3rd Edition Exam Prep Chapter.12 Local Government

Chapter 12

Test Bank

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 1, Objective 12.1

1) A ruling that established that state governments can place restrictions on municipalities as long as these rules do not violate the state’s constitution is called

Feedback: conceptual

a. the 10^th Amendment.

b. local ordinances.

c. preemption.

d. Dillon’s Rule.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 2, Objective 12.1

2) City governments “legislate” by using _______, the local law of a municipal area, passed by a city council.

Feedback: conceptual

a. the 10^th Amendment

b. ordinances

c. preemption

d. Dillon’s Rule

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 3, Objective 12.1

3) A region that is not a part of a city is referred to as

Feedback: conceptual

a. a special district.

b. an unincorporated area.

c. city land.

d. wildlands.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 4, Objective 12.2

4) The chief executive of each county is referred to as the

Feedback: conceptual

a. county mayor.

b. county judge.

c. county commissioner.

d. county administrator.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 5, Objective 12.2

5) Each county commissioner district must be about equal in terms of

Feedback: factual

a. land area.

b. population.

c. number of cities.

d. number of schools.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 6, Objective 12.2

6) Suppose a disaster strikes a county. Which county level official oversees the county’s response?

Feedback: factual

a. The mayor of the largest city

b. The sheriff

c. The district judge

d. The county judge

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 7, Objective 12.2

7) What are the largest expenditures for county governments?

Feedback: factual

a. Roads, bridges, and the county jail

b. Tourism ads

c. Schools

d. Community centers

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 8, Objective 12.2

8) The county sheriff is chosen by

Feedback: factual

a. all of the sheriff’s deputies.

b. the county judge.

c. all of the police chiefs in the county.

d. voters.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 9, Objective 12.2

9) The chief law enforcement officer for the county is the

Feedback: factual

a. sheriff.

b. county judge.

c. county police chief.

d. county general.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 10, Objective 12.2

10) Which official oversees elections at the county level?

Feedback: factual

a. The sheriff

b. The vice judge

c. The election’s chief

d. The county clerk

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 11, Objective 12.2

11) At the top of county government is the county judge and the

Feedback: factual

a. Council of Cities.

b. Sheriff’s Assembly.

c. County Council.

d. Commissioner’s Court.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 12, Objective 12.2

12) The county’s chief prosecutor in district court is the

Feedback: factual

a. district attorney.

b. solicitor general.

c. county prosecutor.

d. first attorney.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 13, Objective 12.2

13) Over time, the number of local governments in Texas has increased because of _______ and population growth.

Feedback: conceptual

a. contaction

b. ruralization

c. urbanization

d. diffusion

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 14, Objective 12.3

14) County government structure is set by

Feedback: factual

a. the governor.

b. the largest city in the county.

c. the state legislature.

d. the Council of County Judges.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 15, Objective 12.3

15) A city that is only allowed to operate under the laws that the state provides is a

Feedback: conceptual

a. general law city.

b. home rule city.

c. municipality.

d. county-run institution.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 16, Objective 12.3

16) A city that is allowed self-governance independent of state law is a

Feedback: conceptual

a. general law city.

b. home rule city.

c. municipality.

d. county-run institution.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 17, Objective 12.3

17) A city’s governing document is its

Feedback: conceptual

a. charter.

b. ordinance.

c. constitution.

d. reformatory.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 18, Objective 12.3

18) Most cities with more than _______ residents are home rule cities.

Feedback: factual

a. 500

b. 5,000

c. 1 million

d. 5 million

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 19, Objective 12.3

19) _______ is a process whereby local voters can directly propose ordinances to city charters.

Feedback: conceptual

a. An initiative

b. An ordinance

c. A constitutional amendment

d. A reform

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 20, Objective 12.3

20) A procedure through which local voters can repeal existing ordinances that the city council will not is called

Feedback: conceptual

a. an initiative.

b. a referendum.

c. a recall.

d. a reform.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 21, Objective 12.3

21) _______ is a process through which voters can oust sitting members of the city government before their terms are up.

a. An initiative

b. A referendum

c. A recall

d. A reform

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 22, Objective 12.3

22) The joining of unincorporated land into the boundary of an existing city is known as

Feedback: conceptual

a. an initiative.

b. a referendum.

c. a recall.

d. annexation.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 23, Objective 12.4

23) A system of local government headed by an elected mayor and a city council, is a _______ system.

Feedback: conceptual

a. mayor-council

b. commission

c. council-manager

d. city manager

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 24, Objective 12.4

24) In what type of system of city government do mayors have the most influence?

Feedback: applied

a. A mayor-council system

b. A commission government

c. A council-manager system

d. A city manager government

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 25, Objective 12.4

25) A commission government is sometimes called the

Feedback: conceptual

a. “Galveston Plan.”

b. “Harris County Plan.”

c. “San Antonio Plan.”

d. “College Station Plan.”

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 26, Objective 12.4

26) A _______ is a system of local government in which the city council appoints a city manager to run city business.

Feedback: conceptual

a. mayor-council system

b. commission government

c. council-manager system

d. city manager government

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 27, Objective 12.4

27) An administrator hired to run the day-to-day operations in a city is called a

Feedback: conceptual

a. mayor-council.

b. commission government.

c. council-manager.

d. city manager.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 28, Objective 12.4

28) Currently, no city in Texas uses the _______ form of government.

Feedback: factual

a. commission

b. strong-mayor

c. weak-mayor

d. council-manager

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 29, Objective 12.5

29) Compared to other states, Texas has _______ special districts.

Feedback: factual

a. far less

b. no

c. more

d. slightly less

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 30, Objective 12.5

30) Community colleges are typically operated by

Feedback: factual

a. school districts.

b. cities.

c. nearby universities.

d. junior or community college districts.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 31, Objective 12.5

31) Someone buys a home in a development. They may fall under the jurisdiction of a

Feedback: applied

a. home owner’s association.

b. new home covenant.

c. property management collective.

d. neighborhood corporation.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 32, Objective 12.5

32) If someone lives in the jurisdiction of a home owner’s association, membership is

Feedback: factual

a. optional.

b. by invite only.

c. optional, but strongly encouraged.

d. mandatory.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 33, Objective 12.5

33) A single-purpose government that performs a specialized function is called a

Feedback: conceptual

a. special district.

b. school district.

c. special improvement district.

d. junior/community college district.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 34, Objective 12.5

34) A special district which sets standards for K–12 education is known as

Feedback: conceptual

a. a future district.

b. a school district.

c. an economic improvement.

d. a junior/community college district.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 35, Objective 12.5

35) A city is facing a major expense, but it is short on money. It might _______ in order to pay for the expense.

Feedback: applied

a. issue a bond

b. apply for a loan from the Bank of Texas

c. ask the legislature to let it go into debt

d. ask the federal government to print more money

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 36, Objective 12.5

36) A _______ provides water, sewage, drainage, and other services within a fixed boundary. These districts deal primarily with the supply of water, including protection, conservation, and storage.

Feedback: conceptual

a. hospital district

b. school district

c. municipal utility district (MUD) d. special district

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 37, Objective 12.5

37) _______ provide for the creation, maintenance, and operation of hospitals. Districts have considerable financial power, including the ability to issue bonds and impose taxes.

Feedback: conceptual

a. Hospital districts

b. School districts

c. Municipal utility districts (MUDs) d. Special districts

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 38, Objective 12.6

38) What is true of local elections?

Feedback: factual

a. They are for five year terms.

b. They generally have high turnout.

c. They are partisan.

d. They are non-partisan.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 39, Objective 12.6

39) Elections for the county judge and county sheriff are

Feedback: factual

a. partisan elections.

b. non-partisan elections.

c. only held when a new governor is elected.

d. open only to those who live in cities.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 40, Objective 12.6

40) Voter turnout for city and county elections is typically

Feedback: factual

a. very high.

b. high.

c. about the same as presidential elections.

d. low.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 41, Objective 12.6

41) The county judge and commissioners are elected to

Feedback: factual

a. two-year terms in partisan elections.

b. four-year terms in partisan elections.

c. two-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

d. four-year terms in nonpartisan elections.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 42, Objective 12.6

42) An electoral system in which voters elect council members from a citywide area, but that specifies separate seats carved into districts, is called

Feedback: conceptual

a. a place system.

b. a multimember system.

c. a single-member district system.

d. an at-large system.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 43, Objective 12.6

43) A voting system in which voters cast multiple votes (usually equal to the positions in an election) is called

Feedback: conceptual

a. a place system.

b. cumulative voting.

c. single-member voting.

d. an at-large system.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 44, Objective 12.7

44) As the city of Austin has grown it has spread into the undeveloped land surrounding it. As a result, traffic is bad and wildlife turns up in residential neighborhoods. Austin is suffering from

Feedback: applied

a. a lack of planning.

b. urbanism.

c. sprawl.

d. wildlife takeover.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 45, Objective 12.7

45) Suppose a city would like to redevelop a part of its downtown. It might attract businesses by creating a

Feedback: applied

a. media campaign.

b. city ambassador program.

c. neighborhood corporation.

d. tax increment reinvestment zone.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 46, Objective 12.7

46) Given the number of overlapping local government units, it is common for _______ to occur

Feedback: conceptual

a. regular meetings

b. efficient coordination

c. extensive cooperation

d. duplication of efforts

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 47, Objective 12.7

47) _______ aim to coordinate local governments across a geographic area.

Feedback: conceptual

a. State senators

b. Regional districts

c. Councils of government

d. Central committees

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 48, Objective 12.7

48) A given piece of property can only be used for single-family residential homes. This property has been _______ by the city

Feedback: applied

a. dedicated

b. zoned

c. tyrannized

d. specified

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 49, Objective 12.7

49) One of the biggest expenses facing local governments is

Feedback: factual

a. school bus maintenance.

b. litter pickup.

c. pensions.

d. election administration.

Type: multiple choice question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 50, Objective 12.7

50) A city takes out a loan to pay for a project and agrees to pay the funds back with interest. This is called a

Feedback: conceptual

a. local bond.

b. municipal bond.

c. contemporary bond.

d. helping bond.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 51, Objective 12.1

51) What is Dillon’s Rule?

Feedback:

In 1868, Dillon’s rule, named after the Iowa justice whose legal rulings founded the principle, established that state governments can place restrictions on municipalities as long as these rules do not violate the state’s constitution.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 52, Objective 12.2

52) What is an “unincorporated area?

Feedback:

A region that is administered as part of a county not a city.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 53, Objective 12.2

53) Describe the structure of county and government, and the role of the leadership.

Feedback:

At the top of county government are the county judge and commissioner’s court. Each Texas county is run by a county judge and a commissioner’s court made up of four county commissioners.

These commissioners serve four-year terms and represent districts that must have equal populations, as decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Avery v. Midland County (1968).

County judges are frequently called on to manage crises that occur in their jurisdictions, as they are responsible for homeland security and emergency management in their counties.

County commissioners adopt a tax rate for the county, oversee a budget that they use to establish public works projects, and maintain county buildings and facilities. The largest expenditures are infrastructure (roads or bridges) and maintenance of the county jail.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 54, Objective 12.3

54) Explain the differences between “general law” and “home rule” cities.

Feedback:

In the nineteenth century, the Texas legislature passed general laws that define the structure and powers of general law cities.

If a general law city has not been specifically granted authority to act by the legislature, it may not undertake the action.

General law cities, for example, may not add mandatory fees to utility bills without permission of the state.

Home rule city charter serves as the municipality’s organizational plan, similar to a state or national constitution.

A city charter establishes the form of government, sets the rules for operation and amendment, and establishes procedures for taxing and spending city finances.

Type: essay/short answer question

Title: Chapter 12 Question 55, Objective 12.4

55) Describe the three ways cities may govern themselves.

Feedback:

Today cities govern themselves in different ways: a mayor-council form, a council-manager form, or a commission form.

In a mayor-council system, a mayor acts as executive and a city council acts as a legislative body, enacting ordinances and adopting rules.

There are strong and weak mayor-council systems. In a weak-mayor system, the mayor has no formal authority to act outside of the council. The mayor lacks veto power, and other important city officers, such as the treasurer or department heads, are elected by the people.

In strong-mayor systems, the mayor has legislative powers (voting on many matters and presiding over city council meetings) and executive powers are often exercised unilaterally. The mayor can often take a wide range of independent action, with little input from the council or the public.

A commission government is called the “Galveston Plan,” as this form of government is a result of the catastrophic Galveston hurricane of 1900 that claimed more than 6,000 lives and caused millions of dollars in property damage.

The commission served as the legislative and executive body for the city, handling taxation, appropriations, ordinances, and other functions.

A council-manager system runs the government like a corporation.

In a council-manager system, the board of directors (the city council) acting on behalf of stockholders (the people) appoint a chief executive officer (city manager) to run city business. The city manager runs the day-to-day operations in the city, and serves as the chief administrator and budget officer for the city.