Poltics

Home Rule Cities

is the right of citizens at the grassroots level to manage their own affairs with minimum interference from the state. Home rule assumes that governmental problems should be solved at the lowest possible level closest to the people.

Texas Constitution and Texas Legislature grants them

Muncipalities only have as much power as the what grants them??

Creatures

Muncipalities, countries and special districts are ____ what to the state?

Muncipalities

The relationship between the State and local Governments take the form of a unitary system of Government. Municipalities, counties, and special districts are creatures of the state and have only as much power as the Texas Constitution and Texas Legislature grant them.

General Law Cities

incorporated Communities with 5,000 population or less and are limited in the subject matter they may legislate. A general law city's form of government is determined by state law General law cities cannot annex new areas to their city Thus they do not have Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ)

Council Manager Form of Government

Council is elected at-large in non-partisan elections and hires and fires a city manager. The city manager is in charge of preparing budget, planning, hire and fire of departments and city council only attends to policy making. Mayor is usually elected from among the council members by that body, as in San Antonio before 1975.

unilateral annexation, initiative, referendum, recall.

Example of powers inherent to home rule cities include

annex

General law cities cannot what?? to their new areas to their city

5,000 population

General law cities incorporate communities how many population?

governmental authority, form of government, qualifications and duties of elected and chief appointed officials, and election procedures.

Home Rule Cities can write their own city governing charter which includes?

Wards/Districts

In a strong mayor council the council is usaluuy elected by who??

Independently

In a strong mayor council the mayor is elected how??

Strong Mayor Council

Mayor is elected independently and has absolute veto power over council decisions, prepares budget-, has planning power, and hires and fires department heads. Council is usually elected by wards/districts.

Weak Mayor Council

Mayor is elected independently but does not prepare budget, has not planning power, does not hire or fire, and can have veto overturned by council

Commission Form of Government

Originated in 1900 tidal wave disaster of Galveston. Each commissioner is in charge of particular departments, such as fire and police, finance, recreation, etc. Sometimes has mayor elected as well as in San Antonio before 1951

Department heads

Strong Mayor council can hire and fire

Strong Mayor Council Weak Mayor Council Commission Form Of Government Council Manager form of government

What are forms of Municipal Government?

General Law Cities Home Rule Cities

What are the types of muncipalities?

General law city

What is a form of government that is determined by state law?