TAMU POLS 207 Exam 4 Dyer
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_4ulgv9
-Diverse communities with diverse
Why is it difficult to generalize about governments
local governments? - no mention of local government in
Constitution
a. Authority delegated by their state
constitution and/or laws, only have
How do local communities in the Unit-
powers granted to them by the state.
ed States get their authority to govern
b.State power is not derived from the
themselves? How does this differ from
national government because they
the legal status of the states?
are their own sovereign political enti-
ties
Dillon's Rule construes grants of pow-
er to localities very narrowly. Under
How does Dillon's rule restrict the
Dillon's Rule, one must assume the
powers of local governments?
local government does NOT have the
power in question.
Political Function: Questions of "Who
gets what?"; Managing conflict over
public policy
(ex: infrastructure)
, TAMU POLS 207 Exam 4 Dyer
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_4ulgv9
Service Function: Providing services
not offered by private sector (ex: mar-
What is meant by the 'political func-
ket failure, monopolies, merit goods)
tion' and 'service function' of local
governments? Give an example of
These functions frequently overlap:
each function.
who gets goods/services vs. who does
not
General Purpose: Provide wide range
of services (ex: County, City, regional
varieties and variations (law enforce-
Explain the difference between gen- ment, infrastructure, sanitation))
eral-purpose and special-purpose
governments. Which types of govern- Special-Purpose: most common type
ments fall into each category? of government*
Fulfill specific purpose (ex: School dis-
tricts, special districts (mosquito con-
trol, MUD))
What are some of the traditional func-
tions/ characteristics of county gov-
ernments? What kinds of changes
have characterized the shift from the
traditional county commission struc-
, TAMU POLS 207 Exam 4 Dyer
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_4ulgv9
Traditional:
• Responsible for law enforcement,
courts, roads, elections & public
records
• Differences exist b/t urban or rural
counties
• Commissioners
• Elected governing body (~3-50
members)
(Other officials w/ countywide juris-
diction: Sheriff, Coroner, County attor-
ney, Clerk, Tax assessor, Tax collectors,
Treasurer, auditor)
-Responsibility for county government
is fragmented and dispersed
Changes/variations:
• More centralized/professional
• County mayor (instead of board of
commissioners)
• County administrator who answers
, TAMU POLS 207 Exam 4 Dyer
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_4ulgv9
to elected commissioners
• More autonomy from state & unique
organization
• "Home rule" counties w/ unique
charter • e.g. Los Angeles County
-Traditional county commission struc-
ture
-Structure & power defined by state
constitution
How are Texas counties structured? -Commissioner Court w/ 4 elected
What are some of the responsibilities commissioners + county judge
of county government in Texas? -No "home rule" counties
-Responsibilities: Law enforcement,
courts, roads, elections, public
records, control unincorporated land
Legal status: municipal corporation
-Incorporated: the area resides within
the city limits
-Unincorporated: Area belongs to a
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_4ulgv9
-Diverse communities with diverse
Why is it difficult to generalize about governments
local governments? - no mention of local government in
Constitution
a. Authority delegated by their state
constitution and/or laws, only have
How do local communities in the Unit-
powers granted to them by the state.
ed States get their authority to govern
b.State power is not derived from the
themselves? How does this differ from
national government because they
the legal status of the states?
are their own sovereign political enti-
ties
Dillon's Rule construes grants of pow-
er to localities very narrowly. Under
How does Dillon's rule restrict the
Dillon's Rule, one must assume the
powers of local governments?
local government does NOT have the
power in question.
Political Function: Questions of "Who
gets what?"; Managing conflict over
public policy
(ex: infrastructure)
, TAMU POLS 207 Exam 4 Dyer
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_4ulgv9
Service Function: Providing services
not offered by private sector (ex: mar-
What is meant by the 'political func-
ket failure, monopolies, merit goods)
tion' and 'service function' of local
governments? Give an example of
These functions frequently overlap:
each function.
who gets goods/services vs. who does
not
General Purpose: Provide wide range
of services (ex: County, City, regional
varieties and variations (law enforce-
Explain the difference between gen- ment, infrastructure, sanitation))
eral-purpose and special-purpose
governments. Which types of govern- Special-Purpose: most common type
ments fall into each category? of government*
Fulfill specific purpose (ex: School dis-
tricts, special districts (mosquito con-
trol, MUD))
What are some of the traditional func-
tions/ characteristics of county gov-
ernments? What kinds of changes
have characterized the shift from the
traditional county commission struc-
, TAMU POLS 207 Exam 4 Dyer
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_4ulgv9
Traditional:
• Responsible for law enforcement,
courts, roads, elections & public
records
• Differences exist b/t urban or rural
counties
• Commissioners
• Elected governing body (~3-50
members)
(Other officials w/ countywide juris-
diction: Sheriff, Coroner, County attor-
ney, Clerk, Tax assessor, Tax collectors,
Treasurer, auditor)
-Responsibility for county government
is fragmented and dispersed
Changes/variations:
• More centralized/professional
• County mayor (instead of board of
commissioners)
• County administrator who answers
, TAMU POLS 207 Exam 4 Dyer
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_4ulgv9
to elected commissioners
• More autonomy from state & unique
organization
• "Home rule" counties w/ unique
charter • e.g. Los Angeles County
-Traditional county commission struc-
ture
-Structure & power defined by state
constitution
How are Texas counties structured? -Commissioner Court w/ 4 elected
What are some of the responsibilities commissioners + county judge
of county government in Texas? -No "home rule" counties
-Responsibilities: Law enforcement,
courts, roads, elections, public
records, control unincorporated land
Legal status: municipal corporation
-Incorporated: the area resides within
the city limits
-Unincorporated: Area belongs to a
