Chapter 13 Flashcards
There are ________ counties in the state of Texas.
254
County government in Texas exists primarily to govern
rural areas
The ____________ presides over meetings of the county commissioners’ court with both administrative and judicial powers.
county judge
The chief financial officer of a city is called the
comptroller.
One of the functions of the county clerk is to keep records for
property transactions.
County officials are
elected by the voters.
A city with a population in excess of 5,000 may adopt a(n) ____________, which allows for some degree of self-rule.
home-rule charter
What is the main difference between a homerule city and a general law city?
A general law city is chartered for localities with a population of less than 5,000.
What is a key problem with counties in Texas?
Many of them are too small and underpopulated to function well.
he council-manager form of government is distinctive in its use of a _______________, who is a professionally trained administrator.
city manager
The mayor of which city is regarded as a strong mayor because he or she has the authority to appoint department heads and advisory board members
Houston
San Antonio, the second-largest city in Texas, has a ____________ form of municipal government
council-manager
Which form of city government does Dallas operate under?
council-manager–style
What is an at-large election?
an election in which voters elect officials from the entire geographical area, rather than from a smaller district within the area
A ____________ is a unit of local government that performs a single service in a limited geographical area.
special district
A ____________ is created to promote the coordination of efforts among various units of local government
council of government
With over 1,000 different special districts covering every square inch of the state, the most common form is the ____________district.
independent school
A ________________ offers electricity, water, sewer, and sanitation services outside the city limits.
municipal utility district
Community colleges are governed by a
board of regents.
____________ are the primary source of revenue for special districts.
Property taxes
How many counties are there in the state of Texas?
254
Why are county governments important in Texas?
They provide the main form of government in rural areas.
In Texas, what is the name of the officer who presides over the county commissioners’ court?
county judge
Which city official is the financial officer of the local government?
city comptroller
