Week 2: How well do you know our town government?

Show previous

Include questions from previous weeks

What do you call the chief executive of Greenwich?

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?

serve the Show

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?

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 approve 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.

Your Results

Total

$0.00

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

Name

Email