POLS 207 Final Exam 2025 – Full Exam Questions & Verified Correct Answers | Latest Updated Study Guide

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POLS 207 - FINAL EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE
SOLUTIONS/NEWEST UPDATE
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Answers

Question: Why is it difficult to generalize about local governments?
Answer: Diverse communities (Geographic size, population size,
socioeconomic composition) with diverse governments (form & organization,
powers & responsibilities, methods of selecting officials)


No mention of local governments in Constitution


Question:U.S. Constitution & federalism
Answer: • Outlines basic relationship b/t states & nat'l gov't
• Recognizes states as sovereign political entities in their own right
• State authority does not derive from the nat'l gov't
• No mention of local gov'ts!
• Washington, D.C?
• What about the 89,000 local gov'ts in the U.S?


Question:How do local communities in the United States get their authority
to govern themselves? How does this differ from the legal status of the states?
Answer: Authority delegated by their state constitution and/or laws

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State power is not derived from the national government because they are
their own sovereign political entities


Question:Local Gov
Answer: • Subdivisions of state gov'ts
----NO independent authority or inherent powers


• Exercise authority delegated by their state


•Dillon's Rule
---Narrow interpretation of local authority
--Local gov'ts have ONLY those powers granted to them by the state
----By state constitution &/or law


Question:How does Dillon's rule restrict the powers of local governments?
Answer: Local governments have only those powers granted to them by the
state constitution and/or laws


The Dillon Rule is used in interpreting law when there is a question of whether
or not a local government has a certain power


Dillon's Rule construes grants of power to localities very narrowly. The bottom
law is -- if there is a question about a local government's power or authority,
then the local government does NOT receive the benefit of the doubt. Under
Dillon's Rule, one must assume the local government does NOT have the
power in question.

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Question:What is meant by the 'political function' and 'service function' of
local governments? Give an example of each function.
Answer: Service Function
-Providing services not offered by private sector
---E.g. market failure, monopolies, merit goods


Political Function
-Questions of "Who gets what?"
Managing conflict over public policy
--E.g. infrastructure


These functions frequently overlap: who gets goods/services vs. who does not


Question:Localities in the U.S.
Answer: Diversity of communities
• Geographic size
• Population size
• Socioeconomic composition


Great diversity in their gov'ts
• Form & organization
• Powers & responsibilities
• Method of selecting officials


• Becoming more urban
• Demand for more services
• Increased centralization & professionalization of local gov'ts

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Question:Explain the difference between general-purpose and special-
purpose governments. Which types of governments fall into each category?
Answer: General Purpose
-Provide wide range of services
---E.g. County, City, regional varieties and variations (law enforcement,
infrastructure, sanitation)


Special-Purpose (*most common type of government*)
-Fulfill specific purpose
---E.g. School districts, special districts (mosquito control, MUD)


Question:Country Gov
Answer: Responsible for law enforcement, courts, roads, elections & public
records


Differences exist b/t urban or rural counties


Question:City Gov
Answer: Responsible for police, fire, parks, streets, sanitation, welfare &
(sometimes) education


Question:Regional varieties & variations Govs
Answer: e.g. township gov'ts & New England towns