Texas Government Exam 4 Chapter 11

Questions and Answers

When a county has a population of more than 8,000, which office assumes the county clerk's role as record keeper for the district courts even as the county clerk continues to maintain records for the constitutional county court and any county courts-at-law?

County attorney

County auditor

District clerk (correct)

County clerk

Which is not a reason why reformers recommend a short ballot with fewer elected county officials?

They would be able to engage in long-range planning and eliminate duplication among various county offices.

They contend that a chief county executive could coordinate county programs.

They fear that concentrating too much power in a single chief executive invites abuse and threatens personal liberty. (correct)

They argue it would simplify structure with a single-county executive, which would allow voters to hold one high-profile officer accountable.

The unit road system does which of the following?

Takes the day-to-day responsibility for roads away from individual county commissioners and places it in the hands of a professional engineer. (correct)

It can only be created by a petition from the voters.

Requires each county to spend the same amount on roads and bridges.

Allows each commissioner to have the same number of road crew in a given district.

Elected county officials hire county employees using:

the spoils system Signup and view all the answers

_________ is the merging or joining of responsibilities by county and other local governments.

Consolidation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a dependent agency and not a special district?

Crime control and prevention districts Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about councils of government (COGs) is correct?

All of the above are true. Signup and view all the answers

The lessons learned from observing decision making in small cities in Texas:

apply to larger cities, states, and the national government as well. Signup and view all the answers

Anyone who lives in a metropolitan area is likely to be governed by which of the following?

All of the above are true Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a special district in Texas?

Municipal government Signup and view all the answers

All of the following are examples of local governments in Texas except:

Town Signup and view all the answers

According to the Pew Research Center, the American public has a more _________ of local governments than of the national and state governments.

Positive view Signup and view all the answers

In Texas, political parties do not:

All of the above are true Signup and view all the answers

In 2007, Farmers Branch in Dallas, Texas, passed an ordinance that was upheld by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals; this ordinance was a ban on:

Renting apartments to illegal immigrants Signup and view all the answers

All local governments are bound by all of the following except:

Municipal codes Signup and view all the answers

The relationship between states and local governments follows from the fact that states have a _________ system of government.

Unitary Signup and view all the answers

__________ are creatures of the state and have only as much power as the Texas Constitution and Texas legislature grant them?

All of the above are true Signup and view all the answers

Texas cities are classified as either:

General-law or home-rule Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about a general-law city is correct?

It is an incorporated community with a population of 5,000 or less. Signup and view all the answers

Cities that limit the sale of beer and wine, freeze property taxes for seniors and people with disabilities, increase minimum wage, and place a cap on property tax rates is an example of a(n):

Initiative Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following allows registered voters to force a sometimes reluctant city council to place a proposed ordinance on the ballot?

Initiative Signup and view all the answers

To become a home-rule city in Texas, a city must have a population of at least:

5,000 residents Signup and view all the answers

Voters who wish to repel an existing ordinance can petition the council to hold a(n):

Referendum election Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about recall elections is incorrect?

They are used in general-rule cities. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a limit placed on home-rule cities in Texas?

All of the above are true. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a form of local government?

Strong manager-council system Signup and view all the answers

In a council-manager form of government, who is responsible for both executing council policies and managing the day-to-day operations of city government?

The city manager Signup and view all the answers

The powers of the city manager come from:

A city charter Signup and view all the answers

Council-manager government was initiated as part of a reform movement during the:

Progressive Era Signup and view all the answers

In the strong-mayor system, who is responsible for the administration of city policy?

The mayor Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a restriction on the powers of the mayor in some strong-mayor council systems of government?

All of the above are true Signup and view all the answers

In a weak-mayor form of government, power is:

Decentralized Signup and view all the answers

The two largest Texas cities with a mayor-council form of government are:

Houston and Pasadena Signup and view all the answers

Which city governments have officials who act as both executives and legislators?

Commissions Signup and view all the answers

A majority of U.S. cities have all of the following except:

Partisan elections Signup and view all the answers

In many cities, some or all of the city council members are elected by voters of the entire municipality rather than from neighborhood districts. This is called a(n):

At-large city elections Signup and view all the answers

Which type of election system has served as the primary means of increasing minority representation on city councils?

Single-member districts Signup and view all the answers

__________ voting is an at-large system that permits voters to cast one or more votes for a single candidate.

Cumulative Signup and view all the answers

The idea that city hall is best governed by new blood and fresh ideas and that limiting the number of terms for council members is the best way to achieve that goal is known as:

Term limits Signup and view all the answers

Which factors influence the sources and amount of revenue used to meet a city's budgetary obligations?

All of the above are true Signup and view all the answers

When it comes to the use of lobbyists to promote the needs of local government, which is an argument not used by critics?

Local governments need additional leverage when it comes to combating unfunded mandates. Signup and view all the answers

Property appraisals in all local governments are done by which of the following?

Countywide appraisal authority Signup and view all the answers

The maximum property tax rate of a general-law city is:

$1.50 per $100 of the assessed value of a city's property. Signup and view all the answers

Home-rule municipalities can set property tax rates as high as:

$2.50 per $100 of assessed value Signup and view all the answers

Some Texas cities have taken measures to limit increases in property taxes by:

Freezing property taxes for the disabled and the elderly. Signup and view all the answers

A rollback election does which of the following?

Voters in non-school district jurisdictions limit an increase in the property tax rate to no more than 8 percent. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not considered a city user fee?

Ad valorem Signup and view all the answers

Local governments use public debt (normally bond issues that must be approved by the voters in a referendum) to fund which of the following?

Roads, buildings, and public facilities Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a source of municipal revenue?

User fees Signup and view all the answers

Although Texas added more people than any other state, most of this growth has been in:

Suburban and exurban communities Signup and view all the answers

Of the ten largest cities in the United States, Texas is home to how many of the largest cities?

Three Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about mandates is correct?

There is an increase in the number of mandates imposed by the federal government. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not an example of a federal mandate?

No-smoking ordinances Signup and view all the answers

Which public official is not a member of the Unfunded Mandates Interagency Work Group?

The lieutenant governor Signup and view all the answers

Big cities in Texas have suffered less than many other U.S. cities from 'white flight,' urban decay, the evacuation of industry, and declining tax bases; one reason they have escaped some of the worst of these problems is:

The state's board of annexation laws Signup and view all the answers

Texas cities can keep from being boxed in by suburban 'bedroom' cities using their power of:

Extraterritorial jurisdiction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about colonia is incorrect?

A colonia that is eligible for state aid cannot continue to receive such aid after annexation by a city. Signup and view all the answers

All of the following statements about county government are true with the exception of which one?

Texas counties, like cities, have home-rule provisions. Signup and view all the answers

In terms of property taxes, the county is limited to a rate of __________ per $100 of assessed valuation.

80 cents Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an optional county power authorized by state laws and various state codes?

All of the above are true. Signup and view all the answers

Which county official presides over the commissioners' court?

The county judge Signup and view all the answers

The commissioners court acts as a legislature:

All of the above are true. Signup and view all the answers

The major influence exercised by the commissioners' court over the county offices comes from:

Their budgetary powers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a power of a county judge?

Exercising judicial authority over felony cases Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about a commissioners court is incorrect?

Commissioner districts need not be drawn on the basis of the one-person, one-vote principle. Signup and view all the answers

Commissioners are sometimes called __________ because they are responsible for the county roads and bridges within their precincts.

Road commissioners Signup and view all the answers

The county sheriff has all of the following functions except:

Operates the city jail Signup and view all the answers

Who is the county law enforcement official elected to serve as the process officer of justice of the peace courts and also has general law enforcement powers?

Constable Signup and view all the answers

Which is considered a county's most important financial officer?

The tax assessor-collector Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Local Government Structure in Texas

Residents in metropolitan areas are governed by municipal and county governments, hospital districts, and school districts.
Municipal government is not considered a special district in Texas.
Local governments in Texas include counties, municipalities, and special districts; towns are not classified as a local government.

Public Perception and Political Involvement

Americans tend to have a more positive view of local governments compared to national or state governance.
Political parties in Texas do not nominate candidates below the county level or indicate party affiliation on ballots.

Ordinances and Local Regulations

Farmers Branch's ordinance banning apartment rentals to illegal immigrants was upheld by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Local governments must adhere to federal laws and the U.S. Constitution but are not bound by municipal codes.

Classification and Characteristics of Cities

Texas cities are categorized as either general-law or home-rule cities.
General-law cities have populations of 5,000 or less, while home-rule cities require a minimum population of 5,000 to adopt their own charter.
Initiatives in cities can involve propositions, such as limiting alcohol sales or freezing property taxes for certain demographics.

Elections and Voting Systems

Initiatives allow voters to propose ordinances, while referendum elections enable the repeal of existing laws.
Municipalities often use at-large elections, where council members are elected by the entire municipality, instead of by district.
Single-member districts are significant for increasing minority representation in city councils.

City Government Structures

Council-manager form of government has city managers responsible for daily operations, followed by strong and weak mayor systems based on administrative powers.
Strong-mayor systems designate the mayor as the primary executor of city policy, whereas weak-mayor systems distribute power more evenly.

Financial Management and Revenue Generation

Texas cities manage their budgets based on population size, tax types, and assessed property values.
Cities utilize public debt for funding capital projects like roads and public facilities, and they rely on user fees for specific services.
General-law cities have a maximum property tax rate of $1.50 per $100 assessed value, while home-rule cities can set rates as high as $2.50.

County Government Structure and Operations

Texas comprises 254 counties, operated under strict state regulations limiting their organizational flexibility.
The county judge presides over commissioners' courts, which act as the legislative body for approving budgets and setting tax rates.

Responsibilities of Elected Officials

County sheriffs enforce law, while constables serve as process officers for justice courts but do not operate city jails.
Tax assessor-collectors are crucial financial officers for counties, managing property taxes.
The district clerk manages records for district courts in counties with over 8,000 residents, while the county clerk handles the constitutional county court's records.

Legislative and Financial Powers

Commissioners' courts have limited authority to legislate and approve budgets, with significant influence derived from appointing powers and budget control.
Reformers advocate for shorter ballots to streamline county governance and improve accountability.

Emerging Trends and Challenges

Suburban and exurban areas have experienced significant population growth, affecting city planning and resource allocation.
Unfunded mandates from federal levels increase pressure on local governments, prompting debates over their funding and operational autonomy.
Consolidation of responsibilities among local governments aims to enhance efficiency and cooperation in service delivery.### Dependent Agencies vs. Special Districts
Crime control and prevention districts are classified as dependent agencies.
Other options (navigation districts, weed control districts, and airport authorities) are examples of special districts.

Councils of Government (COGs)

COGs primarily consist of municipal and county governments as members.
They lack governmental status and jurisdiction over local governments within their areas.
COGs function as voluntary associations of governments, maintaining their self-government rights without relinquishing authority.

Decision Making in Small Cities

Observations of decision making in small Texas cities provide insights applicable to larger cities.
Findings are relevant not only to small cities but also to state and national government contexts.

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Description

Test your knowledge with flashcards focusing on Chapter 11 of the Texas government exam, which covers local government structures and special districts. This quiz includes questions about municipal, county, and various special districts in Texas.