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