Chapter 7: Local Government Flashcards by Erica Doolin

Political subunits of the state government responsible for various duties

Local government

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What is local government?

A. Political subdivision of county government
B. Democratic jurisdiction that reports directly to the national government
C. Political subunit of special purpose district
D. Political subunit of state government

D. Political subunit of state government

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Which one is not a type of local government?

A. National
B. City
C. County
D. Special-purpose district

A. National

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Which one is not a function of local government?

A. Education
B. Foreign defense
C. Taxation
D. Sanitation

B. Foreign defense

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The number of local governments in Texas decreased in 2017 compared to 2012.

True or False

False

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Local governments are responsible for various duties meant to improve the quality of life for people living in the community.

True or False

True

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Includes the division and sharing of powers between the states and national government

federal system of government

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A governing document that establishes a nation’s laws, its institutions, and the methods used to select public officials and fill offices

Constitution

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Policies or laws passed by a legislative body

statutes

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The authority to govern and regulate the affairs of a state

sovereign

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A concept made popular by Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis describing how states are best suited for solving complex problems that other states can model

laboratories of democracy

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Argues that local government entities, which are subunits of the state government, can only exercise the authority delegated by the state government

Dillon’s Rule

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A status granted to local government entities that expands their authority of governance

home-rule

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The authority of a legislative body (national or state) to overrule laws, ordinances, or actions of governmental units

preemption

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The federal system of government consists of the national government and:

A. States
B. Local governments
C. Federal laws
D. Statutes

A. States

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According to ___, local government entities can only exercise authority expressly granted by the state government

A. U.S. Constitution
B. State government
C. State constitution
D. Dillon’s rule

D. Dillon’s rule

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___ are policies or laws enacted by a legislative body.

A. States
B. Constitution
C. Private ordinances
D. Statutes

D. Statutes

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Disagreements among the federal government and Texas over the most appropriate way to implement salient policies ____.

A. Seldom take place
B. Are a common occurrence
C. Are settled by local government courts
D. Are settled by majority vote

B. Are a common occurrence

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In a federal system of government, both the national government and state government have ___ authority to conduct their own affairs.

A. Local government
B. Sovereign
C. Federal
D. State

B. Sovereign

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The county-level equivalence in the state of Alaska

borough

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The county-level equivalence in the state of Louisiana

parish

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Restricted to the authority granted by the state government

general-law units

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Held to elect officeholders who run for office with a political party affiliation

partisan elections

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Supreme Court decision requiring county commissioners’ precincts to have equal population

Avery v. Midland 1968

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Elected by county voters for a 4 year term and serves as the county's chief tax official. Responsible for assessing and collecting taxes and motor vehicle registration. Responsible for voter registration (in some counties). This office is constitutionally required for counties with a population over 10,000

County Tax Assessor-Collector

Elected by county voters for 4 year term. Maintains the county's records for vital stats, court records, marriage licenses, birth certificates, real estate, business records, etc. May conduct elections (*in some counties*). Keeps the minutes, certifies county commissioners' court meetings, and posts foreclosure notices for the county.

County Clerk

The county's legal advisor and the chief prosecuting attorney for courts at the county level. Elected to 4 year terms and represents the county in criminal misdemeanor cases and civil cases.

County Attorney

The county's chief law enforcement officer. Elected by county voters for 4 year terms. Responsible for the operations of county jails, serving warrants, crime investigation, enforcing judgments, enforcing the laws of the state, and county road traffic laws. Can commute time spent in county jail for good behavior.

Sheriff

The county's peace officer. Responsible for law enforcement officers. Responsible for executing legal judgments such as warrants & evictions. Serve as bailiffs in county courts. Elected by voters within the county precinct to a 4 year term.

Constable

The chief custodian of the county's finances. Elected by county voters for 4 year terms. Responsible for making payments of county's expenses, investing county funds, payroll, and jury duty payments.

County Treasurer

An elected position for a 4 year term. Responsible for maintaining the county's survey records. Position typically does not receive a salary.

County Surveyor

Responsible for providing oversight, accountability, and supervision of the county's financial operations. Appointed by the district court judge in counties with a population over 10,200 and serves as a fiscal accountability check.

County Auditor

Elections at the county-level where nearly all significant governing positions are elected

long ballot

The county admin and serves as the record keeper for the district court records

District Clerk

Serves as the state's attorney for prosecuting felony criminal cases and presents case info before a grand jury

District Attorney

The area between Dallas (I-35), Houston (I-45), and San Antonio (I-10) where two-thirds of the state population live and most of the economic and political power in the state is concentrated

power triangle

The authority of a city to join an unincorporated area of land adjacent to the city

annexation

Establishes how a parcel of land can be used and the standards for development

zoning

Have a general population below 5,000 and are governed by state statutes

general-law cities

The governing document that grants home-rule status and authority of a city

city charter

The process of becoming a city

incorporation

Consists of 5-7 commissions that share executive and legislative responsibilities in the city

Commission form of government

A type of government consisting of an elected mayor who presides over city council meetings, an elected city council that serves as the legislative body for the city, and a hired professional who manages the daily operations of a city

council-manager system of government

Consists of a mayor designated as the city's chief executive and the city council is the city's legislative body

mayor-council form of government

A variation of the mayor-council form of government where the powers of the mayor and city council are shared

weak mayor-council

A variation of the mayor-council form of government that illustrates the concentration of powers in a city executive

strong mayor-council form of government

A special district that delivers education from pre-K through 12th grade

school district

Counties could adopt home-rule status in which year? A. 1876 B. 1933 C. 1976 D. 2005

B. 1933

The Texas Constitution recognizes counties as legal subdivisions of the _____. A. City B. Federal government C. Special district D. State

D. State

The largest populated county in Texas is ___ and the least populated county in Texas is ____. A. Harris; Loving B. Dallas; Kenedy C. El Paso; Loving D. Dallas; King

A. Harris; Loving

____ established county commissioners' precincts must have equal population. A. Avery v. Midland B. Hunter v. City of Pittsburg C. Harper v. Virginia D. Tenth Amendment

A. Avery v. Midland

A home-rule city adopts a ___, which lays out the authority of the city. A. Commission B. Charter C. Voting system D. Incorporation-base

B. Charter

In a weak mayor-council system of government, the mayor and ___ share duties. A. City council B. City manager C. Commissioner D. County Judge

A. City council

Which is not a type of local government unit? A. City B. County C. General-law D. Special purpose

C. General-law

This system of city government hires an apolitical administrator. A. Weak mayor-council B. Strong mayor-council C. Council-manager D. Commission

C. Council-manager

This system of government was first adopted in Galveston in 1905. A. Weak mayor-council B. Strong mayor-council C. Council-manager D. Commission

D. Commission

This type of special district provides education from pre-K through high school. A. Education district B. School district C. Nonschool district D. Library-Park district

B. School district

Does not run candidates for office with a political party label

non-partisan election

An electoral system where voters elect one candidate to serve

Single-member district election

A winner-take-all electoral system where voters elect candidates across an entire geographic jurisdiction

At-large election

Candidates are designated to a numbered position or place on the ballot and occupy the same numbered position on the city council

At-large by place election

Proposed legislation submitted to voters for approval or rejection

ballot measures

A measure that allows voters the right to remove an elected official from office

recall

A type of proportional voting where a voter is entitled to cast the same number of votes as positions are available

Cumulative voting

Seeks to establish a more equitable distribution of political power by establishing social, economic, and political systems which consider the whole community

Inclusive democracy

Independent local government units created to provide specific services such as education, health, safety, water, waste management, economic, and transit

Special-purpose districts

A local government unit that provides various services EXCEPT education from pre-K through high school

non-school special district

Ballot measures that enable voters to propose action on an issue

initiative and referendum

___ election is where a candidate runs for political office with political party affiliation. A. Partisan B. Nonpartisan C. Cumulative D. Inclusive

A. Partisan

___ is a type of proportional voting where a voter casts the same number of votes as positions are available. A. Partisan B. Nonpartisan C. Cumulative D. Single-member district

C. Cumulative

___ is an electoral jurisdiction whereby the people elect one candidate to serve. A. Partisan B. Nonpartisan C. Cumulative D. Single-member district

D. Single-member district

___ is a winner-take-all electoral system where voters elect candidates across an entire geographic jurisdiction. A. Partisan B. Single-member district C. At-large D. At-large by precinct

C. At-large

___ is an at-large election where candidates are designated to a numbered position on the ballot. A. Partisan B. Single-member district C. Cumulative D. At-large by place

D. At-large by place

The process by which an unincorporated area becomes a city is called ___.

Incorporation

Hospital districts are classified as which type of local governmental unit?

Special

___ elections seek to remove elected officials from office.

Recall

___ establishes how a parcel of land can be used and developed.

Zoning

Which county officer is responsible for recording births and marriages?

County Clerk

Who is the chief law enforcement officer of the county?

Sheriff

Which type of city government has a hired professional handling the day-to-day operations?

Council-manager

In a federal system of government, both the national government and states can write a constitution. True or False

True

This type of election calls for voters to elect officeholders across an entire legal jurisdiction.

At-large

___ enjoins an area of land to the adjacent city or county.

Annexation

___ is NOT a responsibility of a local governmental unit.

Federal prisons

___ voting is a method that seeks to promote fair and proper representation.

Cumulative

___ seeks to establish a more equitable distribution of political power by creating systems that benefit the entire community.

Inclusive democracy

Which type of city government is least prevalent in Texas today?

Commission

What is the population threshold to vote to adopt home-rule status?

Over 5,000

There are more home-rule cities in Texas compared to general-law cities. True or False

False

___ is the authority of a legislative body to overrule actions of governmental units.

Preemption

This legal scholar favored the implementation of electoral systems that promote fair representation.

Lani Guinier

Dillon's rule does not apply to this type of local governmental unit.

Home-rule cities

Chapter 7: Local Government Flashcards

Local Government (92 cards)