Municipal Government Structure & Functions Flashcards
7 cards from real CMO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Municipal Government Structure & Functions flashcards as text
Which type of municipal election is designed to allow voters to remove an elected official before their term expires?
Answer: Recall election
A recall election allows voters who gather sufficient signatures to force a vote on whether to remove an elected official from office prior to the end of their term.
The council-manager form of government most closely parallels which private-sector organizational structure?
Answer: A corporation with a board of directors and a professional CEO
The council-manager form mirrors a corporate structure where an elected council (board of directors) sets policy and hires a professional manager (CEO) to carry out operations.
What does 'ultra vires' mean in the context of municipal government?
Answer: An action taken outside the legal authority of the municipality
Ultra vires, Latin for 'beyond the powers,' refers to actions taken by a municipality that exceed the authority granted to it by the state, rendering those actions void or unenforceable.
Which of the following statements best describes a municipal general obligation bond?
Answer: A bond backed by the full faith, credit, and taxing power of the municipality
General obligation bonds are backed by the municipality's full taxing power and general revenues, typically requiring voter approval because they pledge the city's creditworthiness.
Which meeting notice requirement is most commonly mandated by state open meetings laws for regular municipal council meetings?
Answer: 48-hour advance posting of agenda at city hall and on the official website
Most state open meetings statutes require posting of agenda and notice at least 24-72 hours before regular meetings, with 48 hours being a common standard.
A municipal department's line-item budget format is best characterized as:
Answer: Categorizing spending by specific object codes such as salaries, supplies, and equipment
Line-item budgets organize expenditures by specific object categories (e.g., personnel, materials, capital outlay), providing detailed control over individual spending items.
Which of the following is a distinguishing characteristic of a council-manager municipality compared to a strong-mayor municipality?
Answer: Department heads are appointed by the professional manager, not directly by elected officials
In council-manager government, the professional city manager appoints and supervises department heads, insulating administrative appointments from direct political influence by elected officials.