McGraw Hill Chapter 7 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the source of state police powers?

Tenth Amendment

A ______ city is one whose charter is specified in state statutes.

general law

The process of establishing a city is known as?

incorporation

What did Senate Bill 6 passed in Texas in 2017 do?

gives a voice to those in a city's ETJ Signup and view all the answers

Where are the principles of federalism enshrined?

U.S. Constitution Signup and view all the answers

What are the two basic forms of government used by Texas cities today? (Select all that apply)

council-manager Signup and view all the answers

In a unitary system, state power is?

expressly granted by the central government Signup and view all the answers

In the council-_________ form of city government, citizens elect a council and a mayor.

manager Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum population required for a city to be chartered as a home rule city in Texas?

5,000 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characterize the role of mayor in the council-manager form of city government? (Select all that apply)

presiding officer of the city council Signup and view all the answers

General-law cities have ______ of extraterritorial jurisdiction outside their city limits.

0.5 miles Signup and view all the answers

How does someone become city manager in a council-manager form of government?

appointment by the city council Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about annexation are true under Texas law? (Select all that apply)

A city can annex unincorporated land that adjoins its city limits. Signup and view all the answers

How do weak mayors' and strong mayors' veto powers differ?

Weak mayors have little or no veto power; strong mayors have full veto power. Signup and view all the answers

How many home rule cities in Texas use the commission form of government?

0 Signup and view all the answers

The most popular form of government among Texas cities is the ______ form.

council-manager Signup and view all the answers

The combination of legislative and executive functions in the commission form of government led to?

a lack of checks and balances Signup and view all the answers

In the council-manager form of government, council members are generally?

part-time and have no salary Signup and view all the answers

Like some other Texas cities, Houston uses ______ for its city council elections.

a combination of single-member and at-large districts Signup and view all the answers

Most city managers are?

trained professionals Signup and view all the answers

Some municipalities in Texas use multimember district systems. How many of them use multimember district system elections?

none Signup and view all the answers

Under the ________ mayor form of government, the mayor has significant powers.

strong Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following systems is most likely to limit the concentration and effect of minority votes?

at-large voting Signup and view all the answers

The ______ form of city government was created in Galveston after the 1901 hurricane.

commission Signup and view all the answers

One of the major flaws of the commission form of city government is that?

it combined legislative and executive functions. Signup and view all the answers

The most common form of at-large voting in Texas is?

At-large by place Signup and view all the answers

An election in which voters can't tell the political party of the candidates is called a(n) _______ election.

Nonpartisan Signup and view all the answers

The type of municipal election in which the city is divided into election districts is called a(n)?

single-member district election Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the reasons that local elections have lower voter turnout than other elections? (Select all that apply)

There are uncontested seats. Signup and view all the answers

A study of Texas's biggest cities found that council members from single-member districts (SMDs) differed from those from at-large districts in which of the following ways? (Select all that apply)

Council members from SMDs showed more concern for neighborhood issues. Signup and view all the answers

How many county governments are there in Texas?

254 Signup and view all the answers

What Texas constitution established the standard of voters electing the heads of major departments of county government?

1876 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements are true about Texas municipal elections? (Select all that apply)

The Texas Election Code allows home rule cities to use partisan elections. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of the county commissioner's court?

govern the county Signup and view all the answers

Media coverage in city elections mostly?

ignores suburban city elections Signup and view all the answers

Constitutional county judges must be ______ before they run for office.

well informed in the law Signup and view all the answers

Generally, Texas counties provide which of the following? (Select all that apply)

police protection Signup and view all the answers

County government officials are almost all?

elected by voters in the county Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to be the sheriff's primary duty in urban counties?

operating the county jail Signup and view all the answers

In Texas, county commissioner's courts are made up of the constitutional county judge and ______ county commissioners.

four Signup and view all the answers

County attorneys usually prosecute less serious criminal offenses before ______ courts.

county Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following descriptions are true of the constitutional county judge? (Select all that apply)

serves as the chair of the county commissioner's court Signup and view all the answers

In what era did the job of assessing property value shift to a countywide assessment district?

1970's Signup and view all the answers

If you wish to obtain a marriage license, you should visit the office of the?

county clerk Signup and view all the answers

When counties issue marriage licenses, birth certificates, and automobile registrations they are acting?

as an arm of the state Signup and view all the answers

In small rural counties, the sheriff is allowed by law to also function as the county?

tax assessor-collector Signup and view all the answers

What are the duties of the county treasurer in Texas?

disburses county funds, receives county funds, reconciles all bank statements Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes county attorneys in Texas?

Not all counties have county attorneys Signup and view all the answers

The county tax assessor/collector is responsible for?

collecting state and county revenue Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following may be a duty of the county clerk? (Select all that apply)

administering elections Signup and view all the answers

Counties with populations of fewer than ______ are not required to have auditors.

10,000 Signup and view all the answers

In most Texas counties, each county commissioner is responsible for road repair within the boundaries of the precinct in which the commissioner is elected. This means there are ______ separate road crews.

four Signup and view all the answers

What office is responsible for receiving, maintaining, and disbursing special revenue funds?

county treasurer Signup and view all the answers

County government was designed to meet the needs of and provide services to a(n) ______ population.

rural Signup and view all the answers

In order to pass specific ordinances, county governments must?

seek legislative approval Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a duty of the county tax assessor/collector? (Select all that apply)

voter registration Signup and view all the answers

The county auditor is?

appointed by the district judge(s) Signup and view all the answers

Taxes to fund the functions of county government are paid mostly by whom?

citizens living in cities within the county Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a weakness of county government in Texas? (Select all that apply)

It is unable to provide urban services. Signup and view all the answers

From the following, select the accurate statements about county government. (Select all that apply)

Texas has refused to make major changes to county governments in the recent past. Signup and view all the answers

Rural Texans often rely on volunteer fire departments because?

counties are not permitted to operate fire departments Signup and view all the answers

The primary reason special districts are created is?

to provide services when no other unit of government does Signup and view all the answers

County governments lack the general authority to pass ordinances.

True Signup and view all the answers

What are MUDs?

municipal utility districts Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly describes the inequity of financial resources in county and city governments in Texas? (Select all that apply)

County residents pay little of the cost to operate the county governments from which they receive services. Signup and view all the answers

In independent school districts in Texas, who is responsible for setting district policies?

the school board superintendent Signup and view all the answers

Of the following statements about school board elections, which are correct? (Select all that apply)

Most members are elected at large. Signup and view all the answers

If counties in Texas were given the same power of county __________ rule as most Texas cities have, counties could adopt any government form not forbidden by law.

home Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are an example of a special purpose district?

municipal utility districts Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary reason that MUDs were created?

counties' inability to provide certain services to areas outside cities Signup and view all the answers

In what areas are schools most strictly subject to state control? (Select all that apply)

curriculum Signup and view all the answers

The school district superintendent is responsible for which of the following duties? (Select all that apply)

reporting to elected officials Signup and view all the answers

Special districts are often called shadow governments because?

they operate out of the view of most citizens. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

State Police Powers and City Governance

Source of state police powers: Tenth Amendment establishes powers reserved to states.
General law cities: Defined by state statutes, distinct from home rule cities.
Incorporation: The legal process of establishing a city.
Texas Senate Bill 6 (2017): Empowers residents within a city's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ).

Federalism and City Government Structures

Federalism: Foundational principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution; promotes a decentralized government.
Basic forms of government in Texas cities: Predominantly council-manager and mayor-council systems.
Unitary system: State powers granted by the central government.

City Government Dynamics

Council-manager form: Citizens elect a council and mayor; council appoints a city manager to oversee administration.
Population threshold for home rule cities in Texas: Minimum of 5,000 residents required.
Role of mayor in council-manager: Functions as a ceremonial leader and presiding officer of the city council.

Annexation and Mayoral Authority

General-law cities: Hold only 0.5 miles of extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Annexation in Texas: Cities can annex unincorporated lands adjacent to limits and those within ETJ; powers limited compared to other states.
Mayors' veto powers: Weak mayors hold limited veto authority, while strong mayors have comprehensive veto powers.

Voting Systems and Elections

Demographics of Texas city elections: At-large voting systems often dilute minority votes; combination of single-member and at-large districts is utilized.
Voter turnout issues: Local elections generally have lower turnout due to being held in off years and having uncontested seats.
Election types: Nonpartisan elections do not reveal candidates' political parties; single-member district elections promote direct representation.

County Government Structure and Responsibilities

Texas county structure: Comprises 254 counties; governed by a constitutional county judge and four commissioners.
County government functions: Primarily oversees local infrastructure, policing, and road construction.
Duties of county judges: Serve as chairs of the county commissioner's court and may have local judicial responsibilities.

Financial Resources and Services

Equity issues in funding: City residents may pay for duplicate services while county residents contribute less to their governmental services.
Special purpose districts: Created to provide services where local government fails; primarily include municipal utility districts (MUDs).
Tax assessment and collection: Managed by county tax assessor/collector, who oversees property tax and vehicle registration.

Education Governance and Control

School boards' responsibilities: Set district policies, approve budgets, establish tax rates.
Texas school funding: Heavily regulated at the state level, particularly regarding financing and curriculum.
Superintendent role: Responsible for educational operations, performance appraisals, and reporting to elected officials.

Additional Insights

Media coverage in local elections: Largely neglects suburban elections, affecting public awareness.
Volunteer fire departments: Significant reliance in rural areas due to county restrictions on operating fire departments.
Shadow governments: Special districts operate with limited visibility, complicating public understanding of local governance structures.

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Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key concepts from McGraw Hill Chapter 7. Explore topics such as state police powers, city incorporation, and Texas Senate Bill 6. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of local government principles.