread corruption among board members receiving bribes from citizens to lower their user fees. 
E)  Some districts have dealt with people buying property just outside the district boundaries and then demanding services from the district without having to pay for them.

Question 14

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 for 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 for 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 15

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

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 17

Which of the following statements about the commissioner form of government is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Commissioners are generally elected on an at-large basis. 
B)  The commissioner form of government does not have separately elected mayors. 
C)  The commissioner form of government was designed to bring good business practices into local government. 
D)  The commissioner form of government is currently popular among the largest cities in Texas. 
E)  In the commissioner form of government, the commission acts in both a legislative and executive capacity. 
A)  Commissioners are generally elected on an at-large basis. 
B)  The commissioner form of government does not have separately elected mayors. 
C)  The commissioner form of government was designed to bring good business practices into local government. 
D)  The commissioner form of government is currently popular among the largest cities in Texas. 
E)  In the commissioner form of government, the commission acts in both a legislative and executive capacity.

Question 18

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 19

Which of the following is a source of often unanticipated costs faced by county governments?

Accepted Answer

A)  the expense of city police salaries 
B)  the financial burden of capital murder trials 
C)  the spiraling costs of public education 
D)  the growing number of constables being employed at the county level 
E)  unexpected road and bridge maintenance 
A)  the expense of city police salaries 
B)  the financial burden of capital murder trials 
C)  the spiraling costs of public education 
D)  the growing number of constables being employed at the county level 
E)  unexpected road and bridge maintenance

Question 20

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.

Community colleges in Texas are allotted their own special districts.

Each county in Texas is required by the state constitution to have approximately the same number of residents.

Special districts in Texas are

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

Dallas operates under which form of city government?

San Antonio operates under which form of city government?

Since 1954, there have been no home-rule chartered cities in Texas.

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

Commissioner forms of government were at their height of popularity

County governments are most important for administering rural areas throughout Texas.

The chief executive officer of each county in Texas is the sheriff.

School boards can do all of the following $\bold{EXCEPT}$

Which problem has been found recently in the system of special districts?

A home-rule charter

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

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.

Which of the following statements about the commissioner form of government is false?

The chief law-enforcement officer in county governments is the

Which of the following is a source of often unanticipated costs faced by county governments?

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

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

Community colleges in Texas are allotted their own special districts.

Each county in Texas is required by the state constitution to have approximately the same number of residents.

Special districts in Texas are

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

Dallas operates under which form of city government?

San Antonio operates under which form of city government?

Since 1954, there have been no home-rule chartered cities in Texas.

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

Commissioner forms of government were at their height of popularity

County governments are most important for administering rural areas throughout Texas.

The chief executive officer of each county in Texas is the sheriff.

School boards can do all of the following EXCEPT\bold{EXCEPT}EXCEPT

Which problem has been found recently in the system of special districts?

A home-rule charter

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

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.

Which of the following statements about the commissioner form of government is false?

The chief law-enforcement officer in county governments is the

Which of the following is a source of often unanticipated costs faced by county governments?

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

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

School boards can do all of the following $\bold{EXCEPT}$