Texas Government Chapter 12 – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
When discussing "the basics" of local government, the authors focus on an important concept: that all local governments exist as an arm of the state government. Which of the following sources is most related to this basic idea of local government?
answer
Dillon's Rule
question
Which of the following statements inaccurately describes the history and function of county government?
answer
The Texas county system is rooted in the French system used in the Louisiana Territory.
question
Which of the following is characteristic of county governments in Texas?
answer
Elected officials include the commissioners court.
question
Property taxes play what role in county and state income?
answer
They permit the state to avoid the use of income taxes.
question
Where home rule cities ______, general law cities ______.
answer
make up around 30 percent of cities in Texas; make up around 70 percent of cities in Texas
question
Which of the following forms of city government is the most commonly found in Texas?
answer
council-manager
question
Which of the following is not a type of city election found in Texas?
answer
multi-member district
question
In which type of city election do voters cast the same number of votes as number of seats on the council?
answer
cumulative voting
question
Which of the following is an example of a major political issue being dealt with by city governments?
answer
zoning and planning policies
question
Dillon's Rule describes a principle that assumes ______ to be a creature of _______.
answer
local government; state government
question
The concept that the national government sets up policy guidelines and then expects the state government to pay for the programs is known as
answer
administrative federalism.
question
The governing body for Texas counties is the
answer
commissioners court.
question
Elections in which candidates' names and party affiliations appear on the ballot are called
answer
partisan elections.
question
Which of the following accurately describe a merit or civil service system?
answer
Government jobs are based on qualifications and formal training.
question
Justices of the peace and constables serve as judicial officers for what kind of cases?
answer
minor criminal cases
question
Which of the following describes city charters correctly?
answer
Home rule city voters approve of their city's charter.
question
Machine politics refers to
answer
local party bosses who use the patronage system for jobs and benefits.
question
Which of the following is not a service provided by municipal utility districts?
answer
public education
question
All local governments are ___________ the state government.
answer
dominated by
question
According to the authors, property tax is a burden on
answer
tax payers.
question
The cost of local government is ultimately passed on to
answer
citizens.
question
A special government that provides water and sewer services is called
answer
municipal utilities district.
question
Special election voter turnout for municipal utility districts is often
answer
low.
question
Special districts are useful because
answer
they can coordinate across multiple jurisdictions.
question
The Board of Trustees for an Independent School District may do all of the following except
answer
raise property taxes without voter approval.
question
What is the purpose of counties?
answer
provide education
question
Municipal bonds are used to
answer
raise money for the city.
question
Annexation is a tool for
answer
combining school districts.
question
Laws that restrict what one may do with their property are called
answer
zoning laws.
question
Privatization is the process in which
answer
government sells off services to be operated by a private company.
question
This official maintains county records.
answer
county clerk
