PSC 102 Exam 3

The theory that overall crime rates can be reduced by strictly enforcing laws against petty offenses (pg. 275)

"Broken windows" strategy

What are the three ways residents of municipalities can deal with their dissatisfaction with their community (pg. 292)

1. resign yourself to the situation, do nothing, and just tolerate it 2. move away and find a community that provides more satisfaction 3. stay and make an attempt to change things

The political power of prosecutors stems from their discretion in deciding what? (pg. 277)

1. whether or not to prosecute in criminal cases 2. whether prosecution will be on more serious or less charges 3. prosecutors may drop charges altogether 4. plea bargaining

____ of state and local employees are unionized

1/3

Mandating that all convicted felons serve at least 85 percent of the length of their sentences (pg. 281)

85 percent solution

What are examples of informal powers? (pg. 196)

A governor's popularity, charisma, ability to generate positive media attention, path breaker status, (gender, race/ethnicity, age, party), unusual occupation, atypical career progression, famous relatives, designation as a potential presidential candidate, or the crisis situation under which he or she took office under. And, what voters in one state find appealing and enduring may have the opposite effect in another because the states are so different

Define Totality of Circumstances

A history of official discrimination A record of racial polarization in voting Unusually large election districts The existence of candidate slating by parties or groups, and whether minority members have been slated The extent to which minorities have been adversely affected by local government decisions Whether political campaigns have been characterized by racial appeals The extent to which minority group members have been elected to office

How is Judicial decision making different from legislative or executive decision making? (pg. 250)

A passive appearance: Courts rarely initiate policy decisions Special rules of access: Access to courts is through cases Legal procedures: different forms; law firms v. lobbyists Decisions in specific cases: limit decisions to specific cases Appearance of objectivity: must not appear to permit political considerations to affect their decisions

Decision making by bureaucracies on whether an individual or organization has complied with or violated government laws and/or regulations (pg. 225)

Adjudication

Power of governor: setting priorities (pg. 210)

Agenda setting—initiating major statewide legislative programs; prioritizing the issues to be discussed governor wants a strong batting average—the percentage of his/her recommendations enacted by the legislature

What is the largest union for public employees?

American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

Submission of disputes between parties to a neutral third party for resolution. Government employees are not allowed to go on strike (pg. 233)

Arbitration

Crimes committed by persons who would still have been imprisoned based on earlier convictions if they had served their full sentence (pg. 281)

Avertable crimes

A budget in which projected revenues are equal to recommended expenditures. And the legislature must not appropriate funds in excess of projected revenues (pg. 247)

Balanced budget

What is the "single most important policy statement of any government?"

Budgets

Support within an agency for its own function and for its clients and the pay, perks, and security of its employees. (pg. 231)

Bureaucratic culture

Bureaucrats seek added power and prestige for themselves. These motives inspire them to seek to expand their authority, functions, and budgets. They help to expand governmental functions and increase governmental spending, although the process slows during recessions (pg. 225)

Bureaucratic goals

Bureaucratization

BureaucratizationA general reference to the size of government, often measured by spending per capita and percent of adults employed by government (pg. 229)

A court matter involving two disputing parties (pg. 250)

Case

What are the primary functions of the attorney general (pg. 219)

Chief legal counsel for their states. They represent the state in any suits to which it is a party. They act as legal counsel for the governor and for other state officials. The legal business of state agencies is subject to their supervision. They render authoritative interpretations of state constitutions, laws, city ordinances, and administrative rulings. They have substantial law enforcement powers.

The document that grants powers to, and determines the structure of, a city government (pg. 302)

City charter

Disputes between individuals or organizations that do not involve law-breaking (pg. 251)

Civil cases

The determination of wages, benefits, and working conditions through bargaining with unions that represent employees Public employees are allowed to join a union but governments are not required by constitutional law to bargain with them (pg. 233)

Collective bargaining

Some officials are elected at large; others from single-member districts (pg. 311)

Combination (mixed) electoral system

Forms of city government (pg. 304-306)

Commission form of city government: The traditional form of city government in which legislative and executive powers are combined in an elected commission that directly supervises city departments Council manager: The form of city government in which the elected council or commission appoints a manager to supervise city departments Hybrid mayor-manager form of government: A city manager who is hired and fired by a city council functions as the chief executive but voters also separately elect a mayor Strong mayor council form of government: The form of city government in which legislative power is exercised by an elected council, and city departments are supervised by a separately elected mayor Weak mayor council: The form of city government in which legislative and executive powers lie with an elected council and the mayor is primarily a figurehead who presides at council meetings and signs official papers

Legal traditions developed through court cases going back to England (pg. 251)

Common law

More active involvement of police with individuals and groups on streets and sidewalks (pg. 275) reactive but recently more proactive

Community policing

A plaintiff pays nothing in attorney fees unless the attorney wins an award (pg. 251)

Contingency fees

Power of the governor: chief administrator (pg. 196)

Coordinate the state's bureaucracy Oversee the preparation of the budget Supervise state programs Resolve conflict and solve problems Steer clear of scandal; honorable and ethical behavior Just like the president, they get blamed for a lot of stuff whether they were directly involved or not Unlike the president, however, governors do not have control over their administration commensurate with their responsibility for it. Many agencies are headed by independent boards/commissions or elected officials who run the agency in their own right, independent of the governor

The organization of county government in which the elected commission appoints an administrator/manager who supervises county functions (pg. 299)

County administrator structure

Like a state constitution, it lays out the structure and powers of the local government for which it is written. It must be adopted by a majority of the county's voters (pg. 301)

County charter

An elected member of the governing body of a county (pg. 296)

County commissioner

Common strategy of lawyers; it involves the search for a court that will be most favorably disposed to one's argument (pg. 253)

Court shopping

The number of serious offenses reported to police per 100,000 population, as tabulated by the FBI (pg. 267)

Crime rate

Cases brought by government prosecutors against persons or organizations charged with law breaking (pg. 257)

Criminal cases

A party to a lawsuit with an abundance of financial resources (pg. 251)

Deep pockets

The accused party in court (pg. 250)

Defendant

The legal doctrine that local governments possess only those powers expressly granted in their charter (pg. 301)

Dillon's rule

Bureaucrats always have some discretion in performing even the most routine tasks. It is greatest in cases that do not exactly fit established rules, or when more than one rule might be applied to the same case, resulting in different outcomes. They can be helpful or unhelpful (pg. 225)

Discretion

In an effort to relieve overcrowding, sentences of prisoners are automatically reduced and those near the end of their terms are let go first (pg. 281)

Early release programs

In government budgeting, the practice of allocating specific revenue sources to specific programs, such as gasoline taxes to highways governors have little influence over these allocations makes agencies financially independent from the governor (pg. 246)

Earmarking

The governor is the head of which branch of government?

Executive

A serious violation of criminal law that can bring a penalty of one year or more in prison (pg. 256)

Felony

What are the sources of our legal traditions? (pg. 251)

For most states it is based on English Common Law. For Louisiana it is influenced by the French Napoleonic Code

Formal powers

Formal powers Gubernatorial authority established in state statutes or a state constitution; a governor's tenure potential, appointment, budget and veto powers, and party control (pg. 196)

A charter granted by the state to all cities in a specified size classification (pg. 303)

General act charter

A government that provides a wide range of services, such as a county or city or township (pg. 295)

General-purpose government

Juries that have two primary functions; investigation and indictment (pg. 257)

Grand juries

Offenses committed against individuals on the basis of their race/ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation (pg. 270) About 260,000 annually, 1 percent of all crimes

Hate crime

gives cities the power to adopt governmental forms and provide municipal services as they see fit without state interference (pg. 303) it allows cities to perform anything that is not specifically prohibited

Home rule

A charter that authorizes a city or a county to exercise all powers not specifically prohibited by law or by charter (pg. 301)

Home-rule charter

What is the source of all political conflict?

Human diversity

The development by executive bureaucracies of procedures and activities to carry out policies enacted by the legislature (pg. 224)

Implementation

A governor's strength stemming from personal attributes or unusual circumstances (pg. 196)

Informal powers

What is the recall process? (pg. 213)

Initiated by a citizen petition, it allows a vote on whether to remove an elected official from office before his or her term is completed.

Why is a governorship a much-sought after position? (pg. 221)

It allows them to have the greatest influence over key public policies that had long lasting effects on their state and its voters.

Why is regulation a preferred method of problem solving by state governments? (pg. 237)

It does not cost the government any additional money to implement regulations.

In what ways have governors been weakened in the past to limit their power over the executive branch? (pg. 206)

Jacksonian popular democracy wanted to elect as many public officials as possible reform movement led to merit systems and civil service boards which curtailed governors appointing power. many important state offices are governed by boards or commissions whose members may be appointed by the governor with the consent of the state senate but for long overlapping terms, which reduces governors influence over members of these boards and commissions. There are nearly 300 separately elected executive branch officials.

Persons convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve a term of less than a year, or those awaiting sentencing (pg. 279)

Jail population

The making of new laws through judicial interpretation of laws and constitutions (pg. 266)

Judicial activism

State courts' authority to interpret their own states' constitutional guarantees to expand upon those in the U.S. Constitution Extending personal liberties: Some state supreme courts have gone beyond what the U.S. Constitution grants Equality in public education Abortion Judicial policy divergence: increased divergence between federal and state law What are the pros and cons?

Judicial federalism

Self-imposed limits on courts to defer to legislative intent or to previous court decisions (pg. 266) Liberals, conservatives, and judicial activism: Tendency for liberal judges to be more activist than conservative judges Ideology and religious affiliation can affect decision making

Judicial restraint

Most is committed by 15- to 17-year-olds after school lets out System not designed for deterrence Separate juvenile court for under 18 Boot camps v. intervention programs (pg. 268)

Juvenile crime

Which branch is stronger—legislative or executive?

Legislative

Legal responsibility for damages caused by civil wrongdoing (pg. 251)

Liability

Government selling off many of its enterprises - for example, housing projects, airports, stadiums- to private or firms who might operate them more efficiently and effectively (pg. 238)

Load shedding

Major trial courts

Major trial courts Of general jurisdiction, such as district, circuit, and criminal courts; handle major civil and criminal cases arising out of statutes, common law, and state constitutions

How does the governor serve as political leader? (pg. 214-218)

Media access, State media coverage, popularity, leadership, and party

Knowledge of how to use the press to get one's message across to the public

Media savvy

Selection of employees for government agencies on the basis of competence, with no consideration of an individual's political loyalties or support. protection from partisanship federal level: Pendleton Act of 1883 created the Civil Service Commission (Office of Personnel MGT) for selecting personnel based on merit eventually became the standard procedure for state and local government (pg. 231)

Merit system

A crime that is punishable by a fine or less than one year in jail (pg. 256)

Misdemeanor

Executive reorganization

Modern public administration generally recommends a stronger governor and a more centralized state executive branch. Reform and reorganization proposals usually recommend: (1.) The elimination of many separately elected state executive officials and limiting the statewide ballot to governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general; (2) eliminating boards and commissions as heads of agencies, and their replacement by single, removable gubernatorial appointees; and (3) consolidating many state agencies into large departments, and making these agency and department heads report directly to the governor This is touted as a cost saving mechanism modern public administration => stronger more unified executive branch; consolidate departments and report directly to governor (pg. 228)

Why don't some victims report the crime committed against them? (pg. 271)

Most common reason is the feeling that police could not be effective in dealing with the crime. Other reasons include the feeling that the crime was a "private matter," that the offender was a member of the family, or that the victim did not want to harm the offender.

A city government chartered by the state government (pg. 302)

Municipality

What is a fractured executive branch?(pg. 226)

My best guess is that there are many separately elected entities in the executive branch

Are public employees typically allowed to strike?

No

Do voters always hold the governor solely to blame for economic conditions? (pg. 203)

No

Are local elections typically partisan or nonpartisan?

Nonpartisan

Elections in which candidates' names appear on a ballot without listing their party affiliation

Nonpartisan election

Typical gender of governors? (pg. 199)

Over 30 women have served as governor. Number of women in governorship has been climbing

How many local governments are there?

Over 89,000

Selection of employees for government agencies on the basis of political loyalty and electoral support jobs go to friends, family, political influence associated with "the machine" and political "bosses" source of power for the governor (pg. 229)

Patronage system

A jury that determines the guilt or innocence of criminal defendants (pg. 257)

Petit juries

The accusing party in court (pg. 250)

Plaintiff

An agreement by a criminal defendant to plead guilty to lesser charges with lighter penalties in order to avoid a jury trial (pg. 265)

Plea bargaining

What types of issues are governors more likely to focus on—pocketbook issues or social issues?

Pocketbook issues

Persons convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve a sentence of one year or more (pg. 278)

Prison population

Court ordered community supervision of convicted offenders by a probation agency (pg. 278)

Probation

What are the pros and cons of privatization?

Pros: Reduces waste, inefficiency, and unresponsiveness Businesses and NPFs can be more innovative Better resources such as specialized personnel and equipment Strengthens private enterprise Cons: Cost savings are exaggerated as are the claims of greater efficiency Loss of jobs for public employees Quality is lower Loss of public control contractors can become just as unresponsive as bureaucracies (loss of accountability and compassion) Concerns that governments will not properly audit contractors

The attorney acting on behalf of the government in a criminal case (pg. 250)

Prosecutor

Attorneys provided by the state to those who could not otherwise afford an attorney (pg. 257)

Public defender

Positive aspects within a community that can cause that community to be desirable (pg. 293)

Pull factors

Multiples of the actual damages found; designed to deter and punish persons or firms found to be at fault (pg. 252)

Punitive damage awards

Elections in which candidates are chosen by all of the voters in a community; the number of seats up for election are won by the highest vote-getters (pg. 310)

Pure at-large electoral system

Negative aspects within a community that can cause that community to be undesirable (pg. 293)

Push factors

The likelihood of a former convict returning to prison for new crimes (pg. 279)

Recidivism

The development by the bureaucracy of formal rules for implementing legislation (pg. 224)

Regulation

Responsibilities/powers of governor as chief legislator? (pg. 196)

Responsible for initiating statewide legislative programs. They are seen as "initiator" of public policy decisions. They must persuade legislators to support them. They must involve themselves directly in legislative decisions. The veto power gives the governor bargaining power with the legislature. Line-item veto, allowing the governor to veto specific items in an appropriation bill, including legislators home district pork projects. Lastly, the governor can call special sessions of the legislature, pressuring legislature to do something. (setting priorities, providing leadership, special sessions, veto, line-item veto, managing the governor-legislature relationship.)

Revenues that fall below those estimated in the budget and force spending cuts during a fiscal year only a few states allow deficits to be carried over to the next fiscal year (pg. 248)

Revenue shortfalls

organized specifically to provide public elementary and secondary education; community colleges may be operated by county governments or by special districts with or without state support. Most school districts are independent but some are dependent (pg. 295)

School districts

A judge's decision as to the punishment to be given to a person convicted of a crime Trend away from determinate sentences (enacted into law; limits discretion of judges), due to prison overcrowding; greater uniformity (pg. 265)

Sentencing

What are the two primary functions of police? (pg. 274)

Service function and Peacekeeping function law enforcement, keeping the peace, and furnishing services.

What is privatization? (pg. 238)

Shifting the production of government services from public bureaucracies to private firms

Provide specific services that are not being supplied by existing general purpose governments; most perform a single function (pg. 296) provide services not supplied by existing general purpose governments; usually a single function such as airports, waste disposal, etc.

Special districts

A government that performs a very specific function, such as a school district or a mosquito control district (pg. 295)

Special-purpose government

The highest courts of appeal in the states (pg. 258) most important and visible judicial body in the state

State supreme courts

Budgets are political documents that record the struggles over whose policy preferences will be funded.

Statement

City attorneys have become key officials in advising cities on what they can and can't do according to state law and their charters.

Statement

City charters are lengthy and detailed because cities can only exercise powers specifically granted to them by the state

Statement

County sheriffs and their deputies are the principal enforcement and arresting officers in rural counties.

Statement

Courts narrowly interpret city charters.

Statement

Distinction between provision and production of a service: government decides to offer a service, but not necessarily produce these services through government entities.

Statement

In reality, grand juries do not provide a check on the prosecutor's power as intended.

Statement

Law enforcement in the nation is principally a local responsibility

Statement

Liberal judges tend to be more activist than conservative judges

Statement

Most citizens don't know very much about local government.

Statement

One of the biggest challenges for local governments is creating a sense of community.

Statement

Reform movements have encouraged government agencies to be more entrepreneurial, mission-driven, results-oriented, decentralized, and responsive to citizens' needs.

Statement

Reformers endeavor to make budgets more than accounting tools; make them management tools as well.

Statement

State legislatures are intimately involved in local legislation.

Statement

The US Supreme Court does not require proportional representation for minorities on city councils, but the Voting Rights Act of 1982 and the totality of circumstances test still apply.

Statement

The United States is the most litigious society in the world.

Statement

Urban police departments are the most important instruments of law enforcement and public safety in the nation.

Statement

Victims often do not report crime to the police making the actual crime rate higher than that reported to the FBI.

Statement

Laws passed by legislatures (pg. 251)

Statutory law

Look at page 233 public employees are generally not allowed to go on strike

Strikes

Power of the governor: ceremonial head (pg. 197)

Take up a lot of the governor's time—signing bills, welcoming delegates, rubbing elbows with the right people including elementary school students, represent the state at national and international events. Maintain the prestige and popularity of the office and the governor

What is the single best statement about a government's priorities?

The budget

What is impeachment?

The power of legislatures to remove executive and judicial officers from office for good cause; generally the lower house must vote for impeachment, then the upper house must hold a trial and vote for removal.

Primary functions of Secretary of State (pg. 220)

These officials are the chief custodians of state records and, in the case of several states, "keepers of the great seal of the commonwealth." They are the states chief elections officer. They are responsible for supervising the preparation of ballots and certifying election results for the state. They register corporations, trademarks, and trade names; publish state administrative codes and registers; handle business and lobbyists, record all laws, and publish the state constitution

How do Courts participate in politics? (i.e., why are they considered political institutions) (pg. 250)

They attempt to resolve conflicts in society

Ways of selecting judges (pg. 260-262)

They can be appointed by the governor Interim appointment happen as a result of the death or retirement of a judge but they must run for election after term expires Appointment: Removes selection of judges from party politics. Attempt to "take judges out of politics." Can voters correctly evaluate qualifications? Interim appointment: Used when a judgeship is vacant Election: Incumbent judges have huge advantage Appointment-retention judicial election plan: Combines elective and appointive system of selection

How do governors deal with divided government and gridlock? (pg. 213)

They must spend a great deal of time bargaining and compromising with legislative leaders of the opposition party, They must ensure that they keep their own party's legislators behind their proposals and then either work out accommodations with the opposition leadership or chip off enough votes from less loyal opposition members to win passage of their proposals.

A form of local government in which the entire citizenry meets periodically to govern the community (pg. 302)

Town meeting government

What are the four general features of county government? (pg. 296-299)

Traditional county commission structure: In one-third of counties; commissioners directly supervise county functions County administrator structure: Elected commission appoints administrator/manager to supervise functions Elected county executive/county mayor structure: Voters elect chief executive officer separately from county commission County officials: Include commissioners, sheriff, coroner, district attorney, clerk, tax assessor, etc. P. 299

Power of the governor: party leader (pg. 197)

Traditionally, the head of their party Have no disciplinary powers over members of the party Legislators aren't dependent on the governor for their nomination Support the governor; the governor looks "weak" if his party revolts against him

Definitive punishments that leave judges no flexibility in assessing penalties (pg. 281)

Truth in sentencing

In government spending, increases that cannot be easily limited because of prior commitments to existing programs, federal mandates or court rulings 1. increases that cannot be easily limited because of prior commitments to existing programs such as right to education, welfare benefits, other entitlement programs. 2. federal government mandates 3. Lawsuits and litigation Reformers have sought to make budgets more than accounting tools; make them management tools as well. (pg. 247)

Uncontrollables

Crimes against persons including murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault (pg. 267)

Violent Crime

How do voters determine which gubernatorial candidate to vote for? (pg. 203)

Voters typically say it is the personal leadership qualities of the candidate then party affiliation then agreement on issues and negative voting does play a factor (lesser of two evils approach) Voters are more likely to know who the governor is as opposed to their other state officials or their Representative or Senator; more media attention Voters do not always hold the governor solely responsible for economic problems; more likely to blame national economy which means the president Governors tend to focus on pocketbook issues rather than social issues

Power of the governor: Chief negotiator (pg. 197)

Work with local governments on division of responsibilities and with other state governments: highways, water pollution, resource conservation, reciprocity Negotiate with national government; share responsibility with the state congressional representatives to ensure the state received "fair share" of rights and responsibilities and funds relative to other states

Do bureaucrats have personal and public goals.

Yes

Do elected officials hire experts to address specifics of environmental policy, education, allocation of resources, business and banking regulations, etc. ?

Yes

Do most states require a balanced budget?

Yes

Have bureaucracies at all levels grown over time?

Yes

Is there a correlation between increased regulation and a highly publicized issue?

Yes

The theory that for someone to win, someone must lose (pg. 245)

Zero sum game

"Friends of the court" persons or groups not directly involved in a case who submit written arguments to the court (pg. 254)

amicus curiae

Primary functions of state auditor (pg. 220)

assuring the legislature that expenditures and investment of state funds have been made in accordance with the law. This function is known as post audit

What is the success rate of reelection for incumbents? (pg. 204)

averaged about 75%

Cases that are handled informally at the bench in discussions with the judge (pg. 256)

bench trial

Power of Governor: Special sessions (pg. 211)

called by the governor to address specific topic can't let legislature bury one of the governor's favorite programs in regular session— "hiding behind the logjam" just the threat is power enough to change minds

Power of governor: managerial powers (pg. 209)

chief executive manages state bureaucracies, but day-to-day management is delegated to others most governors don't like to manage, not as rewarding as other functions

What factors contribute to gubernatorial elections and effect outcomes? (pg. 204) (look at slides 9-12)

coattail effects, economic conditions, personal qualities of the candidate, campaign issues, campaigning, money, political ambitions

Power of governor: Executive orders (pg. 209)

directive issued by chief executive to administrative agencies must be based on constitutional powers granted to the governor or granted by state laws—he has to have authority to execute the laws but can't violate separation of powers or any other aspect of the state constitution including rights of citizens Often used during crises

What is the problem of representativeness? (pg. 231)

extent to which their workforces generally reflect the social characteristics of the citizens they serve reflect the citizens' values and interests and be responsive to their problems and concerns Protection against discrimination Problem: ensure representativeness but also merit Overall state and local government employment is representative of the people, but not in all occupational categories.

Power of governor: vetoes (pg. 211)

formal rejection of proposed legislation 2/3 to override in most states occurs more often in divided government

What do the polls show about what most people believe about governments and bureaucracies?

governments are spending more and delivering less Too much bureaucratization. Bureaucrats don't care about the people. Politicians raise taxes and cut programs Big government is wasteful and inefficient. Don't trust government to spend OUR money Prefer regulations at local level than federal level Regulations are a bad thing overall

Power of governor: appointment (pg. 209)

governor has little direct control over officials who are elected separately, but has more potential influence on appointees

Power of the governor: opinion leader (pg. 197)

governors are the most visible of state officials; can sway public opinion

Power of the governor: managing the governor-legislature relations (pg. 211-212)

governors see legislature as a problem and have little patience with legislators Best Strategy? Stand Tall. Consult Members. Talk Turkey. Rub elbows. Massage egos. P.212

Bureaucracies engage in policymaking by ______ laws passed by legislatures.

implementing

Government decision making is incremental. What does that mean? (pg. 246)

incremental rise from last year's expenditures which serve as a base current appropriations are seldom reviewed, but new items have to be defended Actual: each year bureaucrats and elected officials focus on proposed new programs and policies and increases in budgets and personnel. Existing policies, programs, agencies, or expenditures are seldom reviewed as a whole each year

What characterizes public expectation regarding governors? (pg. 196)

is viewed by many citizens as the personification of the state itself

Typical age of current governors? (pg. 199)

late-fifties

Power of governor: Tenure (pg. 208)

length of time an elected official can serve in office major impact on governor's influence is self-succession (serving consecutive terms) highest tenure power are those who serve four-year terms with no term limits

Typical backgrounds of governors? (pg. 198)

many governors were the sons of families of great wealth, who chose public service as an outlet for their energies. The majority of governors have been lawyers by profession.

Of limited jurisdiction, such as traffic, family, and small claims courts; rarely heard by juries; judge usually decides guilt and sentence

minor trial courts

Power of the governor: crisis manager (pg. 198)

not only as a manager, but as moral support

Conditional release from prison (pg. 278)

parole

In what ways are communities diverse? (pg. 290)

population size, square miles, and socioeconomic composition

Primary functions of comptrollers (pg. 220)

primary duty is to ensure that a prospective departmental expenditure is in accordance with the law and does not exceed the appropriations made by the legislature. This pre audit occurs before any expenditure is made.

The problem of productivity (pg. 231)

producing desired results at the least possible cost to taxpayers. Government executives often find it difficult to improve productivity because of the obstacles to rewarding or punishing public employees Seldom can good performance be rewarded as it is in the private sector. Also, poor performance often goes unpunished because it is difficult to fire a public employee can't offer same rewards and punishments as private sector more difficult to motivate an underperforming employee and can't offer raises

Crimes against property, including burglary, larceny, arson, and theft (pg. 267)

property crimes

Power of governor: providing leadership (pg. 210)

propose legislation but also make it happen gain public support package the proposal in a way that is appealing to the public and their representatives political skills and diplomacy work through the whole bill process be flexible and willing to compromise

Power of governor: line item veto (pg. 211)

reject particular items in an appropriation bill without vetoing the whole bill legislators risk losing "pork"

Primary functions of personal staff (pg. 221)

responsible for the smooth operation of the governors office

Which communities are typically less diverse, rural communities or metropolitan areas?

rural communities

Elections in which candidates are chosen by voters in separate geographically defined districts (pg. 311)

single-member district electoral system,

What are the two principal functions of local government? (pg. 292)

supplying goods and services political function that of managing conflict over public policy

What are the primary functions of lieutenant governor (pg. 218)

they have relatively few formal powers. Two basic functions of the office are to serve in direct line of succession to the governor and replace him or her in the event of a vacancy in that office, and to be the presiding officer of the state senate, or secretary of state in a handful of states

The traditional organization of county government in which elected commissioners directly supervise county functions (pg. 296)

traditional county commission structure (no single person is responsible for administration of county functions)

Primary functions of treasurers (pg. 219)

trustees of the public purse. they are the state money managers, custodians of state funds: collecting taxes, acting as paymaster for the state, managing trust funds, and administering the investment of state funds. Principal jo is to make payments on departmental requisitions for payrolls and for checks to be issued to those who have furnished the state with goods and services.

Distinguish between rural counties and urban counties. (pg. 295)

urban counties and rural counties are the same except that urban counties provide more contemporary services.

Typical political experience of governors? (pg. 200)

usually have considerable experience in public affairs. Only 14% come into office without prior experience. Usual paths are lieutenant governor, attorney general, or especially a state legislative office More congressmen are deciding to come back home to run for governorship