Question 1

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 2

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

General-law cities have more autonomy from the state than home-rule charter cities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Many people have argued that Texas counties need to be more efficiently designed. What are the criticisms surrounding the size of counties? What are some particular examples of these problems with size?

Accepted Answer

The criticisms surrounding the size of T

Question 5

Special districts are funded through sales taxes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

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.

Question 8

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 9

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 10

Dallas operates under which style of city government?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 11

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 100 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 100 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 12

Texas counties have their origins

Accepted Answer

A)  in the Texas Constitution. 
B)  in municipalities. 
C)  in the federal government. 
D)  with Texas legislators. 
E)  in the county charter. 
A)  in the Texas Constitution. 
B)  in municipalities. 
C)  in the federal government. 
D)  with Texas legislators. 
E)  in the county charter.

Question 13

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 14

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 legislative and executive capacities. 
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 legislative and executive capacities.

Question 15

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, 2001. 
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, 2001. 
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 16

In Texas, ________ create(s) special districts.

Accepted Answer

A)  the Texas legislature 
B)  the governor 
C)  Texas voters in the areas that will be covered 
D)  the county commissioners' court, with local voter approval 
E)  city councils 
A)  the Texas legislature 
B)  the governor 
C)  Texas voters in the areas that will be covered 
D)  the county commissioners' court, with local voter approval 
E)  city councils

Question 17

The law enforcement budget at the county level is approved by the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  constable 
B)  sheriff 
C)  county judge 
D)  county commissioners' court 
E)  city council 
A)  constable 
B)  sheriff 
C)  county judge 
D)  county commissioners' court 
E)  city council

Question 18

What is the function of the 24 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.

Question 19

Which of the following is the most common form of local government in Texas?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

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

All of the following are functions of county government EXCEPT

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

General-law cities have more autonomy from the state than home-rule charter cities.

Many people have argued that Texas counties need to be more efficiently designed. What are the criticisms surrounding the size of counties? What are some particular examples of these problems with size?

Special districts are funded through sales taxes.

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

Why are Texas counties important?

The chief law-enforcement officer in county governments is the

How are most special districts in Texas administered?

Dallas operates under which style of city government?

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

Texas counties have their origins

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

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

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

In Texas, ________ create(s) special districts.

The law enforcement budget at the county level is approved by the ________.

What is the function of the 24 councils of government in Texas today?

Which of the following is the most common form of local government in Texas?

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

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

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Exam 10: Local Government in Texas

All of the following are functions of county government EXCEPT

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

General-law cities have more autonomy from the state than home-rule charter cities.

Many people have argued that Texas counties need to be more efficiently designed. What are the criticisms surrounding the size of counties? What are some particular examples of these problems with size?

Special districts are funded through sales taxes.

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

Why are Texas counties important?

The chief law-enforcement officer in county governments is the

How are most special districts in Texas administered?

Dallas operates under which style of city government?

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

Texas counties have their origins

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

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

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

In Texas, ________ create(s) special districts.

The law enforcement budget at the county level is approved by the ________.

What is the function of the 24 councils of government in Texas today?

Which of the following is the most common form of local government in Texas?

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

The Political Culture, People, and Economy of Texas

The Texas Constitution

Texas in the Federal System

Political Parties in Texas

Elections in Texas

Interest Groups and Lobbying

The Texas Legislature

The Texas Executive Branch

The Texas Judiciary

Public Finance in Texas

Public Policy in Texas

Crime and Corrections Policy in Texas

Filters