11th Ed. Carney, student learning outcomes and study guide (104.7)

 

             California local Government AND PROPOSITION 13 (D)

                     Pages 102 - 107 (Chapter 10) and pages 55-57 (Chapter 5)

 

C. Explain the relationship of local government to the U.S. Constitution, the California

    Constitution and state statutes [also called laws]. (See Carney, p.102, top)

 

    C1. Does the U.S. Constitution create local governments? (p. 102, top)

    C2. Does the California Constitution determine local governments? (p. 102, top)

    C3. Do California statutes [also called laws] determine local governments? (p. 102, top)

    C4. What level of government creates and regulates local units of government? (p. 102, top)

 

 

D. Explain the financial relationship between California and its local governments,

    how it was affected by Proposition 13, and how it changed under Governor

    Schwarzenegger. ( See Carney, pp. 102 center and 103 top)

 

    D1. Did the state of California loot its local government budgets? ( p. 102, center)

    D2. Did Proposition 13 cause local governments budgets to be overstretched? ( p. 102, center)

    D3. Proposition 13 denied local governments funds from ___________ taxes. (p. 102)

    D4. Did Proposition 1A, supported by Governor Schwarzenegger, reduce or increase the

           looting of the budgets of local governments budgets? (p. 103 top)

    D5. Proposition 1A does not stop the state from taking local funds in any real ____.(p.103 top)

 

 

E. State basic facts about and give examples of each one of the three levels of local

    government and the officials elected by counties. (See Carney, p. 104 map for the ten

    most southern California counties and pp. 103 top through 107 top)

 

    E1.   What are the three types [levels] of California local government? (p. 103 top) 

    E2.   How many counties does California have? (p. 103 center )

    E3.   What is the most populous county in California? (p. 103 center)

    E4.   Every county is required to elect a governing body called a

            ___________ _________ __________. (p. 103, center )

    E5.   A sheriff and a district attorney are elected to serve a __________ (p. 103 center)

    E6.   How many cities are there in Los Angeles County? (p. 105 end)

    E7.   A mayor and a council are elected to serve a __________ (pp. 105 end - 106 top)

    E8.   With close to 4 million people, what is the largest city in California and in

            Los Angeles County? (p. 105 end)

    E9.  _____  ____ are the most varied and numerous of all units of government (p. 106 end)

    E10. List at least five examples of purposes served by special districts. (p. 106 end - 107 top)

 

 

F. State the primary service(s) each one of the three levels of local government spends

    the most funds to deliver. ( See Carney, pp. 103, 105 end, and 107 top)

 

     F1.  What are the two greatest county expenditures? (p. 103 end)

     F2.  On what do city governments spend the most revenue? (p. 105 end)

     F3.  What unit of local government has more annual financial transactions than the other

            two levels of local government combined? (p. 107 top)

     F4.  Name at least six services provided by special districts. (p. 107 top)

 

 

 

 

G. Describe California regional governance and provide two examples of

    voluntary associations of local government (Carney p.107 end)

 

     G1. What are two types of problems that require regional solutions?

          Answer:  growth management, transportation

 

     G2. What are three examples of growth management problems that may require regional

          solutions through regional governance? (p. 107 end)

          Answer:  air quality, water management, waste management

 

     G3. Are there regional governments that have the same power to tax as California

          counties, cities and special districts have? (p. 107 end)

          Answerno

 

     G4. What kind of problems do voluntary associations of governments deal with in

           California? (p.107 end).

          Answer:  regional

 

     G5. What are two examples of voluntary associations of governments that deal with

          regional problems in California (p.107 footnote).

          Answer:  Sourthern California Association of Governments (SCAG),

                          Association of  Bay Area Governments (ABAG)

  

H. Explain the purpose, justification for and affects of Prop. 13. (Carney, pp. 55 end - 57 end)

 

     H1.  Has the ability of local governments to raise funds for health and human services been

             reduced or increased since Proposition 13 became effective? (p. 55 end)

     H2.  _____ California governments spend funds on education, health and welfare? (p. 55 end)

     H3.  Before Prop. 13, _______ taxes raised funds for education, health and welfare (p. 55 end)

     H4.  Proposition 13 limited local __________ (p. 55 end)

     H5.  Which three kinds of governments depended on property tax? (p. 56 end)

     H6.  Before Proposition 13, inflation caused tax assessments of real estate values and taxes to

             increase, remain the same, or decrease? (p. 56 end)

     H7.  Before Proposition 13 massive increases in real estate values caused huge __________ in

             property taxes. (p. 56 end)

     H8.  Do owners of homes or do owners of commercial property receive most tax relief

             under Proposition 13? (p. 57 top)

     H9.  Do owners of homes or do owners of income property receive most tax relief

             under Proposition 13? (p. 57 top)

 

J. Explain which institutions of government have the power to change Proposition 13.

    and whether they are likely to change it (Carney, p. 57 center through 57 end)

 

     J1.  Do most homeowners support or oppose changing Proposition 13? (p. 57 center)

     J2.  Has the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Proposition 13? (p. 57 end)

     J3.  Did the U.S. Supreme Court uphold or overturn Proposition 13? (p. 57 end)

     J4.  Does the legislature of California have the power to change Proposition 13? (p. 57 end)

     J5.  Is the legislature of California likely to eliminate or change Proposition 13? (p. 57 end)

     J6.  Currently is there a financial crisis in California? (p. 57 end)