Act 4 - Part 2
Practice Questions
Name________________________________________ Block______________
Your Act 4 - Part 2 Test includes multiple choice questions and open response
questions. These practice questions focus on:
 Vocabulary - Pg. 71-72
 Structure of Local Government – Pg. 84
 Functions of Local Government – Pg. 86
SEE YOUR TEACHER TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS BEFORE THE TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vocabulary: Use pages 71-72 in your notes to help you answer the following questions
1. What is a locality? ________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What does enact mean? __________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What is an ordinance? ____________________________________________________________________________________________
Structure of Local Government: Use page 84 in your notes to help you answer the following questions
4. What are the three types of localities in Virginia? _________________________________________________,
___________________________________________, ___________________________________________
5. The Town of Leesburg has a local law saying that anyone who makes “excessive noise” can be charged
with a misdemeanor (minor crime). What would this new law likely be called?
a. Ordinance
b. Federal Mandate
c. Locality
d. Enact
6. Virginia has three different types of localities, but do they all have the same powers? ____________________
7. How are counties, cities, and towns given their powers?
a. Acts by the General Assembly only
b. The VA Constitution is the only
c. Both Acts by the General Assembly and the VA Constitution
d. Neither, they get to decide what they want to do any time!
8. Circle all the localities below that the General Assembly and the Virginia Constitution give power to:
Counties
Cities
Towns
9. The General Assembly gave the area of Reston permission to become a city. What is the name of the
document the City of Reston would receive?
a. Constitution
b. Amendment
c. Charter
d. Statute
10. Vienna has its own police force and local government but they rely on Fairfax County for schools and
trash collection. The state of Virginia recognizes Vienna as a __________________________.
a. County
b. City
c. Town
d. Neighborhood
11. Use the word bank to fill in the chart below.
“Who is it?” Answer Bank (many will be used more than once):
Council
Mayor
County Local Courts
Board of Supervisors
City Local Courts
no elected head of branch
“Job” Answer Bank (many will be used more than once):
Enact ordinances
Interpret local laws
Judicial
Executive
Legislative
County
Carry out ordinances
City
Town
Who is it?
____________________________________
Job:
____________________________________
Who is it?
____________________________________
Job:
____________________________________
Who is it?
____________________________________
Job:
____________________________________
Who is it?
____________________________________
Job:
____________________________________
Who is it?
____________________________________
Job:
____________________________________
Who is it?
____________________________________
Job:
____________________________________
Who is it?
____________________________________
Job:
____________________________________
Who is it?
____________________________________
Job:
____________________________________
Who is it?
____________________________________
Job:
____________________________________
___________________________________
Use the information above to help you answer questions 12-16:
12. Which of the following statements is TRUE of local government?
a.
b.
c.
d.
All local governments have the same powers.
All local governments have a mayor.
All local governments do not have the same powers.
All local governments are independent.
13. Leesburg Today Headline: “Kristen Umstattd Announces Re-Election Bid for Local Executive Branch”
What part of local government is Kristen Umstattd currently holding a position?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Board of Supervisors
Council
Mayor
Local Bureaucracy
Directions: Use the information from the chart on #11 to help you on the following questions.
14. Circle the statement about COUNCILS in the box below that is NOT TRUE:
They enact ordinances
They are part of the executive branch
They are found in towns
They are elected by voters
15. What would complete the table below titled “Mayor”?
Mayor
Elected by the
voters
Carries out
ordinances
__?????___
a.
b.
c.
d.
16.
In Cities Only
In Counties Only
In Cities and Towns Only
In Cities, Towns, and Counties
___________ ? ________________
*Adopt annual budget
* Enact ordinances
* In city government
Which of the following would be the best title for the table above?
a. Board of Supervisors
b. Local Bureaucracy
c. Council
d. Mayor
Functions of Local Government: Use page 86 in your notes to help you answer the following questions
17. For each of the positions in the local government, fill out the chart below using your notes:
Who is it?
How are they
chosen?
Hired by Leg
branch.
Elected
Elected
Elected
Elected
What do they do?
Does every locality HAVE to
have this position?
Oversee the operations of
the local government
No – its optional
Enforce State and Local Laws
Oversee the Local Courts
Yes – VA Constitution requires it
Yes – VA Constitution requires it
Yes – VA Constitution requires it
Yes – VA Constitution requires it
Collect taxes
Manage the local
government’s budget
18. Out of all of the positions listed above, which are REQUIRED by the Virginia Constitution for
counties, cities, and towns?
19. How are the people put into these positions REQUIRED by the Virginia Constitution for counties,
cities, and towns are chosen?
a. All required positions are elected by the locality’s residents.
b. The mayor appoints people to all required positions.
For the next four questions, help out teachers looking for new jobs! You need to find the job they are
describing from following options:
Available Jobs:
*Treasurer
*Commissioner of Revenue
*Sherriff
*Manager
20. Mrs. Arnold wants to try to get elected to the job that enforces state and local laws. Mrs. Arnold
wants to be a _______________________________________________.
21. Mr. Giddens wants to oversee and administer all operations of the local government. Mr. Giddens
wants to be a ______________________________________________.
22. Mr. Buffone wants to work on the annual budget for local government. Mr. Buffone wants to be a
_____________________________________________________.
23. Mr. Laabs loves to levy taxes! He wants to tell everyone how much they owe the local government
in taxes. Mr. Laabs wants to be a ______________________________________________________.
Functions of Local Government: Use page86 in your notes to help you answer the following questions
24. The group that oversees the operation of K-12 public schools in Loudoun County has decided to extend the
number of days the students go to school from 180 days to 190 days. What would be the best name for this
group?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Board of Supervisors
Council
School Board
Education Commission
25. One job of the local governments is to protect public safety. Circle the issues below when the local
government would need to protect public safety. (Hint: There is more than one!)
*An act of terrorism
*Pandemic
*New schools must be built
*Homes are on fire
*Deer are becoming extinct
26. The Government for the City of Richmond has many functions. Circle the issue below that the City of
Richmond would NOT respond to:
a. Bringing international business to the area
b. Regulating trade between Maryland and Virginia
c. Flu that is spreading around the city
d. Trash in the James River
27. One job of the City of Virginia Beach is to regulate land use. Which situation is an example of the City
government performing that function?
a. Creating a zoning plan that allows businesses to be started in certain parts of the city, while other
parts of the city are saved for neighborhoods and homes.
b. The Sherriff arrested teenagers for spray painting bad words on buildings.
28. One job of the City of Virginia Beach is to enforce state and local laws. Which situation is an example of the
City government performing that function?
a. Creating a zoning plan that allows businesses to be started in certain parts of the city, while other
parts of the city are saved for neighborhoods and homes.
b. The Sherriff arrested teenagers for spray painting bad words on buildings.
29. Do you get a chance to talk more and have influence in classes with MORE STUDENTS or LESS
STUDENTS? ______________________ Why?
30. Which AREA listed below has less people that live in that area?
a. In the nation
b. In your state
c. In your local area
31. If the government is very similar to your class, which LEVEL of government do individuals have the MOST
influence or say in?
a. National
b. State
c. Local