Ch 11 Quizzes

Question 1

11.1

If a community has fewer than __________ residents, it cannot become a home rule city.

• 100,000
• 5,000
• 50,000
• 10,000

Answer 1

11.1

If a community has fewer than __________ residents, it cannot become a home rule city.

• 100,000
• 5,000
• 50,000
• 10,000

Question 2

11.1

The difference between home rule cities and general law cities is that general law cities __________.

• are governed more by state regulation than by the local population
• offer their citizens better public services
• appoint the highest city official
• enjoy greater autonomy in choosing local taxes

Answer 2

11.1

The difference between home rule cities and general law cities is that general law cities __________.

• are governed more by state regulation than by the local population
• offer their citizens better public services
• appoint the highest city official
• enjoy greater autonomy in choosing local taxes

Question 3

11.1

How do strong mayor cities and weak mayor cities differ?

• Mayors in strong mayor cities have only moderate budgetary powers, while their counterparts in weak mayor systems have extensive budgetary powers.
• Strong mayor cities empower the mayor to veto ordinances passed by the city council, whereas in weak mayor cities, the mayor has no veto powers.
• Mayors in strong mayor cities may appoint and remove department heads, whereas mayors in weak mayor cities may only appoint or remove the heads of the police and fire departments.
• Strong mayor cities endow the mayor with limited policy implementation power, whereas mayors in weak mayor cities can establish policies without the consent of the city council.

Answer 3

11.1

How do strong mayor cities and weak mayor cities differ?

• Mayors in strong mayor cities have only moderate budgetary powers, while their counterparts in weak mayor systems have extensive budgetary powers.
• Strong mayor cities empower the mayor to veto ordinances passed by the city council, whereas in weak mayor cities, the mayor has no veto powers.
• Mayors in strong mayor cities may appoint and remove department heads, whereas mayors in weak mayor cities may only appoint or remove the heads of the police and fire departments.
• Strong mayor cities endow the mayor with limited policy implementation power, whereas mayors in weak mayor cities can establish policies without the consent of the city council.

Question 4

11.2

Which of the following types of elections is more open to political newcomers?

• single-member district system
• at-large system
• place system
• bond elections

Answer 4

11.2

Which of the following types of elections is more open to political newcomers?

• single-member district system
• at-large system
• place system
• bond elections

Question 5

11.2

Regan is a resident of Palroa, a city of 6,000, in the federal republic of Tangoa. The city holds elections to choose its officials once every four years. Regan can vote from any part of the city and he would still have the same list of candidates to choose from. Which of the following statements is true of this scenario?

• Palroa has a single-member district system.
• Palroa has an at-large system of elections.
• Palroa is a general law city.
• Palroa has a council-manager form of government.

Answer 5

11.2

Regan is a resident of Palroa, a city of 6,000, in the federal republic of Tangoa. The city holds elections to choose its officials once every four years. Regan can vote from any part of the city and he would still have the same list of candidates to choose from. Which of the following statements is true of this scenario?

• Palroa has a single-member district system.
• Palroa has an at-large system of elections.
• Palroa is a general law city.
• Palroa has a council-manager form of government.

Question 6

11.2

__________ are alliances consisting of a variety of individuals and groups in support of a particular candidate for elected office.

• Mayor-councils
• City commissions
• Coalitions
• Home rule cities

Answer 6

11.2

__________ are alliances consisting of a variety of individuals and groups in support of a particular candidate for elected office.

• Mayor-councils
• City commissions
• Coalitions
• Home rule cities

Question 7

11.3

Why did Texas pass a constitutional amendment limiting local use of eminent domain?

• Issuing bonds is a much more efficient way to raise revenue than using the power of eminent domain.
• Eminent domain was used by interest groups to nominate members for political office.
• Eminent domain had been used to displace landowners for private projects.
• Eminent domain always ends up costing cities more in the long run.

Answer 7

11.3

Why did Texas pass a constitutional amendment limiting local use of eminent domain?

• Issuing bonds is a much more efficient way to raise revenue than using the power of eminent domain.
• Eminent domain was used by interest groups to nominate members for political office.
• Eminent domain had been used to displace landowners for private projects.
• Eminent domain always ends up costing cities more in the long run.

Question 8

11.3

Which of the following statements about general obligation bonds and/or revenue bonds is accurate?

• General obligation bonds and revenue bonds are financial incentives offered by governments to convince businesses to set up operations within particular city borders.
• General obligation bonds can only be issued by the federal government.
• Revenue bonds are repaid from revenue generated by the capital improvement for which the bonds were issued.
• Revenue bonds are paid off in small, yearly payments from the city’s usual sources of revenue.

Answer 8

11.3

Which of the following statements about general obligation bonds and/or revenue bonds is accurate?

• General obligation bonds and revenue bonds are financial incentives offered by governments to convince businesses to set up operations within particular city borders.
• General obligation bonds can only be issued by the federal government.
• Revenue bonds are repaid from revenue generated by the capital improvement for which the bonds were issued.
• Revenue bonds are paid off in small, yearly payments from the city’s usual sources of revenue.

Question 9

11.3

Which of the following is true of taxes in Texas?

• Franchise taxes are special taxes to fund specific projects such as new stadiums or services such as after-school programs.
• The county tax collector is responsible for collecting sales taxes from merchants.
• Not everyone who pays for housing is affected by property tax rates.
• Cities assess property taxes using an ad valorem tax structure.

Answer 9

11.3

Which of the following is true of taxes in Texas?

• Franchise taxes are special taxes to fund specific projects such as new stadiums or services such as after-school programs.
• The county tax collector is responsible for collecting sales taxes from merchants.
• Not everyone who pays for housing is affected by property tax rates.
• Cities assess property taxes using an ad valorem tax structure.

Question 10

11.4

Which of the following is a duty of the commissioners court?

• tracking all collections and expenditures in the county
• providing for fire protection and sanitation in the county
• providing legal services for county agencies and officials
• hiring and removal of department heads

Answer 10

11.4

Which of the following is a duty of the commissioners court?

• tracking all collections and expenditures in the county
• providing for fire protection and sanitation in the county
• providing legal services for county agencies and officials
• hiring and removal of department heads

Question 11

11.4

Counties are considered local governments because counties have __________.

• officials who are elected and not appointed by the state government
• relatively strong autonomy in comparison with city governments
• home rule charters and can adopt ordinances
• a single executive who is responsible for the county’s policymaking personnel

Answer 11

11.4

Counties are considered local governments because counties have __________.

• officials who are elected and not appointed by the state government
• relatively strong autonomy in comparison with city governments
• home rule charters and can adopt ordinances
• a single executive who is responsible for the county’s policymaking personnel

Question 12

11.4

The functions of the county clerk typically include __________.

• tracking all collections and expenditures in the state
• identifying taxable property and collecting taxes due to the state and county
• maintaining the county’s legal records and vital statistics
• exercising eminent domain

Answer 12

11.4

The functions of the county clerk typically include __________.

• tracking all collections and expenditures in the state
• identifying taxable property and collecting taxes due to the state and county
• maintaining the county’s legal records and vital statistics
• exercising eminent domain

Question 13

11.5

A __________ can charter a special district.

• community interest group
• county commissioners court
• municipal government
• state legislature

Answer 13

11.5

A __________ can charter a special district.

• community interest group
• county commissioners court
• municipal government
• state legislature

Question 14

11.5

The most common form of special district in Texas in related to which of the following areas?

• education
• public transportation
• hospitals
• water and utilities

Answer 14

11.5

The most common form of special district in Texas in related to which of the following areas?

• education
• public transportation
• hospitals
• water and utilities

Question 15

11.5

Which of the following is a feature of special districts?

• They are primarily funded by sales and excise taxes.
• They are established to deliver services to an entire state.
• They are substantially independent from other governments and offer products or services no other government does.
• They do not have to disclose their sources of income to state governments.

Answer 15

11.5

Which of the following is a feature of special districts?

• They are primarily funded by sales and excise taxes.
• They are established to deliver services to an entire state.
• They are substantially independent from other governments and offer products or services no other government does.
• They do not have to disclose their sources of income to state governments.

Question 16

Review

Which of the following is a similarity between a home rule city and a general law city?

• Both are criticized for having a plural executive system of government, thereby reducing individual accountability.
• Both hold partisan elections for mayor, unlike nonpartisan elections for other posts.
• Both have a mayor-council form of government.
• Both may do only those functions that are permitted by state or federal law.

Answer 16

Review

Which of the following is a similarity between a home rule city and a general law city?

• Both are criticized for having a plural executive system of government, thereby reducing individual accountability.
• Both hold partisan elections for mayor, unlike nonpartisan elections for other posts.
• Both have a mayor-council form of government.
• Both may do only those functions that are permitted by state or federal law.

Question 17

Review

A primary difference between the mayor-council and council-manager forms of municipal government is that __________.

• in mayor-council forms of government, the mayor has extensive budgetary powers, whereas in council-manager arrangements, the city manager has no input in matters pertaining to budgeting or finance
• the mayor-council arrangement does not employ a full-time, professional administrator or city manager, whereas the council-manager form does
• mayors do not have the power to veto policies passed by the city council in the mayor-council arrangement, whereas they are able to veto policies instituted by the city manager in the council-manager form
• mayors are the supreme authorities in the council-manager form of government, but comparatively weak in the mayor-council arrangement

Answer 17

Review

A primary difference between the mayor-council and council-manager forms of municipal government is that __________.

• in mayor-council forms of government, the mayor has extensive budgetary powers, whereas in council-manager arrangements, the city manager has no input in matters pertaining to budgeting or finance
• the mayor-council arrangement does not employ a full-time, professional administrator or city manager, whereas the council-manager form does
• mayors do not have the power to veto policies passed by the city council in the mayor-council arrangement, whereas they are able to veto policies instituted by the city manager in the council-manager form
• mayors are the supreme authorities in the council-manager form of government, but comparatively weak in the mayor-council arrangement

Question 18

Review

In the town of Plano, the citizens meet every four years to elect members to the city council. The candidates all run against each other, with each candidate having the potential vote of the entire town, and the top vote-getters are awarded the council seats. This method of electing representatives is called a(n) __________ system.

• at-large
• single-member districts
• place
• bond election

Answer 18

Review

In the town of Plano, the citizens meet every four years to elect members to the city council. The candidates all run against each other, with each candidate having the potential vote of the entire town, and the top vote-getters are awarded the council seats. This method of electing representatives is called a(n) __________ system.

• at-large
• single-member districts
• place
• bond election

Question 19

Review

Maria argues that despite the division of a city into different zones in both the place system and single-member districts, there is a significant difference. Which of the following statements supports Maria’s argument?

• Voters in the city can vote for any candidate in a place system of election.
• The place system of election supports greater diversity on the city council.
• The single-member districts system is friendlier to political newcomers.
• The mayor is appointed by an at-large election in a single-member districts system.

Answer 19

Review

Maria argues that despite the division of a city into different zones in both the place system and single-member districts, there is a significant difference. Which of the following statements supports Maria’s argument?

• Voters in the city can vote for any candidate in a place system of election.
• The place system of election supports greater diversity on the city council.
• The single-member districts system is friendlier to political newcomers.
• The mayor is appointed by an at-large election in a single-member districts system.

Question 20

Review

Julia is a citizen of Texas. She pays the local government in her city 1 percent property tax. Officials in the city assess her property value as $80,000, which means that she pays $800 per year in property tax. This system of tax in Julia’s city is known as __________.

• ad valorem
• abatement
• a place system
• common excise

Answer 20

Review

Julia is a citizen of Texas. She pays the local government in her city 1 percent property tax. Officials in the city assess her property value as $80,000, which means that she pays $800 per year in property tax. This system of tax in Julia’s city is known as __________.

• ad valorem
• abatement
• a place system
• common excise

Question 21

Review

Amarillo, Texas, is considering expanding its internal railroads to implement passenger rail service. The city cannot fund the project from its regular sources of income. Which of the following would be the best source of funding for this purpose?

• revenue bond
• general obligation bond
• franchise tax
• abatements

Answer 21

Review

Amarillo, Texas, is considering expanding its internal railroads to implement passenger rail service. The city cannot fund the project from its regular sources of income. Which of the following would be the best source of funding for this purpose?

• revenue bond
• general obligation bond
• franchise tax
• abatements

Question 22

Review

The difference between general obligation bonds and revenue bonds is that __________.

• general obligation bonds are sold to companies rather than individuals, whereas revenue bonds are sold to individuals seeking tax rebates
• general obligation bonds are paid back gradually from the city’s usual sources of revenue, whereas revenue bonds are paid back from revenue generated by capital improvements
• general obligation bonds are sold for the construction of property that is expected to generate revenue for the city, whereas revenue bonds are sold to businesses seeking tax rebates
• general obligation bonds are paid back from revenue generated by capital improvements, whereas revenue bonds are paid back in small increments that include interest payments

Answer 22

Review

The difference between general obligation bonds and revenue bonds is that __________.

• general obligation bonds are sold to companies rather than individuals, whereas revenue bonds are sold to individuals seeking tax rebates
• general obligation bonds are paid back gradually from the city’s usual sources of revenue, whereas revenue bonds are paid back from revenue generated by capital improvements
• general obligation bonds are sold for the construction of property that is expected to generate revenue for the city, whereas revenue bonds are sold to businesses seeking tax rebates
• general obligation bonds are paid back from revenue generated by capital improvements, whereas revenue bonds are paid back in small increments that include interest payments

Question 23

Review

Joe Price heads the group of county commissioners in Loving County’s commissioners court. His duties include convening with the commissioners to discuss infrastructure projects, adopt the county budget, and set tax rates. Price is the __________ of Loving County.

• county judge
• county attorney
• constable
• sheriff

Answer 23

Review

Joe Price heads the group of county commissioners in Loving County’s commissioners court. His duties include convening with the commissioners to discuss infrastructure projects, adopt the county budget, and set tax rates. Price is the __________ of Loving County.

• county judge
• county attorney
• constable
• sheriff

Question 24

Review

Which of the following is a similarity between special districts and home rule cities?

• Neither is eligible for federal grants.
• Both are chartered by the Texas legislature.
• Both are governed by state regulations, not by the local population.
• Sales taxes are the most prominent source of income for both.

Answer 24

Review

Which of the following is a similarity between special districts and home rule cities?

• Neither is eligible for federal grants.
• Both are chartered by the Texas legislature.
• Both are governed by state regulations, not by the local population.
• Sales taxes are the most prominent source of income for both.

Question 25

Review

Councils of government (COGs) cannot pass laws, yet nearly all municipal and county governments, as well as most special districts, participate in them. Which of the following statements explains the reason for this?

• COGs can pass rules and ordinances to ensure the comfort of citizens.
• COGs have the power to collect property taxes, with the revenue evenly divided among the local governments.
• COGs coordinate policies and activities among local governments and often prevent unnecessary duplication of research or work.
• COGs have the authority to impose sanctions against any government.

Answer 25

Review

Councils of government (COGs) cannot pass laws, yet nearly all municipal and county governments, as well as most special districts, participate in them. Which of the following statements explains the reason for this?

• COGs can pass rules and ordinances to ensure the comfort of citizens.
• COGs have the power to collect property taxes, with the revenue evenly divided among the local governments.
• COGs coordinate policies and activities among local governments and often prevent unnecessary duplication of research or work.
• COGs have the authority to impose sanctions against any government.

Question 26

11.1 Municipal Government

Compare and contrast the two types of cities and several forms of city government.

Answer 26

11. 1 Municipal Government
    * Compare and contrast the two types of cities and several forms of city government.*

There are two broad categories of cities in Texas: general law and home rule. Although general law cities greatly outnumber home rule cities, most Texans live in home rule cities. That is an indication of the first and most important distinction—general law cities are smaller in terms of population. Since they are smaller in size, they have smaller operating budgets and therefore have lower taxes. Continuing the contrast, general law cities provide fewer services to their citizens.

Question 27

11.2 Municipal Elections

Evaluate the various structures of municipal government, including elections and forms of government.

Answer 27

11. 2 Municipal Elections
    * Evaluate the various structures of municipal government, including elections and forms of government.*

The method of staffing city councils and the form of government the cities adopt depend largely on the type of city. All municipal elections have the common feature of being nonpartisan, meaning the candidates do not run under a party label. Since most Texas cities are comparatively small in size and lower in population, they operate under general law provisions and council members are elected at-large. Single-member districts have been implemented in the larger urban areas of the state, where the need for representation from a diversified population justifies the cost. Most cities operate under the more informal mayor-council form of government, which gives the mayor a good deal of control over the city’s day-to-day operations.

Question 28

11.3 Municipal Finance

Identify the major sources of revenue and expenditures of local governments.

Answer 28

11. 3 Municipal Finance
    * Identify the major sources of revenue and expenditures of local governments.*

For most cities, the greatest single source of revenue is the property tax, which is assessed on an ad valorem (according to value) basis. Other major sources of revenue include sales taxes, franchise fees, and permits. By a large margin, public safety is the most expensive function of the cities.

Question 29

11.4 County Government

Explain why counties were established and how they have evolved.

Answer 29

11. 4 County Government
    * Explain why counties were established and how they have evolved.*

Counties are best described as being the administrative arms of state government. Because providing certain state services from a single state office would prove to be inefficient, counties serve as a system of branch offices. Despite the incredible diversity among the 254 counties, all of them are structured in essentially the same way. Each county has a governing body, called the commissioners court, and each county has certain elected officials—such as a sheriff, constable, and clerks. These elected officials serve four-year terms of office and are chosen in partisan elections.

Question 30

11.5 Special Districts

Summarize the importance of special districts in Texas.

Answer 30

11. 5 Special Districts
    * Summarize the importance of special districts in Texas.*

Although there are over 4,000 special districts in Texas, each of them shares three characteristics. First, they are created (chartered) by the state legislature for the purpose of providing government services that are otherwise unavailable through cities and counties. Second, they all have what is known as a “governmental character,” meaning that much of their funding comes from local sources, such as the property tax. Lastly, they are substantially independent from other local governments, meaning they do not overlap services or compete with each other.