Final Exam Review

What is the maximum monthly income a family of two adults and two children can receive to qualify for TANF in Texas? $379 $231 No maximum $400

$231

What is the maximum amount that a family of four, with two parents or caregivers, can obtain under TANF? $105 $370 $379 $231

$379

Which of these is true of the comptroller's biennial revenue estimate? (Select all that apply.) - It defines the amount of money the state will bring in for a five-year period. - An estimate of the tax and other sources of revenue for a two-year period. - It sets the limit for the general appropriations bill. - It dictates where the state budget should be spent.

- An estimate of the tax and other sources of revenue for a two-year period. - It sets the limit for the general appropriations bill.

Which of the following are things that a special purpose district in Texas can legally do? (Select all that apply.) - Form a board of governors - Collect taxes - Write legislation - Exercise eminent domain

- Form a board of governors - Collect taxes - Exercise eminent domain

Which of the following are types of municipality in Texas? (Select all that apply.) - Home rule - The U.S. Senate - General law - The Texas house of representatives

- Home rule - General law

Which of the following are differences between home rule and general law cities? (Select all that apply.) - Home rule cities can have their own charter. - General law cities are typically more populated. - Home rule cities can enact ordinances. - The mayor has more power in a general law city.

- Home rule cities can have their own charter. - Home rule cities can enact ordinances.

In a weak-mayor form of government, how is power organized? - Power is shared between the mayor and the city council. - Power is concentrated within the mayor's office. - Power is given exclusively to an elected city manager. - Power is held exclusively by the city council.

- Power is shared between the mayor and the city council.

Which of the following is the responsibility of the County Commissioners Court? (Select all that apply.) - Setting local taxes - Building and maintaining county roads - Overseeing local elections - Writing legislation

- Setting local taxes - Building and maintaining county roads - Overseeing local elections

he state overturning Austin's plastic bag ban is an example of what? - A municipal ordinance - Tenth Amendment powers - State preemption of a city ordinance - A general law city

- State preemption of a city ordinance

Which of the following is a difference between the mayor-council and the council-manager systems of local government? (Select all that apply.) - There is no mayor in a council-manager system. - The city council is responsible for appointing department heads in the council-manager system. - The council shares authority with the mayor in the council-manager system. - The role of the city manager in a mayor-council system is carried out by the mayor.

- The council shares authority with the mayor in the council-manager system. - The role of the city manager in a mayor-council system is carried out by the mayor.

Which of the following is true of a mayor-council system of government? (Select all that apply.) - The city council is as powerful as the mayor. - The mayor appoints a city manager. - The mayor appoints the police chief. - The mayor is elected by citizens.

- The mayor appoints the police chief. - The mayor is elected by citizens.

Which factors influence the sources and amounts of revenue used to meet a city's budgetary obligations? - The amount and type of funding received from private enterprises - The city's participation in a council of government - The size of the city's population - The political affiliations of the city's mayor

- The size of the city's population

Which of the following describes a city manager in Texas? (Select all that apply.) - They are appointed by the mayor and the city council. - They implement policy that is created by the city council. - They write laws and ordinances. - They can appoint a police chief.

- They are appointed by the mayor and the city council. - They implement policy that is created by the city council. - They can appoint a police chief.

Which of the following statements is true of counties in Texas? (Select all that apply.) - They are overseen by commissions known as courts. - They are responsible for writing legislation. - They are the administrative arm of the state. - Their powers supersede those of the state.

- They are overseen by commissions known as courts. - They are the administrative arm of the state.

Which of the following is a common criticism of special districts in Texas? - They do not serve the local community. - They are undemocratic. - There are too few of them. - They can form quietly without local residents having significant input.

- They can form quietly without local residents having significant input.

What are colonias? - Processes by which cities bring unincorporated areas into their jurisdiction - Unincorporated, impoverished areas along the U.S.-Mexico border - The organizing document for a municipality - Buffered areas that extend beyond the city limits

-Unincorporated, impoverished areas along the U.S.-Mexico border

extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ)

A buffer area that extends beyond a city's limits.

dependent agency

A classification created by the U.S. Census Bureau for governmental entities that are closely tied to general-purpose governments but do not have as much independence as special-district governments.

What happens if the house and senate come up with different versions of the state budget? A conference committee resolves any differences. The governor decides the final budget. The Texas Supreme Court decides the final budget. They must start the budget process again.

A conference committee resolves any differences.

tax assessor collector

A county financial officer whose responsibilities include collecting various county taxes and fees and registering voters.

county attorney

A county legal officer whose responsibilities may include giving legal advice to the commissioners court, representing the county in litigation

What is a crime control and prevention district? Council of governments Special district A dependent agency Independent agency

A dependent agency

county auditor

A financial officer whose duties include reviewing county financial records and ensuring that expenditures are made in accordance with the law.

council manager form of government

A form of government that features an elected city council and a city manager who is hired by the council. The council makes policy decisions, and the city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city government.

mayor council system

A form of municipal government consisting of a mayor and a city council; this form includes both strong-mayor and weak-mayor variations.

strong mayor form of government

A form of municipal government in which the mayor, who is chosen in a citywide election, is both the chief executive and the leader of the city council.

Commission form of government

A municipal government in which voters elect one set of officials who act as both executives and legislators. The commissioners, sitting together, are the municipal legislature, but individually each administers a city department.

Who is responsible for the day-to-day unit road system? A professional engineer A county commissioner The Texas Department of Transportation A constable

A professional engineer

councils of government (COGs)

Advisory bodies consisting of representatives of various local governments brought together for the purposes of regional planning and cooperation.

When did Texas establish a formal public school system? During the Republic of Texas In 1845 upon becoming a state After becoming a state, but before joining the Confederacy In 1949

After becoming a state, but before joining the Confederacy

Which level of government has its own police department? Only the county Only the state Only the city All of the above

All of the above

A voter is preparing to cast a ballot and there are four open seats on the city council. The ballot lists each seat with the names of the candidates listed below each particular seat. If the voter is permitted to cast one vote for each of the four seats, what type of election is this? A single-member election A pure at-large election A cumulative voting election An at-large place election

An at-large place election

pure at large system

An election system in which candidates for city council run citywide and the top vote-getters are elected to fill the number of open seats.

at large place system

An election system in which each candidate runs citywide for a specific seat on the council and voters cast one vote for each seat or place.

single member council districts

An electoral system in which each council member is elected from a particular geographical district by only the voters who live in that district.

general law city

An incorporated community with a population of 5,000 or fewer that is limited as to the policies it may adopt

county judge

An official elected countywide for a four-year term to preside over the county commissioners court.

What statement accurately describes term limits in Texas? - Proponents of term limits worry that cities stand to lose experienced, effective council members. - Texas is one of the few states that have instituted uniform term limit laws across all of its major cities. - There are no cities in Texas that enforce term limits. - Attempts to weaken city term limit laws by state law or by litigation have had mixed success.

Attempts to weaken city term limit laws by state law or by litigation have had mixed success.

Why are special districts sometimes called hidden governments? - Because special districts are set up as temporary organizations to deal with a specific issue and then are disbanded - Because the actions of district officials and employees are less visible than those of counties or cities - Because special districts deal with issues of minor importance that are rarely made public - Because special districts get their funding from the federal government and not from taxes imposed on the people of the state

Because the actions of district officials and employees are less visible than those of counties or cities

Which of the following are assistance programs offered through the Texas Department of Health and Human Services? (Select all that apply.) Children's Medicaid Unemployment insurance Texas Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Legal advice

Children's Medicaid Texas Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

at large elections

Citywide elections in which some or all of the city council members are elected by voters of the entire municipality rather than from neighborhood districts.

What is the policy-making body of a county? Commissioners court Council of government County judiciary Council of constables

Commissioners court

What is it called when county and other local governments merge? Extraterritorial jurisdiction Home rule Consolidation Annexation

Consolidation

What are voluntary regional groupings of local governments that attempt to provide a forum to share information and coordinate public policy called? - Regional assembly governments - Councils of governments - Multiple governments - Special purpose governments

Councils of governments

Which essential county official is appointed rather than elected? County treasurer County clerk County auditor County tax assessor-collector

County auditor

An elected county official presides over the commissioners court, supervises election-related activities, and serves as the head of civil defense and disaster relief for the county. What position does the elected official hold? Comptroller County judge State auditor Constable

County judge

Which of the following are the responsibility of the Texas Education Agency? (Select all that apply.) Distributing state and federal funds to public schools Setting local property tax Administering assessments in public schools Appointing the State Board of Education

Distributing state and federal funds to public schools Administering assessments in public schools

How is the mayor chosen in a council-manager form of government? - Either selected by the council members or independently elected by the voters - Appointed by the city manager - Independently elected by the voters - Elected by the council members

Either selected by the council members or independently elected by the voters

How many residents does a community need to be a home rule city? Ten thousand 1 million One thousand Five thousand

Five thousand

Which of the following describe dedicated funds? (Select all that apply.) Money owed by the federal government to the state Optional spending for the state Funds created by legislation to ensure reliable financial support for a specific purpose A major source of state spending in Texas

Funds created by legislation to ensure reliable financial support for a specific purpose A major source of state spending in Texas

The vast majority of cities in Texas are incorporated communities, have a population of five thousand inhabitants or less, and are limited in the subject matter on which they may legislate. What are these municipalities called? General law cities Single-member council districts Charters Home rule cities

General law cities

What is a municipal or county government that provides a wide range of public services? General law city Home rule city Special district General purpose government

General purpose government

Which of the following is a key difference between home rule cities and general law cities? - Home rule city residents pay less tax. - General law cities have larger populations. - General law cities have their own charter. - Home rule cities have their own charter.

Home rule cities have their own charter.

county treasurer

In many counties, the official who is responsible for receiving, depositing, and disbursing funds.

Which issue do rollback elections address? Limiting property tax rate increases Eliminating term limits Removing elected officials from office Reducing sales taxes

Limiting property tax rate increases

Which of the following is the most common type of special purpose district in Texas? Municipal utility districts School district Hospital district Library district

Municipal utility districts

In Texas, which election is administered by county government? School Municipal National Special district

National

What does the county judge do? - Hears cases in the county court system - Writes laws for the county - Appoints mayor and city council - Presides over the Commissioners Court

Presides over the Commissioners Court

Suppose a city in Texas passed an ordinance that bans residents from street parking during overnight hours. What process can citizens pursue to overturn the ban? Referendum Charter Initiative Recall

Referendum

How do special districts cover the costs of their specific, narrow aims? Revenue bonds Sales tax General obligation bonds Property tax

Revenue bonds

Colonias

Severely impoverished unincorporated areas mostly located along the Texas-Mexico border that have a multitude of problems, including substandard housing, unsanitary drinking water, and lack of proper sewage disposal.

Which local government structure is the most common in Texas? Council-manager Mayor-council Special districts Commissions

Special districts

Which of the following are permanent funds in Texas? (Select all that apply.) State prison improvements The Permanent School Fund The Permanent University Fund The Economic Stabilization Fund

The Permanent School Fund The Permanent University Fund The Economic Stabilization Fund

Who is involved in selecting the commissioner of education? (Select all that apply.) The State Board of Education The Texas state senate The governor Voters

The Texas state senate The governor

Which of the following is true of the Texas budget process? (Select all that apply.) The budget is made on two-year cycles. Texas is required to balance the budget. The governor can add money to the budget. It can be tricky to balance the different priorities of the bicameral legislature.

The budget is made on two-year cycles. Texas is required to balance the budget. It can be tricky to balance the different priorities of the bicameral legislature.

The local government of a city has decided to construct railway lines to connect the city to the larger metropolitan area in which many of its residents work. What is the most likely source of funding the government will use to fund this infrastructure project? It will enact a special use tax. It will institute a user fee. The city government will issue bonds. It will increase property tax rates.

The city government will issue bonds.

Who oversees the Legislative Budget Board? The president pro tempore The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house The state comptroller The governor

The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house

short ballot

The listing of only a few independently elected offices on an election ballot.

consolidation

The merging of county government with other local governments to form a single local government.

district attorney

The officer who prosecutes most criminal cases.

county clerk

The officer who serves as the county's chief record keeper and election officer.

district clerk

The record keeper for the district court in larger counties.

In Texas, when a new official is elected, there can be a large turnover of county employees. Which system explains this phenomenon? The spoils system Constitutional rigidity The merit system Consolidation

The spoils system

In the event that the biennial revenue estimate is incorrect and revenues drop, which of the following is true? - The comptroller can introduce a state income tax to meet the shortfall. - The state agencies have to adjust their spending. - The legislature reconvenes to revise the budget. - All agencies are permitted to retain their existing budgets.

The state agencies have to adjust their spending.

What is one of the job functions of a constable? - To serve as the county's chief record keeper - To receive, deposit, and disburse funds - To preside over the commissioners court - To serve as the process officer of justice of the peace courts

To serve as the process officer of justice of the peace courts

A municipal pool charges fees each time an individual enters the pool. What is this called? User fee Property tax Public debt Sales taxes

User fee

home rule city

a city with a population of more than 5000 that can adopt its own charter and structure its local government as it sees fit as long as charter provisions and local laws (also called ordinances) do not violate national and state constitutions and laws

mandate

a federal or state requirement that a lower level of government, like a city or county provides a service or meet certain standards often as a condition for receiving financial aid

general purpose government

a municipal or county government that provides a wide range of public services

general purpose governments

a municipal or county government that provides a wide range of public services

cumulative voting

an election system in which city council members are elected in at large elections but the number of votes a voter can cast corresponds to the number of seats on the council

recall election

an election, called by petition that permits voters to remove an elected official before the officials term expires

constables

county law enforcement officials who are elected to serve as the process officers of justice of the peace courts and also have general law enforcement powers

The most common form of municipal government in Texas is the mayor-council system. True or False?

false

user fees

fees paid by the individual who receive a particular government service

county governments

general purpose local government that also serve as administrative arms of the state

special districts

local governments that provide single or closely related services that are not provided by general purpose county or municipal governments

public debt

money owed by government, ordinarily through the issuance of bonds. local government issue bonds to finance major projects with voter approval

sheriff

the chief county law enforcement officer

weak mayor form of government

the form of municipal government in which the mayor shares administrative power with the council and other elected or appointed officers

city charter

the organizing document for a municipality

commissioners court

the policy making body of a county, consisting of a county judge who serves as the presiding officer of the court and four commissioners elected from individual precincts for four year terms

annexation

the process by which cities bring unincorporated ares into their jurisdiction

Once municipalities reach 5,000 residents, they can apply to become a home rule city. True or False?

true

Property developers can request the formation of special purpose districts in Texas. True or False?

true

Public education in Texas is overseen by both elected and appointed officials. True or False?

true

Texas has the most counties out of any state in the United States. True or False?

true

The governor can delete items from the state budget if they so choose. True or False?

true

The governor can veto individual items on the state budget. True or False?

true

The state of Texas has opted out of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. True or False?

true