TX Chapter 6

Question 1

At-large election systems

Answer 1

System where all voters in the city elect the mayor and city council members

Question 2

City manager

Answer 2

Person hired by the city council to manage the city; serves as the chief administrative officer of the city

Question 3

Commissioner’s court

Answer 3

Legislative body that governs a Texas county

Question 4

Commission form

Answer 4

A form of local government where voters elect department heads who also serve as members of the city council

Question 5

Council-manager form

Answer 5

Form of government where voters elect a mayor and city council; the mayor and city council appoint a professional administrator to manage the city

Question 6

County Government

Answer 6

Local unit of government that is primarily the administrative arm of a state government. In most states, it does not provide urban-type services

Question 7

County sheriff

Answer 7

Elected head of law enforcement in a Texas county

Question 8

Creatures of the state

Answer 8

Local governments are created by state government, and all powers are derived from the state government; there are no inherent rights for local governments independent of what the state grants to them

Question 9

Cumulative voting

Answer 9

A system where voters can concentrate (accumulate) all their votes on one candidate rather than casting one vote for each office up for election

Question 10

Extra-territorial jurisdiction

Answer 10

City powers that extend beyond the city limits to an area adjacent to the city limits

Question 11

General law city

Answer 11

Cities governed by city charters created by state statutes

Question 12

Home rule city

Answer 12

Cities governed by city charters created by the actions of local citizens

Question 13

Incorporation

Answer 13

Process of creating a city government

Question 14

Independent school district (ISD)

Answer 14

School districts that are not attached to any other unit of government and that operate schools in Texas

Question 15

Nonpartisan elections

Answer 15

Election is which party identification is not formally declared

Question 16

Preferential voting

Answer 16

A system that allows voters to rank order of candidates for the city council

Question 17

Single-member district

Answer 17

A system where the city is divided into election districts, and only the voters living in that district elect the council member from that district

Question 18

Special purpose district

Answer 18

Form of local government that provides specific services to citizens, such as water, sewage, fire protection, or public transportation

Question 19

Strong mayor form

Answer 19

Form of local government where most power rests with the mayor

Question 20

Weak mayor form

Answer 20

Form of government where the mayor shares power with the council and other elected officials