Question 1

Discuss the waves of urbanization and suburban development since the 1920s and the effects these changes have exerted on local government. In particular, touch on the struggle by state and local governments to solve the problems of the fragmentation of governments in these metropolitan areas as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the solutions.

Accepted Answer

The 1920s marked the beginning of a significant wave of urbanization and suburban development in the United States. This period saw a rapid increase in population in urban areas, as well as the expansion of suburbs as people sought to escape the crowded and polluted city centers. This trend continued in the post-World War II era, with the development of suburban communities and the rise of the automobile culture, which allowed for greater mobility and the spread of urban areas.

The effects of these changes on local government have been profound. As urban and suburban areas expanded, the traditional boundaries of local government became increasingly fragmented. This fragmentation has led to challenges in coordinating and providing services across multiple jurisdictions, as well as in addressing regional issues such as transportation, housing, and economic development. State and local governments have struggled to find effective solutions to these problems, leading to various attempts to address the fragmentation of governments in metropolitan areas.

One approach to addressing the fragmentation of local government has been the creation of regional governing bodies or councils. These entities are designed to coordinate planning and decision-making across multiple jurisdictions, with the goal of addressing regional issues in a more comprehensive and efficient manner. While regional governing bodies can help to overcome the challenges of fragmented government, they also face the difficulty of balancing the interests and priorities of different localities within the region. This can lead to conflicts and disagreements over resource allocation and policy decisions.

Another approach has been the consolidation of local governments through annexation or merger. This has the potential to streamline government operations and improve service delivery by creating larger, more efficient jurisdictions. However, it can also be a contentious and politically challenging process, as it involves the reorganization of local power structures and the potential loss of autonomy for smaller communities.

Overall, the waves of urbanization and suburban development since the 1920s have had a significant impact on local government, leading to fragmentation and challenges in addressing regional issues. State and local governments have grappled with these challenges through various approaches, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Finding effective solutions to the problems of fragmented government in metropolitan areas remains an ongoing and complex task for policymakers and communities.

Question 2

As a result of the transformation of American metropolitan areas,

Accepted Answer

A)  central cities have lost their prominence as the social, economic, and political focal points of their areas.
B)  people have moved to surrounding suburbs and beyond; businesses and firms have sprung up in the hinterlands; and communities have formed their own service and taxing districts.
C)  the outward flow of people and activities has fundamentally altered metropolitan areas.
D)  All of these choices. D

Question 3

The striking growth of shadow governments raises important questions about

Accepted Answer

A)  the control of information, restricting influence to those who can belong or pay, and having little accountability.
B)  coastal development and beachfront land management.
C)  the future of town meetings.
D)  gated communities and the segmentation of society. A

Question 4

In 2004, Arizona adopted a Growing Smarter Act that discouraged urban sprawl.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

When homes were abandoned and the number of homeless people rose, state governments responded with inaction.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

If a state expressly grants a local government authority to pursue specific public policies, it can also take away that authority. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  intergovernmental transfer.
B)  Dillon's rule.
C)  Compton's rule.
D)  second-order devolution.

Question 7

Urban sprawl creates considerable transportation and revenue pressures for cities.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Estimates now suggest that there are in excess of 200,000 shadow governments in operation across the United States.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

City-county consolidations, the merger of city and county governments into a single jurisdiction, have been popular during the past thirty years. To date, more than 120 cities and counties have consolidated.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Voters often clamor for more efficient government, but when presented the opportunity on the ballot to support regionalization through city-county consolidations or other similar initiatives, they often defeat the proposal.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

By 2012, only about 19 percent of the population lived in rural America.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

One way for states to help deal with rural problems is to promote statewide land-use planning.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

A challenge to New Urbanism could be attempting it in a place plagued by social disorder and disinvestment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

What are shadow governments? How do they work, where do the get their power, and are they effective? Do they pose any particular problems for state and local governments?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are shadow governments? How do they...

Question 15

Unfunded mandates were once a constant source of friction between the states and their local governments, but most states now pay most of the costs associated with mandated policies that affect local governments.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Among the fifty states, the degree of authority granted to local governments

Accepted Answer

A)  is specified in the U.S. Constitution.
B)  has been standardized based on model legislation written by the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) .
C)  is guided by Dillon's rule.
D)  varies widely.

Question 17

Under regional government, local jurisdictions

Accepted Answer

A)  give up some of their political power in exchange for area-wide solutions to local problems.
B)  usually gain power because states provide additional funding and incentives to join such arrangements.
C)  usually gain additional power because of the new regional charters approved by states.
D)  usually do not experience any loss of political power.

Question 18

Which of the following is not an anticipated benefit of city-county consolidations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Stubborn public policy problems can be tackled from an area-wide perspective.
B)  Combining forces produces economies of scale.
C)  Regional governments are farther away and more distant from citizens.
D)  Support for consolidation typically comes from the local chamber of commerce and civic organizations.

Question 19

The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR)

Accepted Answer

A)  was created in 1959 and remains a powerful influence in helping states establish their own ACIR organizations.
B)  is now defunct, but many states have established their own ACIRs.
C)  was abolished during the Reagan administration in the 1980s, but was revived by President Clinton in 1996.
D)  was created in 1960 as a temporary organization that was supposed to dissolve in 1991, but it continues to function because the agency obtained an extension to operate until 2015.

Question 20

One idea put forth to deal with the poverty of rural areas is to expand local intergovernmental cooperation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 12: State Local Relations

As a result of the transformation of American metropolitan areas,

The striking growth of shadow governments raises important questions about

In 2004, Arizona adopted a Growing Smarter Act that discouraged urban sprawl.

When homes were abandoned and the number of homeless people rose, state governments responded with inaction.

If a state expressly grants a local government authority to pursue specific public policies, it can also take away that authority. This is an example of

Urban sprawl creates considerable transportation and revenue pressures for cities.

Estimates now suggest that there are in excess of 200,000 shadow governments in operation across the United States.

City-county consolidations, the merger of city and county governments into a single jurisdiction, have been popular during the past thirty years. To date, more than 120 cities and counties have consolidated.

Voters often clamor for more efficient government, but when presented the opportunity on the ballot to support regionalization through city-county consolidations or other similar initiatives, they often defeat the proposal.

By 2012, only about 19 percent of the population lived in rural America.

One way for states to help deal with rural problems is to promote statewide land-use planning.

A challenge to New Urbanism could be attempting it in a place plagued by social disorder and disinvestment.

What are shadow governments? How do they work, where do the get their power, and are they effective? Do they pose any particular problems for state and local governments?

Unfunded mandates were once a constant source of friction between the states and their local governments, but most states now pay most of the costs associated with mandated policies that affect local governments.

Among the fifty states, the degree of authority granted to local governments

Under regional government, local jurisdictions

Which of the following is not an anticipated benefit of city-county consolidations?

The U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR)

One idea put forth to deal with the poverty of rural areas is to expand local intergovernmental cooperation.