GOVT 2306-Chapter 10-Lehmann

20 August 2022
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question
What happened in West, Texas in 2013 that caused $100 million in damages?
answer
There was an explosion at a fertilizer plant.
question
Does Texas have a statewide fire code?
answer
No
question
Are Texas counties required to have and enforce a fire code? Why or why not?
answer
Only 81 counties are allowed by law to do so even though only 15 do.
question
How many counties does Texas have?
answer
254
question
In Texas, what is the name of the officer who presides over the county commissioners' court?
answer
County judge. He sits on a court with four county commissioners, each elected from precincts.
question
The initial idea behind counties was that each citizen could travel to the county seat on horseback and return home within a period of how long?
answer
One day.
question
What is the county commissioners' court?
answer
The main governing body of each county; has the authority to set the county tax rate and budget.
question
What does the county judge do in most counties?
answer
They are responsible for administration of county government; some judges carry out judicial responsibilities.
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What are the functions of county government in Texas?
answer
Construct and maintain roads and bridges, law enforcement, dispute resolution, record-keeping and social services.
question
What do constables do?
answer
Precinct-level county official involved with serving legal papers and, in some counties, enforcing the law.
question
How are the county governments of Loving county and Harris County different?
answer
Loving county is so small (71 residents) that almost everyone works for the government, whereas Harris has over 4 million residents.
question
What kinds of problems did Jasper County have that caused unexpected expenses?
answer
A triple capital murder trial that cost $1.02 million.
question
How did its residents pay this extra cost?
answer
They increased property taxes 8% for 2 years.
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Does this example imply that counties like Jasper County are too big or too small to function properly?
answer
Too small.
question
Who is the chief law enforcement officer in county governments?
answer
The sheriff.
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County attorney
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County official who prosecutes lesser criminal cases in the county court.
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District attorney
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Public official who prosecutes the more serious criminal cases in district court.
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County clerk
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Public official who is the main record-keeper of the county.
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County tax assessor-collector
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Public official who maintains the county tax records and collects the taxes owed to the county.
question
What is the most important social service provided by counties?
answer
Emergency welfare assistance to individuals. Indigent health care.
question
What is a home rule charter?
answer
The rules under which a city operates; local governments have considerable independent governing power under these charters.
question
How many citizens must a city have to become home rule?
answer
5000
question
There are approximately _____ municipal governments in Texas.
answer
1,221
question
What is the main difference between a home rule city and a general law city?
answer
Home rule city can establish their own government as long as they follow the constitution. General Law cities follow state legislature.
question
Which type of city can set higher taxes?
answer
Home Rule at $2.50 for every $100.
question
What is the mayor-council form of government?
answer
A form of government in which the mayor is the chief executive and the city council is the legislative body.
question
What types of Texas cities are most likely to have this form?
answer
General Law cities.
question
The commissioner form of city government was developed as a response to what disaster?
answer
A hurricane that hit Galveston.
question
Is this type of government popular in Texas today?
answer
No, council-manager form of government is used.
question
What are at-large elections?
answer
An election voted on by the whole city instead of a district.
question
What is the council-manager form of government?
answer
A form of city government in which public policies are developed by the city council and executive and administrative functions are assigned to a professional city manager.
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How popular is it in Texas today?
answer
Most cities use a variation of council-management.
question
What form of government does Houston have?
answer
It has a strong mayor-council form of government.
question
What is a city controller?
answer
Ronald Green, city's chief financial officer.
question
San Antonio operates under which form of city government?
answer
Council-manager form of government.
question
What was the effect of Dallas's shifting from an at-large to a single member district system in 1991?
answer
African-American and Latinos were elected to serve on the council.
question
Be able to define special district.
answer
A unit of local government that performs a single service, such as education or sanitation, within a limited geographic area.
question
Is the number of special districts in Texas changing quickly or slowly?
answer
Increased in past 50 years.
question
What type of special districts are there in Texas?
answer
School districts and non-school special districts.
question
What types of non-school special districts are there?
answer
Municipal utility, economic development corporations, hospitals, fire prevention are many examples.
question
Why is flood control managed through special district?
answer
Because it is not a school.
question
In Texas, who creates special districts?
answer
They are created by the voter of the area they are going to serve.
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How are most special districts in Texas administered?
answer
They are governed by boards elected by the people.
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What are the main sources of revenue for special districts in Texas?
answer
Property taxes and user fees.
question
Why do some people call special districts "hidden governments"?
answer
Because we live in them, vote for the people who run them, pay taxes for them but very few people know they exist.
question
What is the function of the 24 councils of government in Texas today?
answer
Planning for the economic development of an area, helping local governments carry out regional projects, contracting with local governments to provide certain services and reviewing applications for state and federal financial assistance.
question
Why are local government pension plans a potential source of crisis in the future?
answer
Texas' pension plans are only funded at 80%. A fiscal responsible plan would be funded at 100%.
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What freedoms do home rule cities have?
answer
Freedom to taxes, annex property and choose government structure.
question
What is the difference between a Weak Mayor System and a Strong Mayor System?
answer
In a strong mayor system, the mayor can overrule the council.