Quiz on California Local Governments

This quiz is to test your knowledge about California’s local governments. Below are the questions, followed by the answers.

1. California’s local governments consist of just counties and cities.
2. Local governments in this state are created by statutes that have been enacted by the Legislature.
3. The Legislature must enact certain laws regarding counties.
4. The Legislature does not have to enact certain laws regarding cities.
5. Local governments can only adopt laws authorized under state law.
6. State statute authorizes a number of cities and counties to be combined.
7. Charter cities are only subject to ordinances adopted pursuant to their charters, and are not subject to the general laws of the state.
8. Police and sanitary services are under the purview of the 58 counties only.
9. Counties can provide services requested by cities.
10. A municipal corporation may operate public works.
11. In limited instances, local government officials or contractors may be paid extra by public entities.
12. The Legislature ia authorized to delegate local government functions to a private person or entity in specified circumstances.

Answers

1. False. There are 58 counties, 482 cities, and over 2,000 special districts that comprise local government.
2. False. Article 11 of the state Constitution provides for counties and cities, as well as charter cities. In addition, it specifies that cities are permitted to pay counties to perform governmental functions.
3. True. The Legislature is required to prescribe uniform procedures for county formation, consolidation, and boundary changes.
4. False. Section 2 of Article 11 requires the Legislature to prescribe uniform procedures for city formation and provide for city powers.
5. False. Section 3 of Article 11 provides that, for its own government, a county or city may adopt a charter by majority vote of its electors voting on the question.
6. False. Section 6 of Article 11 provides that a county and all cities within it may consolidate as a charter city and county as provided by statute. This is only used in the City and County of San Francisco.
7. False. Section 5 of Article 11 provides that, in any city charter, the city may make and enforce all ordinances and regulations with respect to municipal affairs, subject only to restrictions and limitations provided in their charters and, in respect to other matters, they are subject to general laws of the State.
8. False. Section 7 of Article 11 specifies that a county or city may make and enforce within its limits all local, police, sanitary, and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws applicable to all local governments.
9. True. Section 8 of Article 11 states that the Legislature may provide that counties perform municipal functions at the request of cities within them.
10. True. Section 9 of Article 11 provides that a municipal corporation may establish, purchase, and operate public works to furnish its inhabitants with light, water, power, heat, transportation, or means of communication.
11. False. Section 10 of Article 11 specifies that a local government body may not grant extra compensation or extra allowance to a public officer, public employee, or contractor after service has been rendered or a contract has been entered into and performed in whole or in part, or pay a claim under an agreement made without authority of law.
12. False. Section 11 of Article 11 provides that the Legislature may not delegate to a private person or body power to make, control, appropriate, supervise, or interfere with county or municipal corporation improvements, money, or property, or to levy taxes or assessments, or perform municipal functions.