About
Take Action
News & Events
Contact

ES

September 3, 2025

Week 3: How well do you know our town government?

Greenwich is holding local elections this fall to elect town leaders. How well do you know how our local government works? Test your knowledge in this ten part series

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Show previous

Include questions from previous weeks

and VALUE: CALC:

What do you call the chief executive of Greenwich?

1. What do you call the chief executive of Greenwich?

A. Mayor
B. First Selectman
C. Town Manager
D. Alderman

B

The term “First Selectman” originates from the New England town meeting system of governance, where a board of selectmen is the primary administrative body.

What do you call the other members of the town executive body?

2. What do you call the other members of the town executive body?

A. City council
B. Board of Aldermen
C. Board of Selectmen
D. Board of Commissioners

C

Derived from early New England town government, where “Selectmen” refers to the practice of voters “selecting” individuals deemed capable of managing town affairs.

How many people serve on the Board of Selectmen?

3. How many people serve on the Board of Selectmen?

A. 6
B. 4
C. 3
D. 2

C

The Board of Selectmen includes the person who won the race for First Selectman, plus the next two highest vote getters.

How many people serve on the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET)?

4. How many people serve on the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET)?

A. 8
B. 10
C. 12
D. 14

C

The BET is composed of 12 members: six Democrats and six Republicans.

The BET is composed of six Democrats and six Republicans. What happens when there is a tie vote?

5. The BET is composed of six Democrats and six Republicans. What happens when there is a tie vote?

A. The First Selectman breaks the tie
B. The chairman of the BET can cast an extra tie-breaking vote
C. The two sides keep voting until they break the tie

B

In the event of a tie, the BET chairman gets a second or extra tie-breaking vote. Republican BET members have increasingly relied on this “extra” vote to bypass collaboration and push through unpopular cuts. The chairmanship is awarded to the party that gets the most BET votes in the town election.

What is NOT one of the purposes of the BET?

6. What is NOT one of the purposes of the BET?

A. To prepare and vote on the town budget
B. Set the local property tax “mill rate”
C. Make changes to town ordinances
D. Oversee major capital spending decisions
E. Approve grants awarded to the town
F. Approve the budget for the Board of Education

C

The BET does not make changes to town ordinances. Learn more about the functions of the BET here.

How many members serve on the Board of Education?

7. How many members serve on the Board of Education?

A. 5
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8

D

The BOE consists of 8 members: 4 Democrats and 4 Republicans, who each serve 4 year terms that are staggered. In every municipal election, two members from each party are elected.

How is the chair of the Board of Education selected?

8. How is the chair of the Board of Education selected?

A. By a majority vote of the Board of Education members
B. By the schools superintendent
C. By the Board of Selectmen
D. By the PTAs

A

The BOE appoints its own chair, although if the BOE is deadlocked on their choice for more than 30 days, the Board of Selectmen can appoint their own choice for the chair position.

Who has the authority to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education?

9. Who has the authority to fill a vacancy on the Board of Education?

A. The members of the Board of Education
B. The schools superintendent
C. The Board of Selectmen
D. The PTAs

A

According to state law, any vacancy on the BOE shall be filled by a vote of the remaining members of the Board, as soon as feasible.

Your Results

Your Results

Total

$0.00

Did you enjoy this quiz? Sign up for the newsletter!

Name *

Email *

GDTC on Facebook
GDTC on Instagram
Bluesky

GET THE NEWSLETTER:

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Email

Email *

Greenwich Democratic Town Committee
P.O. Box 126
Greenwich, CT 06836
contact@greenwichdemocrats.org

Privacy Policy

Paid for by Greenwich Democratic Town Committee, Jeffrey Bardos, Treasurer