State/Local Government Homework 70Questions

CHAPTER 11

Multiple Choice

1. The “municipal government” applies to all these governments recognized by the legislature as being a governmental entity except:

a. cities.

b. towns.

c. districts.

d. villages.

2. Three-fourths, or approximately 900, of Texas’s municipalities are classified as

a. special districts.

b. general law.

c. home rule.

d. specific law.

3. In order to become home rule status, a city must have a population of at least

a. 5,000 citizens.

b. 1,000 citizens.

c. 100 towns.

d. 50 districts.

4. All of the following are true about weak mayor-council form of city government except:

a. It is widely used in most of Texas’s less populated and rural cities.

b. Most of the day-to-day executive operations are carried out by either the mayor or by a city council.

c. It has only a few departments.

d. The mayor has unlimited policy implementation and veto powers.

5. Most medium-to-large sized cities in Texas have the form of government called

a. weak mayor-council.

b. strong mayor-council.

c. commission.

d. council-manager.

6. The official who is responsible for hiring individuals to oversee the various departments in a council-manager form of city government is the

a. mayor.

b. city manager.

c. city council.

d. county manager.

7. The form of city government in which each elected official also oversees a department is called

a. weak mayor-council.

b. strong mayor-council.

c. council-manager.

d. commission.

8. The most common type of city election is the:

a. ward system.

b. at-large system.

c. single-member district system.

d. place system.

9. The place system of city election is

a. often used in the large-sized cities in Texas.

b. variation of the at-large system.

c. most benefits political incumbents.

d. Variation of single-member district system.

10. Another name given to single-member district system of election is

a. wards.

b. place system.

c. at-large system.

d. multi-member system.

11. The type of election which is the best method of ensuring minority representation is the:

a. place system.

b. at-large system.

c. ward system.

d. single-member district system.

12. Property taxes are based upon

a. income.

b. cost of living increase.

c. value of property.

d. revenue.

13. The city’s portion of the sales tax is collected by the

a. Internal Revenue Service.

b. Comptroller of Public Accounts.

c. Tax Assessor-Collector.

d. Land Commissioner

14. All of the following are the sources of revenues for the city government except:

a. sales tax.

b. franchise tax.

c. property tax.

d. income tax.

15. A city tax charged to a public utility to place lines or wires along and under city streets is a

a. user fee.

b. sales tax.

c. franchise tax.

d. property tax.

16. General obligation bonds are repaid by

a. user fees.

b. franchise fees.

c. the usual sources of revenue available to the city.

d. grants.

17. In order to attract business and commerce, many municipalities offer financial incentives, called

a. Abatements.

b. Ad valorem.

c. Capital improvement.

d. User fees.

18. The county commissioners court

a. hears civil cases.

b. passes city ordinance.

c. is the governing body of the county.

d. oversees city government.

19. The county commissioners court does all except:

a. oversees the county government.

b. sets the county tax rate.

c. adopts the county budget.

d. hears felony cases.

20. All of the following are county-wide elected officials except:

a. commissioners of County Commissioners Court.

b. Sheriff.

c. Tax assessor-Collector.

d. County Clerk.

21. The county Tax Assessor-Collector

a. assesses property value.

b. collects the county sales tax.

c. collect taxes that are due to the city governments.

d. issues titles for motor vehicles.

22. All of these are criticisms leveled against county government except:

a. spoils system

b. inability to pass ordinances

c. ability to establish home rule

d. long ballot

23. The system under which county workers are hired for political patronage is the

a. spoils system.

b. merit system.

c. partisan system.

d. non-partisan system.

24. Which of the following is not a special district?

a. school district

b. community college district

c. hospital district

d. city district

25. The number of councils of governments in Texas is

a. 14.

b. 24.

c. 34.

d. 36.

True/False

1. A majority of Texans reside in cities with a home rule charter.

2. The city charter does not specify the name of the municipality and the form of government to be implemented.

3. The strongest argument in favor of council-manager is that there is very little waste.

4. In most cases, members of city council are paid $10 to $50 per council session. \

5. Large expenses that are not part of the day-to-day operations of the city are known as capital improvements.

6. County government is much like the plural executive model of government that exists at the national level.

7. Texas law requires a sheriff to be a licensed peace officer.

8. The District Clerk is the official custodian of county records, including all filings and proceedings for the District Courts and County Courts at Law they serve.

9. A special district is a non-government entity established to deliver a specific service to a limited geographic area.

10. Texas has approximately 60 community college districts that offer academic and vocational programs.

Essay Questions

1. Discuss the types of city governments used in Texas.

2. What are different sources of revenues for city, county, and special districts?

3. Discuss the structure and operations of elected county officials.

4. Describe the role of special districts and discuss the reasons for their growth.

5. What are the functions of the Council of Governments?