GOVT 2306 (State and Local Government) Exam 1 Review

Which is the most common type of special-purpose government?

Independent school district

As the number of older Americans increases, which of the following is a possible effect?

There will be fewer working-age people paying into the pension system

A roll off in local elections is:

The process in which voters mark off only the "more important" offices on a ballot and leave the county or local office choices blank.

Which statement correctly describes how the services of the two types of general-purpose governments interact.

Municipalities and counties have areas of overlapping and coexisting service including for police and public health.

When did the U.S. Supreme Court begin to apply the U.S. Bill of Rights to the states?

Following the ratification of the 14th Amendment

How would the states be "laboratories of democracy" as regards coronavirus?

Each state could attempt different policy approaches to slowing the virus, which could have more quickly revealed which policies work.

Dallas operates under which form of city government?

Council-manager form

Which of the following best describes the characteristics of individuals who run for office in local elections?

They tend to be wealthier and own property.

How many constitutions are there in the U.S.?

51

What are the two levels of government where ballot initiatives can happen in the United States?

State and Local

How many counties does Texas have?

254

The United States adopted a decentralized response to the 2019 coronavirus pandemic, meaning that:

The national government deferred most policy decisions to the sub-national governments like the states.

Ballot initiatives can be utilized at the statewide and local levels of government in Texas?

FALSE

To address concerns about the cost of renting, Houston zones several acres of land to encourage the development of affordable housing. While this policy may alleviate concerns about the cost of renting, it may also impact the environment and make flooding worse in the city. What best describes the potential impact of new housing development projects on the environment and potential for flooding?

Unintended Consequences

Dillon's Rule holds that:

local governments derive their authority to govern from the state governments and so are subject to the decisions of the state government

What is the minimum population required for a municipality in Texas to qualify for home rule?

5000

The 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution holds that:

Powers not given to the national government are reserved to the states and the people.

What is the primary distinction between general law and home rule charters?

General law cities exercise only the powers granted by the state whereas home rule cities exercise broad power, except in cases where the state tells them they cannot do something.

In comparison with city councilors or mayors, what do city managers lack?

Direct democratic accountability.

The federal government can commandeer state and local officials to enforce its laws.

FALSE

What must a political party achieve to have legislative control?

have majority in both House of Representatives and the Senate

What is the difference between the state judiciaries and the federal judiciary?

Some states have elections for judges.

The concurrent powers of the states and national government include:

Raising taxes

Which of the following is an important function of county government in Texas?

Administer and operate elections.

Following the passage of the Affordable Care Act, if state's refused to expand Medicaid, the federal government threatened to cut all state funding for the program. Can the federal government threaten to cut all funding from the state if they refuse to expand Medicade?

No - according to the Supreme Court, threatening to cut all Medicaid funding would be considered coercive

Marijuana is illegal under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the federal government has deprioritized enforcement in states that have legalized or decriminalized marijuana. Arguably, this is an example of federalism working as the state and federal governments have a working arrangement. However, what is one problem with the current arrangement? There may be more than one correct answer.

Two Correct Answers:

The arrangement is highly uncertain and would collapse if the federal government decides to prioritize enforcement under the CSA.

While federal criminal prosecutions are deprioritized, financial institutions will not work with marijuana businesses because it is still illegal.

Relationships between unequal levels of government, such as between the federal government and the states, or the states and local governments, are referred to as:

Vertical federalism

In the newest round of redistricting for the U.S. House of Representatives, what is the award of seats based on?

population

What form of government makes use of a professionally trained city manager?

Council-manager style

What is land use regulation?

Government determining the potential structures built on and uses of land within their jurisdiction.

What is the purpose of a state constitutional convention?

To recommend state constitutional amendments or an entirely new state constitution.

The basis for the landmark civil rights legislation in the 1960s was the idea that Congress could regulate discrimination because:

it affected commerce between the states

When Tiebout model argues individuals "vote with their feet", what does that mean?

It means individuals will move to the area with the most attractive set of taxes and services.

Which of the following statements about economic trends in the U.S. is correct?

since World War II, the U.S. economy has seen a steady decline in the manufacturing sector and growth in the service sector

Under the Peterson model, what type of spending category would protections for renters fall under?

Redistributive

How do counties and municipalities derive their power?

Their power is given by the states.

What is a limit or critique of Tiebout's model? If you believe there are more than one correct answer, you only need to select one correct answer.

Two correct answers:

The model assumes individuals are mobile enough to vote with their feet.

The model assumes individuals will move to a city based on the package of services and taxes.

Based on research in political science, at the statewide level, who would we expect to organize ballot iniatives?

Interest Groups

The government established by the U.S. Constitution in 1788 was what form of government system?

Federal

What other government is most likely to interfere with or override a municipal ordinance in a state like Texas

The state government.

What are the major trends that have affected the demographics of states and local governments?

changes in the race and ethnicities of populations, an ageing population, and increasing urbanization

The U.S. Constitution and state constitutions all:

Divide power between three branches of government.

Demographic changes, such as population growth in a state, are always a positive for state and local government.

FALSE

In the 1980s the federal government sought to raise the drinking age in the states to 21 in an effort to reduce car accidents caused by drunk driving. How was this achieved?

premised a small percentage of the funding it provided to states for building roads on the state's raising the drinking age.

According to the Census Bureau:

about 40% of the U.S. population lived in an urban area in 1900, while currently over 80% of population lives in an urban area.

Kansas has voted for the Republican candidate in every presidential election since 1968. However, in 2022, voters overwhelming rejected an amendment to the Kansas state constitution which would have made it easier for the state legislature to restrict access to abortion. Which answer best describes the 2022 result in Kansas?

Voters in Kansas expressed their ideological preference on abortion access.

What is a municipality?

A general purpose government organized by the citizenry of an area which handles certain services.

How many functions does a special district serve?

One

In Texas, who presides over the county commissioners' court?

County judge

Why are state constitutions lengthier compared to the U.S. Constitution?

the federal constitution is one of enumerated powers while the state retain what are often referred to as policy powers