QUIZ: How Much Do You Know About Local Government?

Quiz

It’s still summer, the weather’s still warm, and there’s still nothing better than a cold ice cream cone in the middle of a hazy afternoon—BUT, believe it or not, Election Day is just around the corner. Which must be why we’ve got voting on the brain.

We noticed something interesting while looking into the candidates and issues on the ballot this November: almost all the election coverage out there focuses on national politics, and a bit on state level politics, even though local issues could have the biggest impact on our day-to-day lives. So table the House and Senate races for a minute. How much do you know about local government? Let’s find out!

1: Who’s responsible for making sure potholes get fixed?

Oops! Please choose an answer!

The president
The mayor
Domino’s Pizza
The governor

Boom! (That’s also the sound of your wheel hitting a pothole…)

To be completely honest, this was sort of a trick question… because Domino’s actually is helping to fix potholes in some cities. For real. We live in interesting times... Potholes may seem like a trivial issue when compared to matters of global geopolitical importance, but what about when you bottom out in one on your way to work? Feels like a big deal then. We don’t turn to the president or the governor to address this sort of everyday-life stuff. We turn to somebody local: the mayor.

Oof. You steered right into one there.

To be completely honest, this was sort of a trick question… because Domino’s actually is helping to fix potholes in some cities. For real. We live in interesting times... Potholes may seem like a trivial issue when compared to matters of global geopolitical importance, but what about when you bottom out in one on your way to work? Feels like a big deal then. We don’t turn to the president or the governor to address this sort of everyday-life stuff. We turn to somebody local: the mayor.
2: Who decides whether cannabis is legal in your state?

Oops! Please choose an answer!

The governor
The mayor
The legislature
It’s complicated

You bet it is.

Recreational cannabis is legal in nine states. Our beloved Vermont just became the first state to legalize it via the legislature, and the governor signed the bill. BUT, it was legalized in the other eight states via a ballot initiative—in other words, people got to vote on whether they wanted it to be legal. The lesson? Get involved at the local level. Learn all about your own state’s process and start talking to community groups and your state representatives about how to proceed.

Close, but no cigar.

Recreational cannabis is legal in nine states. Our beloved Vermont just became the first state to legalize it via the legislature, and the governor signed the bill. BUT, it was legalized in the other eight states via a ballot initiative—in other words, people got to vote on whether they wanted it to be legal. The lesson? Get involved at the local level. Learn all about your own state’s process and start talking to community groups and your state representatives about how to proceed.
3: What kinds of powers does your local elected prosecutor have?

Oops! Please choose an answer!

The power to decide whether someone has to pay bail
The power to decide whether to prosecute someone and what to charge them with
The power to plea bargain
All of the above

You know the score.

Prosecutors are among the most powerful local elected officials, yet they often run unopposed and almost nobody really knows what they do. Prosecutors decide whether someone has to pay bail, what crime they’re charged with, how long they’ll go to jail, and much more. Mass incarceration is a complex issue, but the role of prosecutors in driving up prison populations is finally beginning to be understood. The good news is that a reform movement is underway. Read more about this—and then go vote.

They can do even more than that.

Prosecutors are among the most powerful local elected officials, yet they often run unopposed and almost nobody really knows what they do. Prosecutors decide whether someone has to pay bail, what crime they’re charged with, how long they’ll go to jail, and much more. Mass incarceration is a complex issue, but the role of prosecutors in driving up prison populations is finally beginning to be understood. The good news is that a reform movementRead more about this—and then go vote.
4: Which race should you watch if you want your city to go 100% carbon-free?

Oops! Please choose an answer!

Attorney general
State supreme court judge
Comptroller
Mayor

Yes! The earth thanks you for knowing the right answer.

President Trump made news when he pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement, but since then mayors arund the US and the world have stepped up to pledge that they will continue to work to meet and even exceed the Paris goals, with many hoping to make their cities 100% carbon-free. National politics may drive the conversation, but local action is making the difference.

Well, this was a tough one.

President Trump made news when he pulled the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement, but since then mayors around the US and the world have stepped up to pledge that they will continue to work to meet and even exceed the Paris goals, with many hoping to make their cities 100% carbon-free. National politics may drive the conversation, but local action is making the difference.
5: Questioning the policies of your local school system? Then check out the candidates for this governmental organization.

Oops! Please choose an answer!

State senate
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
Pizza Hut
School board

Clearly you’re an education expert.

No, no, please don’t be alarmed. No pizza purveyors are involved in making decisions about your school, as far as we know… OK, yes, this was a pretty easy one. But you may not realize how much power and influence your local school board has. They set the course for academics and sports. They propose building and repair projects. They negotiate with teachers’ unions. They develop the budget, which can impact your local taxes. That’s a big deal. School-board races are often WAY under the radar, but they’re worth paying attention to.

Sadly, no.

No, no, please don’t be alarmed. No pizza purveyors are involved in making decisions about your school, as far as we know… OK, yes, this was a pretty easy one. But you may not realize how much power and influence your local school board has. They set the course for academics and sports. They propose building and repair projects. They negotiate with teachers’ unions. They develop the budget, which can impact your local taxes. That’s a big deal. School-board races are often WAY under the radar, but they’re worth paying attention to.
6: Which politicians are in charge of drafting and passing state laws?

Oops! Please choose an answer!

US senators
The governor and lieutenant governor
State legislators
Planning commissioners

A round of applause, please.

Without much fanfare or acclaim, state legislators research, debate, draft, and pass legislation that has a huge influence over your daily life. In some states, like Vermont, state-legislating is only a part-time job, believe or not. But compared to Congress, state legislatures are very productive. The problem is that their work often gets less coverage than the latest Washington, DC, press conference. So: find out who your local representatives are and how they’ve voted, then make sure you get to the polls and vote too!

Valiant effort, but no.

Without much fanfare or acclaim, state legislators research, debate, draft, and pass legislation that has a huge influence over your daily life. In some states, like Vermont, state-legislating is only a part-time job, believe or not. But compared to Congress, state legislatures are very productive. The problem is that their work often gets less coverage than the latest Washington, DC, press conference. So: find out who your local representatives are and how they’ve voted, then make sure you get to the polls and vote too!
7: After taking a quiz about local government, you decide to go out and celebrate at a restaurant or a bar, but you notice that the closing time seems really early. Who decided that?

Oops! Please choose an answer!

The speaker of the state house of representatives
The chairperson of the liquor commission
The city council
The state bar association

Cheers to you!

The city council is an interesting organization that basically serves as the legislative branch of city government. They make policies (like establishing closing times) and pass laws that touch an astounding array of issues impacting your daily urban life. They handle budgets, decide which projects get funded, and generally seek to shape the overall direction of the city. Next time you’re wondering why something in your city is the way it is, look more closely at the city council. If you feel strongly enough about an issue, maybe you should run for the council yourself!

Incorrect! Time to head home.

The city council is an interesting organization that basically serves as the legislative branch of city government. They make policies (like establishing closing times) and pass laws that touch an astounding array of issues impacting your daily urban life. They handle budgets, decide which projects get funded, and generally seek to shape the overall direction of the city. Next time you’re wondering why something in your city is the way it is, look more closely at the city council. If you feel strongly enough about an issue, maybe you should run for the council yourself!

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