iCivics: State and Local Government - The Capable County

What is the smallest unit of government below a state in the United States?

• Borough

• County

• City

• District

What is the term for the town or city that serves as the home for the county government?

• County Center

• County Seat

• County Hub

• County Capital

What are unfunded mandates?

• Services counties choose to provide

• Services funded by the federal government

• Services mandated by the government without funding

• Services funded by the state government

In which state are counties called boroughs?

• Texas

• Louisiana

• Alaska

• Hawaii

What is the largest source of money for a county?

• Sales tax

• Federal government

• State government

• County itself

What is the main in-county source of income for most counties?

• Federal grants

• State funding

• Property taxes

• Sales tax

Which of the following is NOT a service typically provided by counties?

• Providing clean water

• Operating airports

• Maintaining parks

• Running elections

What rule states that a county must get authority from the state legislature before it can provide services?

• State Rule

• Dillon’s Rule

• Home Rule

• Federal Rule

What is the term for counties having the power to make decisions for themselves about what services to provide?

• State Independence

• Dillon’s Rule

• Home Rule

• County Autonomy

What is the historical origin of counties in the United States?

• English shires

• Ancient Roman tradition

• Native American governance

• French provinces