Exam 3 Ch 11

Question 1

What government does the American public most trust?

Answer 1

Local Government

Question 2

What powers can local governments use?

Answer 2

Can only exercise powers given to them from central authority from states

Question 3

How many local (city , school districts, special districts) governments are in the US?

Answer 3

90,000

Question 4

Who has the most government units and the smallest?

Answer 4

Illinois - 6918

Hawaii - 21 (only has one school district)

Question 5

Who has the most counties and least?

Answer 5

Texas - 254

Connecticut and Rhode Island - least since they have 0

Question 6

Counties -

Answer 6

Geographical subdivisions of state gov. divided for administrative conenvience

Question 7

Municipalities

Answer 7

Political jurisdictions like cities, villages, or towns underneath state law to provide governance to geographical areas

Townships or cities

Question 8

What are counties called in Louisiana and Alaska?

Answer 8

L - parish
A - boroughs

Question 9

How many counties are in every state other than Louisiana and Alaska?

Answer 9

more than 3000

Question 10

Geographically speaking, counties are usually…

Answer 10

the largest local governments

Question 11

Country governments and more important in which area compared to which?

Answer 11

More - South

Less - Northeast

Question 12

Country governments are usually what type of government and what are county governments primary funding?

Answer 12

Rural governments

property tax

Question 13

Structure of County Government - County commission system

Answer 13

Form of county governance where executive, legislative, and administrative powers and ran by a board of elected commissioners

Popular in Texas

Question 14

Structure of County Government - Council-executive system

Answer 14

Form where legislative powers are vested in a county commission while the executive powers are vested in an independently elected executive (separates legislative and executive)

Question 15

Structure of County Government - commission administrator system

Answer 15

Executive and legislative powers powers are in an elected commission that hires a professional executive to manage the day-to-day operations of government.

Question 16

Municipalities - cities

Answer 16

Incorporated political jurisdictions formed to provide self-governance to particular localities and considered corporations

Question 17

Municipalities - Townships

Answer 17

Local governments whose powers, governance structure, and legal status vary considerably from state to state

Question 18

What are three elected roles in municipalities and what do they do?

Answer 18

Mayor - elected chief executive

City Council - legislative branch

City Manager - appointed official that’s the chief admnistrator

Question 19

Municipalities - Mayor-council system

Answer 19

Elected executive and elected legislature

Question 20

What city has the largest city council?

Answer 20

NYC, 51

Question 21

Municipalities - City commission system

Answer 21

Executive, legislative, and administrative powers given to elected board of city commisioners

Question 22

Municipalities - Council manager system

Answer 22

Day-to-day administration carried out by professional admin

Question 23

Municipalities - town meeting form; where are they primarily found?

Answer 23

Legislative powers held by local citizens.

Found in NE states

Question 24

What are special districts?

Answer 24

Local government units for a single purpose like water distribution.

Question 25

How many special districts and how many independent school districts are in the US

Answer 25

> 50,000

~ 14,000

Question 26

“What are special districts doing with your taxes?” Case Study

Answer 26

They (all of the districts) spend ~ $200 billion annually, is that money just used for the purpose?

Ex: review of special districts in Kentucky found that 40% did not submit budget.

The only way for special districts to be more transparent is ironically spend more so ppl can see the work spent.

Question 27

Dillon’s Rule

Answer 27

Legal principle that says local governments can exercise only the powers granted by state gov.

Question 28

City of Clinton v. Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad(1868)

Answer 28

“local governments are ‘mere tenants at the will of their respective states legislatures”

Question 29

What 2 states give the most power to the state and what 2 give the most freedom to localities?

Answer 29

State power - Idaho and West Virginia

Freedom - Oregon and Maine

Question 30

Powers and Constraints of Local Gov.

Home rule

Answer 30

Right of locality to self-government granted via charter

Question 31

Of the 48 states that have counties, how many allow charters or home rule?

Answer 31

36

Question 32

Powers and Constraints of Local Gov.

Charter

Answer 32

Document that outlines powers, organization, and responsibilities of local government

Question 33

Powers and Constraints of Local Gov.

General act charters

Answer 33

Charters that grant powers like home rule, to all municipal governments in a state

Question 34

Powers and Constraints of Local Gov.

Special act charters

Answer 34

Charters for a single municipal government

Question 35

Only what fraction of city councils hold partisan elections?

Answer 35

1/4

Question 36

Ward/district elections

Answer 36

Voters in municipal wards vote for candidates to represent them on councils/commissions.

Question 37

At-large elections

Answer 37

City/council voters vote for council or commision members from any part of jurisdiction

Question 38

By the end of the 20th century, what fraction of cities with more than 200,000 residents elected what race of mayor?

Answer 38

1/3

Hispanic or African American

Question 39

In 2020, __ in __ of the nation’s largest 100 cities had what kind of mayors?

Answer 39

1 in 4

Female

Question 40

What is the median salary for a mayor and city manager?

Answer 40

Mayor - $56,000

City manager - $87,000