final exam Flashcards
general purpose governments
provide a wide range of services to their communities; they have broad authority and responsibility to address the needs of the people they serve; ex: education, healthcare, public safety, transportation
single purpose governments
focus on specific functions or services; they are usually created to address a particular issue or provide a specific service; have a narrower scope; ex: school districts, water districts, transit authorities
city governments
unit of government defined by geographical area
county governments
administrative subdivision of state government
mayor-council government (4)
- similar to federal government structure (separate legislative and executive branches)
- mayor is in charge of city departments
- elections happen at the same time as national elections
- focused on political control and responsiveness
council-manager government (5)
- no separation of powers
- city council hires a city manager who is in charge of city departments
- elections happen separately from national elections
- councils are elected by the city at large
- focused on efficiency and effectiveness
executive duties
performed by a mayor or city manager; they are responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and policies, managing city departments, and overseeing day-to-day operations
legislative duties
carried out by a city council or board of commissioners; they are responsible for making and passing local ordinances and laws; they represent the interests of the community and work together to address local issues, allocate resources, and make decisions
ways that lines are drawn for electing local legislative bodies (3)
- single-member districts
- at-large elections
- proportional representation
single-member districts
the jurisdiction is divided into separate districts, and each district elects one representative
pro: help ensure that each area has its own voice in the legislative body
con: can lead to the underrepresentation of certain groups
at-large elections
representatives are elected by the entire jurisdiction, rather than by specific districts
pro: can promote broader representation and prevent the dilution of minority voices
con: can make it more challenging for candidates from marginalized communities to get elected
proportional representation
aims to allocate seats in the legislative body proportionally based on the overall vote share of each political party or group
pro: can lead to a more accurate reflection of the population’s preferences
con: can be complex to implement and may result in a more fragmented legislative body
What are the difficulties associated with collective action (individuals working together towards a common goal or benefit)? (4)
- coordination
- free-riding
- group dynamics
- sustaining motivation
strong mayor
the mayor holds significant executive power and is directly elected by the people; they have authority over the administration, budget, and policymaking
weak mayor
limits the mayor’s powers; may serve more as a ceremonial figurehead or have limited authority, with administrative and policymaking responsibilities distributed among other officials or councils
council-manager mayor
the mayor is part of a council that sets policies and represents the community; the day-to-day administration is handled by a professional city manager
community
a group of people with a shared sense of destiny; broad and doesn’t have to have a physical structure or formal organization
institutions
any sort of lasting organization with rules, procedures, and structures working collectively for a common goal; formal organization and can have particularized goals
government
an institution trying to provide for the public good; broad goal of public good
goals of service delivery (4)
- efficiency
- effectiveness
- equity
- responsiveness
how local service delivery is evaluated (4)
- input measures
- workload indicators
- benchmarking
- performance measures
alternative service delivery
the use of non-traditional methods or entities to provide public services that are typically delivered by the government; involves partnering with private organizations, nonprofits, or other entities to deliver services more efficiently or effectively; Responsibility can be shared between the government and the partnering entity.
pros and cons of alternative service delivery (6)
pros:
1. cost savings
2. innovation and expertise
3. increased efficiency
cons:
1. accountability and oversight
2. quality control
3. potential for privatization
political culture
the shared values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that shape the political behavior and preferences of a society or a group of people
3 types of political culture
- traditional: strong emphasis on customs, long-standing traditions, and the authority of established institutions
- modern: focus on individualism, rationality, and the belief in progress
- postmodern: emphasizes diversity, multiculturalism, and the idea that multiple perspectives and identities should be recognized and valued
Home Rule (3)
- local legislative authority can do anything it’s not directly told not to do
- has more freedom to make local government policy; more power
- can easily tie local laws to local interests
Dillon’s Rule (3)
- local legislative authority only has the authority to do what it is expressly told to do
- can’t make laws outside of that authority
- limits power of local governments
key issues in local government HR (5)
- Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- equal pay
- harassment
- unions
what does HR do (3)
- staffing
- classifying and compensating
- performance appraising
environmental subsystems in local government
the specific areas or departments within the government that deal with environmental issues and policies; these subsystems focus on managing and protecting the local environment, including areas such as land use planning, environmental regulation, waste management, and conservation efforts
how government debt is different from other types of debt (3)
- government debt is issued by the government itself (usually through the sale of bonds or treasury securities)
- government debt is typically considered to be lower risk compared to other types of debt
- government debt often has longer maturities compared to other types of debt
how are decisions made at the local level? (3)
- elected officials
- community input
- administrative staff
where does public school funding come from? (4)
- property taxes
- state money
- federal money
- bonds
problems caused by intergovernmental fragmentation (5)
- services are duplicated
- jurisdictions overlap
- economies not big enough
- financial disparities = some areas underserved
- makes widespread planning of local government services impossible
how do you put your name on the ballot for a local election position?
- need a petition with a certain number of signatures
- file with local entities
- exact process varies
systems theory
a way of looking at organizations, like local governments, as interconnected systems made up of various parts; it recognizes that these parts are interdependent and influence each other and that the organization as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts
public choice theory
looks at how individuals’ self-interest and incentives influence their behavior and decision-making within the public sector; elected officials, bureaucrats, and other stakeholders in local government are driven by their own self-interests when making decisions.
why do local governments care about their tax base?
larger tax base = more revenues = more services
how do recessions affect local government
- decline in revenue
- increased demand for services
- budget constraints
- impact on infrastructure
externalities
the unintended consequences of economic activities that affect third parties who are not directly involved in the transaction
charter
a legal document that organizes a city; states powers and duties of officials within the structure
municipality
serves a specific population in a defined boundary; incorporated places, town, city
county
administrative divisions of states; state functions on a local level
ordinance
a law or regulation enacted by a local government, like a city or town. It’s kind of like a rule that applies specifically to that area
public goods
goods that are non-excludable and non-rivalrous (national defense, public parks)
private goods
are excludable and rivalrous; access can be restricted (clothing, food, electronics)
efficiency
maximum output for the least amount of resources; goal for local government service delivery; process-oriented
effectiveness
determining if service met objectives/goals; goal for local government service delivery; results-oriented
federalism
Division and sharing of governmental powers between different levels of government; the constitution splits power between federal and states; local governments are “creatures of the state”
jurisdiction
the authority or power that a particular entity, such as a government or court, has to enforce laws and make legal decisions within a specific geographical area
gentrification
the process of urban renewal or revitalization, often in lower-income neighborhoods, that leads to an influx of wealthier residents and changes in the character of the area
economic development
the sustained and concerted efforts to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community or region; it involves various strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting growth, creating jobs, and enhancing prosperity
zoning
a process used by local governments to regulate land use and development within specific areas; it helps to organize and control the use of land in a way that promotes public health, safety, and welfare.
sprawl
the unplanned and often rapid expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural or undeveloped land; it’s characterized by low-density, car-dependent development, with a spread-out pattern of housing, commercial areas, and infrastructure.
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)
an area defined by the Census Bureau to showcase interconnectivity of population/community
eminent domain
the ability of the government to take private property for public use so long as just compensation is provided
Home for Unmarried Pregnant Teenager Issue - location
Forest Acres
Eminent Domain Issue - location
Crown Knolls
Beauty Salon Variance Issue - location
North Madisonville
Massage Therapy Facility Issue - location
River Town
Downtown Hotel Plaza Issue -location
Central Business District (CBD)
Rights of a Homeowner Issue - locations (3)
- University Park
- Camelot Acres
- South Ridge
Topless Bar and Grill Issue - location
Central Business District (CBD)
Noise Ordinance Issue - locations (2)
- University Park
- College Town
Couches in the Yard Issue - location
College Town
Fire Hose Issue - location
Camelot State University
Strip Mall Development Issue - location
Camelot Acres (also concerns South Ridge residents)
neighborhoods with no issues (3)
- Camelot Heights
- Madisonville
- Government Square
Resolution of Sympathy Issue - location
applies to whole city
Fairness in Housing and Employment Issue - location
applies to whole city
Officer Protection Program Issue - location
applies to whole city
Budget Issue - location
applies to whole city
Curfew Issue - location
applies to certain people regardless of location in the city
Drug Testing Issue - location
applies to certain people regardless of location in the city
Obscene Photographs Issue - location
location not stated in issue
