Exam 4 Chapter 9, 10, 11 Flashcards
How many states also have in place a campaign fairness act similar to that of Texas’s Judicial Fairness Act?
0: None
Which judicial office has existed in Texas since 1837, even before statehood?
Justice Of The Peace
By 2017, what percentage of appellate judges are Latinos?
15
The State Bar of Texas is a unique organization because
it is a government agency, a professional organization, and an interest group, all at the same time.
County judges preside over
County judges
Who can file a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial conduct?
the public, from attorneys, and from members of the judiciary.
One reason why there are few minority judges in Texas is that?
judicial districts are often quite large and dominated by whites who vote against minority judicial candidates.
Before 1978, partisanship was not a factor in Texas judicial elections because
Up until that time, Texas was essentially a one-party state.
What happens in a bench trial?
judges determine the verdicts and there is not jury
Courts that can review matters relating to the disposition of property of deceased people are referred to as what?
Statutory probate courts
In order to be eligible to serve on either the Texas Supreme Court or the Court of Criminal Appeals, you must
have been either a judge or practicing lawyer for at least 10 years.
The Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals have appellate jurisdiction which means they have the authority to do what?
They have authority to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts. (251) determine legal procedures were following correctly)
The major trial courts in Texas are
District courts
Each county has at least how many district courts?
1
The debate over preemption between local self governance and control by the state government echoes which of the following?
debates between the state governments and the federal government about which level of government should make governing decisions
Who is responsible for issuing marriage licenses as well as birth and death certificates?
County clerk
In Texas, county governments are responsible for which of the following tasks?
administration of social services
In Texas, ________ create(s) special purpose districts.
Texas voters in the areas that will be covered
Who is responsible for setting the country’s budget and tax rate?
county commissioner’s court
In most Texas cities that use the council-manager form of government today,
there is a professional city manager, a mayor that is elected at large, and a city council that is elected by single-member districts
The chief financial officer for a city is called the
city controller
What type of government is called hidden government because people often do not know it exists?
special districts
In large, Texas counties, the ____ prepares the county budget.
auditor
Special purpose districts are
democratic in theory, but often not in practice
Dallas operates under which city of government?
council manager style
The job of serving civil court papers at the county level goes to the
constable
What is the main difference between a home rule city and a general law city?
A general-law city is chartered for localities with a population of less than 5,000 persons.
The mayor council form of government is most common in
smaller general law cities
San Antonio operates under which form of city government?
council manager style
Across the United States, which form of government for cities over 10,000 residents has been the most popular?
council manager
Which city government have officials who act as both executives and legislators?
commissions
What is the function of the twenty four councils of government in Texas today?
They are a regional board meant to coordinate local planning and economic development.
Cities and towns in Texas often see rapid population growth. Such growth requires school districts to quickly expand. In this type of situation, school districts use __________________ to borrow the necessary funds to achieve this goal.
capital appreciation bonds (CABs)
How are most special purpose districts in Texas administered?
They are governed by boards elected by the people.
Flood control is managed through special purpose districts because
flooding is seldom contained in a single city or county.
In smaller countries the sheriff performs which of the following jobs?
the tax assessor/collector.
Texas has a reputation of being a ________ state.
“low service, low tax”
If you live outside the city limits, water, sewer, sanitation, and electricity services are offered by
municipal utility district
It is through what process that the legislature legally authorizes a government agency or body to spend up to a particular amount of money?
appropriations
In theory, Texas has a dual budget system meaning the budget authority is shared by the governor and the legislature: however, in practice, the primary player(s) in the budget is/are
The legislature is prime, the key players are The Legislative Budget Board, The Governor and the Governor’s Office of Budget of Planning and Policy, and lastly The Comptroller of Public Accounts
The Permanent School Fund distributes money to school districts across the state based on what two factors?
student attendance and guaranteed bonds issued by local school boards
