INTRODUCTION TO DUTIES OF THE
MUNICIPAL CLERK EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Four Types of Local Government - Correct Answers -County, Municipality, School
District, Special District
Four Forms of Local Government are also called? - Correct Answers -Creatures of the
State
Why are forms called "Creatures of the State" - Correct Answers -They can only be
created, altered or abolished by the State
How many counties in the State of NJ - Correct Answers -21
How are counties classified? - Correct Answers -Size, geographic location, population
density
How many municipalities in NJ? - Correct Answers -565
5 Traditional Forms of Municipalities - Correct Answers -City, Town, Township, Village,
Borough
4 Forms/Modern Form of Municipal Government - Correct Answers -Special Charter,
Commission (Walsh Act), Municipal Manager, Optional Municipal Charter (Faulkner Act)
4 Categories Under Optional Municipal Charters (Faulkner Act) - Correct Answers -
Mayor/Council, Council/Manager, Small Municipality, Mayor/Council/Administrator
Attributes of Mayor/Council Form - Correct Answers -Strong mayor; mayor in charge of
administration of the municipality
Attributes of Council/Manager Form - Correct Answers -Council appoints manager to
serve as Chief Exec; council is elected;
Attributes of Small Municipality Form - Correct Answers -Less than 12,000 in population
, Attributes of Mayor/Council/Administrator Form - Correct Answers -Strong Council;
appointed Admin. and runs municipality; weak mayor that exercises executive power
4 Powers of a Municipality - Correct Answers -1. Organize and Regulate Internal Affairs
2. Adopt and enforce ordinances and impose penalties
3. Sue/be sued; contract/contracted with
4. Power to Tax
Sources of Revenue for a Municipality - Correct Answers -1. Property Taxes
2. Misc. Revenue (licenses/raffles/construction fees)
3. Public Utility Tax
4. Surplus Appropriations
5. State Aid
Attributes of a Type I School District (Newark/Trenton) - Correct Answers -BOE
appointed by mayor; tax levy determined by BOE; tax levy approved by Board of School
Estimators (mayor, 2 members of BOE and 2 members of gov. body); school debt
belongs to municipality
Attributes of a Type II School District (most) - Correct Answers -Elected BOE; tax levy
goes to vote; if defeated goes to gov. body; school debt belongs to school district
Examples of Special Districts - Correct Answers -Garbage collection; street lamps; fire
What is a Special District - Correct Answers -Established to provide special government
services within a municipality.
4 Sources of Law - Correct Answers -Chapter Law; NJSA; NJAC; Case law
Municipal Clerk Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40A:9 - 133.1
Reorganization Meeting Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40:45A-1
Public Records Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 46:1A-1
Open Public Meeting Act Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 10:4-6
Non-Partisan Election Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40:45
Municipal Land Use Law Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40:55D
Local Bond Law Statue - Correct Answers -NJSA 40A-2
Local Budget Law Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40A-4
Local Public Contracts Law Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40A-11
MUNICIPAL CLERK EXAM
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Four Types of Local Government - Correct Answers -County, Municipality, School
District, Special District
Four Forms of Local Government are also called? - Correct Answers -Creatures of the
State
Why are forms called "Creatures of the State" - Correct Answers -They can only be
created, altered or abolished by the State
How many counties in the State of NJ - Correct Answers -21
How are counties classified? - Correct Answers -Size, geographic location, population
density
How many municipalities in NJ? - Correct Answers -565
5 Traditional Forms of Municipalities - Correct Answers -City, Town, Township, Village,
Borough
4 Forms/Modern Form of Municipal Government - Correct Answers -Special Charter,
Commission (Walsh Act), Municipal Manager, Optional Municipal Charter (Faulkner Act)
4 Categories Under Optional Municipal Charters (Faulkner Act) - Correct Answers -
Mayor/Council, Council/Manager, Small Municipality, Mayor/Council/Administrator
Attributes of Mayor/Council Form - Correct Answers -Strong mayor; mayor in charge of
administration of the municipality
Attributes of Council/Manager Form - Correct Answers -Council appoints manager to
serve as Chief Exec; council is elected;
Attributes of Small Municipality Form - Correct Answers -Less than 12,000 in population
, Attributes of Mayor/Council/Administrator Form - Correct Answers -Strong Council;
appointed Admin. and runs municipality; weak mayor that exercises executive power
4 Powers of a Municipality - Correct Answers -1. Organize and Regulate Internal Affairs
2. Adopt and enforce ordinances and impose penalties
3. Sue/be sued; contract/contracted with
4. Power to Tax
Sources of Revenue for a Municipality - Correct Answers -1. Property Taxes
2. Misc. Revenue (licenses/raffles/construction fees)
3. Public Utility Tax
4. Surplus Appropriations
5. State Aid
Attributes of a Type I School District (Newark/Trenton) - Correct Answers -BOE
appointed by mayor; tax levy determined by BOE; tax levy approved by Board of School
Estimators (mayor, 2 members of BOE and 2 members of gov. body); school debt
belongs to municipality
Attributes of a Type II School District (most) - Correct Answers -Elected BOE; tax levy
goes to vote; if defeated goes to gov. body; school debt belongs to school district
Examples of Special Districts - Correct Answers -Garbage collection; street lamps; fire
What is a Special District - Correct Answers -Established to provide special government
services within a municipality.
4 Sources of Law - Correct Answers -Chapter Law; NJSA; NJAC; Case law
Municipal Clerk Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40A:9 - 133.1
Reorganization Meeting Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40:45A-1
Public Records Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 46:1A-1
Open Public Meeting Act Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 10:4-6
Non-Partisan Election Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40:45
Municipal Land Use Law Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40:55D
Local Bond Law Statue - Correct Answers -NJSA 40A-2
Local Budget Law Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40A-4
Local Public Contracts Law Statute - Correct Answers -NJSA 40A-11
