Question 1

A method of voting in which voters have a number of votes equal to the number of seats being filled,and voters may cast their votes all for one candidate or split them among candidates in various combinations,is known as

Accepted Answer

The method described is known as cumulative voting. Proportional voting involves allocating seats based on the percentage of votes received by each party, while the Australian ballot refers to a secret ballot system. Selective voting is not a commonly used term in electoral systems.

Question 2

Home-rule cities in Texas are sometimes confronted with state statutes enacted to restrict their self-governing power and special authority.It is unconstitutional,however,for the legislature to pass a law that targets one specific local governmental entity.The legislature gets around this restriction with regard to limiting specific home-rule cities by

Accepted Answer

The legislature can pass laws that apply to a group of cities based on their population size rather than targeting one specific city. This allows the state to restrict the self-governing power of certain cities without singling them out by name, which would be unconstitutional.

Question 3

Perhaps the biggest policy issue concerning school districts in Texas over the past 30 years has been

Accepted Answer

Public school finance has been a recurring and ongoing policy issue in Texas for the past 30 years. The state's complicated and controversial system of funding public schools has been the subject of numerous lawsuits and legislative battles, with concerns about equity, adequacy, and efficiency of funding. This issue has had significant impacts on school districts, including disparities in resources and opportunities, teacher salaries, and student achievement. While other policy issues like charter schools, home-rule districts, and election methods have also been debated, none have had the same level of impact and significance as public school finance.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of e-government?

Accepted Answer

While e-government can certainly lead to cost savings in some areas, it is not the only benefit and may not always be the case. Other benefits such as greater accessibility, increased responsiveness, accountability, and customer focus are more commonly cited as advantages of e-government.

Question 5

Why has the Austin city council had one Hispanic member and one African-American member for the past few decades?

Accepted Answer

There has been an informal "gentleman's agreement" in place that reserves one seat for a Hispanic member and one seat for an African-American member. This agreement is not legally mandated, but rather a result of political negotiations and agreements within the city's political structure.

Question 6

A public school sanctioned by a specific contractual agreement with the state that allows the program to operate outside the usual rules and regulations of the state and the Texas Education Agency is known as a/an

Accepted Answer

A charter school is a publicly funded school that operates under a specific contract or "charter" with the state or local school district. This contract grants the school greater flexibility in terms of its structure, curriculum, and operations but also holds it accountable for meeting certain academic standards. Charter schools are exempt from some of the regulations that traditional public schools must follow, but they are still subject to oversight from their authorizing agency.

Question 7

Public school systems in Texas are run by

Accepted Answer

Public school systems in Texas are run by special districts, which are separate entities from city, county, or state government. These districts are responsible for managing and governing public schools within their geographical boundaries.

Question 8

Special districts in Texas usually focus on

Accepted Answer

Special districts in Texas are typically responsible for a single governmental function, such as providing water or managing a local airport.

Question 9

A voting system that apportions legislative seats according to the percentage of the vote won by a particular party is known as what kind of system?

Accepted Answer

A voting system that apportions legislative seats according to the percentage of the vote won by a particular party is known as proportional representation. This system aims to ensure that political power is distributed proportionally among different parties based on their support from voters. It is used in many countries around the world, including Germany, Spain, and New Zealand.

Question 10

Civil rights organizations used the Voting Rights Act to challenge which of these types of elections in Texas?

Accepted Answer

Civil rights organizations challenged at-large-by-place municipal elections in Texas because they often diluted minority voting strength, making it harder for minority candidates to win elections.

Question 11

Texas has more counties than most states.

Accepted Answer

Texas has 254 counties, which is more than most states in the U.S.

Question 12

Texas public schools were first administered by county commissioners before the advent of the school district system.

Accepted Answer

Texas public schools were first administered by county commissioners from the 1840s until the establishment of school districts in the late 19th century.

Question 13

Municipal utility districts are usually created at the request of

Accepted Answer

Municipal utility districts are commonly created by developers in order to provide utility services to new developments outside a city's limits. These districts allow for the formation of a government entity responsible for managing these services and providing funding for their construction and maintenance.

Question 14

Despite a nationwide municipal home-rule movement,Texas failed to adopt a constitutional amendment that would have allowed some cities to decide their own structure.

Accepted Answer

Texas did adopt a constitutional amendment allowing cities with more than 5,000 inhabitants to adopt their own home-rule charters, enabling them to decide their own structure and govern themselves with greater autonomy. This was part of the broader municipal home-rule movement in the United States.

Question 15

Of the following entities,which one does NOT have oversight and regulatory authority over public schools in Texas?

Accepted Answer

County commissioners courts do not have oversight and regulatory authority over public schools in Texas. The State Board of Education, the commissioner of education, the Texas legislature, and the Texas Education Agency all have roles in overseeing and regulating public schools in the state.

Question 16

One of the most prominent examples of the political success of minorities due to a court-ordered change in municipal election systems in Texas was the election of a Hispanic mayor in the 1980s in San Antonio.This individual rose to national prominence as a cabinet secretary in the Clinton administration.Who was he?

Accepted Answer

Henry Cisneros was elected as the first Hispanic mayor of San Antonio in 1981 after the city was forced to adopt a single-member district system by court order. He later served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Clinton administration from 1993 to 1997.

Question 17

Under Spanish and Mexican government,few people lived in Texas and there were no settlements of any significant size.

Accepted Answer

During the Spanish and Mexican periods, Texas was sparsely populated with few significant settlements, as it was considered a remote and undeveloped frontier region.

Question 18

One of the grievances cited by Texans in 1836 was that the Mexican government had failed to establish a system of public education.

Accepted Answer

Texans in 1836 were indeed upset that the Mexican government had not established a system of public education.

Question 19

In 2007,Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment which abolished which county office in Texas?

Accepted Answer

In 2007, Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment that abolished the office of the County Inspector of Hides, an office that had become obsolete. This role was historically important for the inspection and certification of animal hides, a significant part of the Texas economy in earlier times.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a special district?

Accepted Answer

Special districts are local government entities that are created to provide a specific service or set of services within a defined geographic area. Independent school districts are an example of a special district as they are responsible for providing education services within their designated boundaries. County Commissioners Court and Justice of the peace courts are part of the county government, and free enterprise zones are areas designated by the government to encourage economic development.

Quiz 17: Local Government and Politics in Texas