Tx Govt Ch 10 – Local Government – Flashcards
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What is a tax reinvestment zone (TRZ)?
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An area of a city that has a special economic district where all property taxes paid by residents of that area are used only in that area by the city for economic reinvestment and development
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What is a good example of a TRZ in Houston?
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Montrose
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Of which Council of Governments is Tomball a part?
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Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC)
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What is the purpose of the county governments?
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To regulate rural areas of the state
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What are the main functions of county government?
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- road and bridge building and maintenance -setting county tax rates and budget - maintaining the county jail - providing law enforcement - providing indigent services - maintenance of vital records
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How many counties does Texas have?
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254
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What is a county?
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An administrative arm of state government over a particular region
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What budget item is the largest expenditure for county governments?
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building and maintenance of roads and bridges
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Which legal entity is primarily responsible for serving legal documents?
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constables
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Which entity is the primary law enforcement official for a county?
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Sheriff
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What is one of the primary struggles for many counties in Texas?
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They are too small in population to adequately fund county operations
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What is one particular challenge small population counties may face as Jasper County did in 1998?
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the expenses of prosecuting a capital murder trial
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Which office primarily maintains vital records in a county?
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County Clerk
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Which office primarily maintains court records for a county?
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District Clerk
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What is the most important social service a county provides?
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emergency welfare assistance
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How did the Texas Legislature relieve some of the burden of managing growing cities as the population boomed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries?
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created the ability of cities to become home-rule cities
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What are the provisions of a home-rule city charter?
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- form the type of government that will run the city - specify the number of members on the governing body - annexation powers in an ETJ - establish property tax rates - set the terms of office for officials
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What is the population requirement to become a home-rule city?
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5,000 residents or greater
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What is a city charter?
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the governing document of a city
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What is an ordinance?
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a law made by a city
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What is a council-manager form of government?
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policies are developed by city council and mayor while administrative functions are carried out by a professional city administrator
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What subject do most city managers major in during college?
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Public administration
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What is the difference between a strong-mayor and a weak-mayor form of government?
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In a strong mayor system the mayor appoints the heads of all of the major departments and serves as the chief executive of the city
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Why do most cities not have a strong-mayor form of government?
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potential for corruption and patronage
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What form of government does the city of Houston have?
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Mayor-Council (Strong Mayor)
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What form of government does the city of San Antonio have?
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Council-manager
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What form of government does the city of Dallas have?
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Council-manager (Weak Mayor)
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Which form of government is most common for larger cities in the U.S.?
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Council-manager
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What is the primary difference between the mayor-council and the council-manager forms of government?
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mayor-council normally holds local politics to be a public service / part time job while council-manager sees local politics as a full-time job
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What is an at-large election?
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an election in which voters from an entire geographic area participate in an election
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What is the impact of at-large elections in municipalities?
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normally dilutes the influence of minority groups
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What is a single member district election?
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Residents of a particular area within a larger geographic area select a representative
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What is the impact of single member district elections in municipalities?
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normally increases diversity in ethnic/racial representations
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Even though municipal elections are non-partisan why do many candidates still use party labels in larger municipalities when running for office?
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The party label creates an informational shortcut for voters to inform them on the views of a candidate
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Why was the commissioner form of city government developed?
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in response to the Galveston hurricane of 1900
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What is the governing body of a county?
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Commissioners' court
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Who is the head of commissioners' court?
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County judge
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How does the role of a county judge differ between rural and urban areas?
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rural areas - serves both a judicial and administrative function urban areas - serves almost an entirely administrative function
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How are commissioners elected in each county?
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Commissioners are elected in precincts of roughly equal population
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How many commissioners are on commissioners' court
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4 in every county
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What is the primary responsibility of a county commissioner?
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Maintain the roads and bridges as well as community buildings and facilities in their precinct
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How are commissioners normally selected in the commissioner form of city government?
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at large elections
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How does the commissioner form of municipal government work?
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Voters select individuals to serve as the heads of various parts of the city government
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What effect would you expect for a city that shifted their elections for city council from at-large elections to single member district elections?
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a more diverse city council
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Which official normally serves as the chief financial officer for a city?
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city controller
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Which county official is normally in charge of prosecuting more serious criminal acts?
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District Attorney
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Which county official represents the county in most civil issues and some less serious criminal issues?
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County Attorney
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What is a recall election?
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An election to remove a public official that is held if at least 10% of the qualified voters in an area sign a petition for the official to be recalled
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Which city is the only major U.S. city with a strong-mayor council form of government?
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Houston
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What is the difference between a special district and other forms of local government?
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special districts provide one specific service or function in a geographic area
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Approximately how many school districts are there in the state of Texas?
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1,200
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What is the governing body of a school district?
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board of trustees
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Which official is responsible for carrying out the policies of the board of trustees for a school district?
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superintendent
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What are the responsibilities of a school district board of trustees?
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- approve textbooks - approve curriculum - set district policies - set tax rate and budget - approve contracts for faculty and services
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What is the most common form of local government in Texas?
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special districts
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Why is flood control handled by special districts?
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Flooding problems are rarely limited by city, county, or district boundaries
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What is the administration structure for most special districts in Texas?
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run by a board of elected residents from within the district
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What are the main sources of revenue for special districts in Texas?
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property taxes
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What are the main sources of revenue for county and municipal governments in Texas?
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sales taxes
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Why are special districts often referred to as "hidden governments"?
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most people are unaware that they exist or who is in charge of them
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What is the function of councils of government (COGs) in Texas?
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serve as a regional coordination board for planning local/regional economic and social development
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Who makes up the governing boards of councils of government (COGs) in Texas?
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Elected officials that are appointed from the various local governments in the region
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Why is a city administrator considered a political position?
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Because he/she is subject to the pleasure of the elected officials on a city council
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What was the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history?
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Galveston Hurricane of 1900
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In which Harris County Commissioner's Precinct is Tomball College located?
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Precinct 4
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What are the responsibilities of a Justice of the Peace?
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- small claims court judge (>$10,000) - magistrate - misdemeanor (fines only) - death certificates - school issues / truancy - traffic violations
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Which county officials are elected in precincts?
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- Justice of the Peace - Constable - County Commissioner
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Which county officials are elected in at-large elections?
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- Sheriff - County Judge - District Court Judge - District Attorney - County Attorney - Tax Assessor-Collector - County Clerk - District Clerk
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What are the responsibilities of a constable?
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- traffic citations - law enforcement - serves warrants and civil papers - bailiff for Justice of the Peace court
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What is an initiative petition?
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a method for forcing a vote on proposed measures by obtaining a certain percentage of registered voter signatures on a petition
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What is a referendum?
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a vote on a proposed piece of legislation
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Approximately how many cities in Texas have a population of more than 50,000?
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~60
