Unit 8 US Government (Local) Quiz

Who creates all local governments?

States create all local governments

What are reserved powers?

Powers that allow states to do anything the Constitution does not prohibit them from doing or give only to the Federal Government

Where do most of the services we receive come from?

Local governments (with special districts being the most prevalent type of local government in the US)

How many county governments does Nebraska have?

93 — one for each county

What is the major unit of local government at the county level in most states?

Board of Commissioners

How many Nebraska counties are run by a Board of Commissioners?

70 out of 93

Which Nebraska county uses the Board of Commissioners form of government?

Douglas County

What does the Board of Commissioners do?

Administers state and county law, maintains roads, jails, schools, and handles tax collection

How many members are on a county board and how long are their terms?

3 to 5 members; 4-year terms

What is the other type of county government used in Nebraska and how many counties use it?

Townships; 23 out of 93 counties

Who runs a Township government?

A Board of Supervisors, elected by the township

How many members are on a Board of Supervisors and how long are their terms?

7 members; 4-year terms

Is there a separate board for each township?

Yes, there is a board for each township

What functions do Townships perform?

Rural functions such as roads, drainage, law enforcement, jail, and landfill

What are municipalities?

Towns and cities, including rural and small urban areas

What services do municipalities deliver?

Services like water, fire, and police — services provided by city and county governments elsewhere

What are Special Districts?

Local governments that perform governmental functions at the local level, only chartered in the state in which they are located

What functions do Special Districts usually serve?

Administering schools, providing water, bridge and park maintenance, police, etc.

Are Special Districts the most or least common type of local government?

Most common — more of these than any other type of local government

How are Special Districts typically run?

By an elected board

What makes Special Districts unique compared to other local governments?

They are only chartered in the state in which they are located

Name four examples of Special Districts in the Omaha area

MUD, OPPD, Millard Board of Education, and Ed Service Units

What societal shift has occurred over the years regarding where people live?

Society has moved from rural to urban

What is Incorporation?

The process by which states have established cities as legal bodies, creating a government

What is a Charter?

A city's basic constitution; its plan of government is outlined here

What classification of municipality is Omaha and what is the population requirement?

Metropolitan Class — over 300,000 people; Omaha is the only one in Nebraska

What classification of municipality is Lincoln and what is the population requirement?

Primary Class — 100,001 to 300,000 people; Lincoln is the only one in Nebraska

What is a First Class City and what is its population range?

A First Class City has 5,001 to 100,000 people

What is a Second Class City and what is its population range?

A Second Class City has 801 to 5,000 people

What is a Village and what is its population range?

A Village has 100 to 800 people

What type of government is most common in Nebraska municipalities?

A mayor and city council form of government

Which Nebraska city is the only one with a commissioner form of government?

Nebraska City

What type of government do Villages have and is there a mayor?

An elected board of trustees — there is no mayor

Who is the head of a Village board?

One trustee serves as the head of the board

What is a Mayor-Council Government?

The oldest and most widely used form of city government in the US

What is a Strong Mayor Government?

A form where the mayor heads city administration, hires and fires employees, and prepares the budget

Which Nebraska city uses the Strong Mayor form of government?

Omaha

What is a Weak Mayor Government?

A form where the mayor shares executive duties with other elected officials and the city council, giving the mayor very little or no power

What is Commission Government?

A form where members are selected by popular election and each commissioner heads a department of city government — there is no mayor

Which Nebraska city uses Commission Government?

Nebraska City

What is a Council-Manager Government?

A form with a strong council, a non-partisan weak mayor, and a city manager named by the council who actually runs things

How many city council districts does Omaha have?

7

Who is the mayor of Omaha as listed in the PowerPoint?

John Ewing

What is Zoning?

The practice of dividing a city into districts and regulating the uses of property in each district (residential, commercial, or industrial zones)

What are Metropolitan Areas?

Cities and the surrounding areas around them

What share of Americans live in suburbs today?

More than half

Why do cities annex outlying areas?

To regain lost civic, financial, and social resources, and to regain tax revenue

Give a local example of a city annexing an outlying area

Omaha annexing Elkhorn

How do states provide services to citizens?

Through state agencies and programs, and indirectly through local governments

Who funds primary and secondary schools?

Local governments

Who administers colleges and universities?

State government

What is Medicaid?

Medical insurance for low-income families

What is Welfare?

Cash assistance to the poor

Name two other services provided by state government besides education

Any two of: State Patrol and State Prisons, State Highways and roads, Game and Parks

What is a Sales Tax?

A tax a purchaser pays on a commodity; it is a regressive tax

What is Nebraska's state sales tax rate?

5.5%

What is Omaha's additional local sales tax rate?

1.5%

Why is a Sales Tax considered regressive?

It takes a larger percentage of income from lower-income people than from higher-income people

What is an Income Tax and is it progressive or regressive?

A tax on the earnings of individuals and corporations; it is a progressive tax

What is a Property Tax?

A levy on real property such as land or personal property

What is Assessment?

The process of determining the value of property to be taxed, used by county, city, and school districts

What is Motor Vehicle Registration and what level of government collects it?

A tax on registering a vehicle; it is a county tax

What is a Wheel Tax and what is it used for?

A city tax collected for road improvement

What is an Inheritance Tax?

A state tax that heirs pay on their share of an estate

What is an Estate Tax?

A state tax levied directly on the full assets of the property itself

Who ultimately decides what taxes the state and localities will levy and at what rates?

State legislatures