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Population Density

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The number of people per square mile.

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Dillion Rule

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Local governments are created by the state governments and their responsibilities and powers are defined by the state.

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General Law City

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Fewer than 5000 residents. They have specific powers granted by the legislature.

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Home Rule City

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City with more than 5000 residents, can adopt any form of government the citizens choose, local voters adopt a city charter.

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City Charter

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A document, defined or authorized by state law under which a city operates.

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Weak Mayor

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Mayor shares the authority with the city council and other elected officials but has little independent control over city policy or city administration.

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Strong Mayor

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Gives the mayor considerable power, including budgetary control and appointment/removal authority over city heads.

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City Commission

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A form of city government in which elected commissioners collectively serve as a city's policymaking body and individually serve as administrative heads of different city departments. Often referred to as the Galveston plan, it was part of the city reform movement, it is rarely used in Texas today.

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Council Manager Government

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Policy is set by an elected city council, which hires a professional city manager to head the daily administration of city government. With the exception of Houston, large Texas cities are organized under this form.

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Non-partisan election

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A local election in which candidates file for place, position, or district with no political label attached to their names.

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At-Large Election

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A system which city council members or other office holders are elected by voters in the entire city, school district or single purpose district. Many have been struck down by the federal government as being discriminatory against minorities.

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Runoff Election

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A required election if no candidate receives and absolute majority of the votes cast in the primary race or in many non partisan elections. The run off is between the top two vote getters.

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Single Member District

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A system in which a legislature, city council member, or other public official is elected from a specific geographic area.

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Regressive Tax

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Imposes a heavier burden on low income people,

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Rollback Election

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An election in which voters can nullify a property tax increase that exceeds 8% per year.

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General Obligation Bond

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A method of borrowing money to pay for new construction projects, such as streets nd drainage systems. Interest on such bonds, will require voter approval, and is paid with tax revenue.

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Revenue Bond

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A bond sold by government that is repaid from the revenues generated from income providing facilities.

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Homestead Exemption

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Legal provision that permits a person who owns a home and is living in it to obtain a reduction in property taxes on the house.

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Mandate

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A federal law or regulation that requires state and local governments to take certain actions, often at costs that the federal government does not reimburse. The state also imposes mandates on local governments.

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Commissioners Court

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The principal policy making body for county government. It includes four commissioners and the county judge, all elected offices. It sets the county tax rate and expenditures.

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County Judge

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The presiding officer of a county commissioners court. This office also has some judicial authority, which is assumed by separate county courts at law in most urban counties.

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County Clerk

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The chief record keeping officer of a county.

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County Attorney

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An elected official who is the chief legal officer of some counties. He or she also prosecutes lesser criminal offenses, primarily misdemeanors, in county courts.

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District Attorney

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An elected official who prosecutes the more serious criminal offenses, usually felonies, in state district courts.

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County Tax Assessor Collector

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An elected official who determines how much property tax is owed of the different pieces of property within a county then collects the tax. Acts on the basis of property values determined by the appraisal district and a tax rate set by the county commissioners court.

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Appraisal District

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County wide tax office that appraises the value of property and certifies the tax rolls used by every taxing authority in the county.

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Sheriff

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An elected official who is the chief law enforcement officer of a county. In urban areas, his or her jurisdiction usually is limited to the unincorporated areas of a county, while local police departments have jurisdiction over the incorporated cities.

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Constable

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An elected law enforcement officer assigned as an administrative in a justice of the peace precinct. He or she is responsible primarily for executing court judgements, serving subpoenas and delivering other legal documents . Constables are also authorized to patrol their precincts, make arrests and conduct criminal investigations.

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County Auditor

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An office appointed by the district judges of the county. This person is primarily responsible for reviewing every bill and expenditure of a county to ensure that is it correct and legal.

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County Treasurer

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An elected officer who is responsible for receiving and disbursing county funds. The office's primary functions are now carried out by the county auditor, and the office has been eliminated in a number of counties.

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Spoils system

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Practice, usually identified with machine politics of awarding public jobs to ones friends or supporters with little regard to abilities or skills.

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Civil Service System

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A personnel system under which public employees are selected for government jobs through competitive examinations and the systematic evaluation of job performances.

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Special District

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A unit of local government created by the state to preform a specific function or functions not met by cities or counties, including the provision of public services to unincorporated areas.

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Independent School District

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A specific form of special district that administers the public schools in a designated area. It is governed by an elected board of trustees empowered to levy property taxes, establish local school policies, and employ a school superintendent as its chief administrator.

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School Board

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a governing body of a school district.

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School Superintendent

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Chief Administrator of a school district who is hired by the school board.

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Privatization

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Government contacting with private companies to provide some public services.

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Annexation

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The authority of cities to add territory subject to restrictions set by state law.

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Extraterritorial Jurisdiction

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The power of an incorporated city to control development within near by unincorporated areas.

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Tax Abatement

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A device used by governments to attract new businesses through the reduction or elimination of property taxes for a specific time.

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Metro Government

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Consolidation of city and county governments to avoid duplication of public services. This approach has been tried in several other parts of the country but has attracted little interest in Texas.

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Public Improvement District

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Specific area of a city in which property owners pay special taxes in return for improvements to streets and other public facilities in the neighborhood.

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Which school district in Texas has the largest number of students?

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B. Houston Independent School District

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Which statement is a significant criticism of single purpose districts?

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D. The level of professionalism is often low,

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Home rule cities ________.

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C. Can adopt any form of government they choose as long as it does not conflict with the state constitution or statutes.

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Of the fifty states in 2012, Texas had the 2nd largest number of local governments. Approximately how many local governments, including counties, cities, towns and districts were there in Texas?

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C. 5100

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When did Texas become an urban state, with more than 50% of its population residing in cities?

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C. Around 1950, after World War II.

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How can the governance of most Texas independent school districts be described?

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A. School boards depend on superintendents for their agenda and information on student issues.

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Which statement about the governing bodies of special districts is true?

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C. The can either be elected or appointed depending on the way the district was created.

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If a school district becomes highly politicized, and incapable of carrying out its functions, the day to day management of the district can be taken over by the?

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B. Texas Education Agency

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A builder is constructing houses just outside the boundaries of a city. Which powers enable the city to force the builder to comply with city building codes?

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B. Extraterritorial jurisdiction

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Which of the following is the most common form of city government in Texas?

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B. Mayor Council

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If you plan to marry in Texas, where would you obtain a marriage license?

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B. Office of county clerk in the county where you plan to marry.

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The primary function of a sheriff is to?

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C. Serve as the primary law enforcement officer in rural counties and nonincorporated areas of metropolitan counties.

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What is the most significant factor that impacts inequities among Texas School Districts?

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C. Revenue derived from property tax.

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How are special or single purpose districts often described?

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B. As invisible governments.

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Cities, with the approval of voters, use public revenues to assist the private sector and nonprofits in economic developments within the city. Which tax can cities collect for economic development?

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B. Sales Tax

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Which statement accurately describes the council manager form of government?

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B. The city council sets policy , and the city manager handles administration.

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What form of government can be described as a halfway house between city hood and city hood?

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B. Special Districts

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The practice of local governments turning garbage collections over to a business such as waste management is called?

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A. Privatization

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What has happened to special districts over the last several decades?

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B. There has been a steady increase in the number of special districts.

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Education issues coupled with reform efforts have been a significant part of the public policy debates in Texas since?

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A. Reconstruction of the constitution in 1876.

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What are the cities largest sources of income?

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B. Property and Sales Tax.

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The case of Avery V. Midland County?

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C. Required commissioners to be elected from districts that were equal in population size.

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Since the 1970's, what percentage of Texans reside in areas defined by the US Census Bureau as Urban?

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C. Over 80%

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How many cities are there in Texas?

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C. 1215

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Which of these is one of the urban finance problems faces by Texas Cities?

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A. Expanded homestead exemptions for older homeowners, which lower the amount of property taxes available to fund city operations.

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If a city and county wished to merge their functions and integrate governing bodies, what would these entities initially require?

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C. A constitutional amendment providing permission for the county and city to consolidate.

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The top official in county government who is often perceived as the chief executive officer is the?`

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D. County Judge

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Which city continued to have a major anglo population?

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B. Plano

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Which county in Texas is the least populous?

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B. Loving

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If a neighborhood or community decides to spend more money on community developments such as landscaping, malls, or signs, the neighborhood can appeal to the city government to create a?

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C. Public Improvement District

Texas Government Chapter 4 Vocabulary – Flashcards

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