2. Local Politics in Context
Cities, counties, and special districts (the grassroots
governments) are limited in their effectiveness by the state’s
antiquated constitution, which was written for a rural
environment.
Local Governments and Federalism
Local governments are the units of government that actually
deliver the services thought necessary by most Texans for the
quality of their daily lives: drinking water, transportation, police
and fire protection, public education, and the like.
Local governments may receive part of their money from the
state or national governments, and they must obey the laws and
constitutions of both.
3. Local Politics in Context
Grassroots Challenges
Local governments are facing increasingly diverse challenges while
becoming increasingly diverse themselves.
Law Enforcement Issues
Controversies over public schools
Decaying infrastructures
Equal access to public services
Citizens have many opportunities to participate in local government,
but few actually take part.
Most citizens see local government as less important than national
government.
However, 80% of all Texans reside in cities and have immediate concerns
pertaining to local government
5. Municipal Governments
Whether taxing residents, arresting criminals, collecting
garbage, providing public libraries, or repairing streets,
municipalities determine how millions of Texans live.
Legal Status of Municipalities
The powers of municipal government are outlined and restricted
by municipal charters, state and national constitutions, and
statutes.
Local voters must decide the legal designation of their city.
6. Municipal Governments
Legal Status of Municipalities
General-Law Cities
A community with a population of 201 or more may become a general-
law city by adopting a charter prescribed by a general law enacted by
the Texas Legislature.
Limited to governmental structures and powers specifically granted by
state law and the Texas Legislature
May exercise powers only expressly granted to it
May acts as the ex-officio judge of the municipal court
Unless the municipality authorizes the election of a judge by ordinance
Cannot annex adjacent unincorporated areas without the property
owner’s consent
7. Municipal Governments
Legal Status of Municipalities
Home-Rule Cities
Cities with a population of greater than 5,000 may, by majority vote of
their residents, adopt, amend, or repeal a locally drafted charter.
Flexibility
Every home-rule city may determine its own form and powers of city
government, with more flexibility of taxing powers, as long as it does not violate
state laws or the constitution.
Management
Home-rule cities are better able to cope with their own particular problems.
Home-rule cities may exercise three powers not held by the state government:
recall, initiative, and referendum.
Can also set procedures for passing and repealing ordinances
Can annex adjacent unincorporated property without consent
Must provide essential services for at least 3 years
8. Municipal Governments
Forms of Municipal Government
Strong Mayor-Council
This form of municipal government provides for a centralized
authority to manage the complex problems of urban areas.
An elected legislative body (council) and an executive head (mayor) are
elected in a citywide election with veto, appointment, and removal
powers
Most of the nation’s largest cities use this form of local
government.
However, only Houston and El Paso, among Texas’s largest
cities, have adopted variations of it.
9. Municipal Governments
Forms of Municipal Government
Strong Mayor-Council
Characteristics of cities operating under this form
Council composed of members elected from single-member districts
Mayor elected at large, with power to appoint or remove department
heads
Budgetary power exercised by the mayor, subject to council approval
before the budget may be implemented
A mayor with the power to veto council actions
11. Municipal Governments
Forms of Municipal Government
Weak Mayor-Council
In this system, the mayor is one of several city executives
responsible to the electorate.
Mayor and council are elected separately, but the mayor shares appointive
and removal powers with the council, which can override the mayor’s veto
None of the ten largest cities in Texas uses this form of municipal
government.
Once popular in smaller communities throughout the nation, it is now
being abandoned because of the diffuse executive structure.
Conroe (Pop. 55,000) still uses this form
The more power centers there are, the more difficult problem solving
becomes.
12. Municipal Governments
Forms of Municipal Government
Council-Manager
This form of municipal government has become the most popular
among home-rule cities in Texas since it appeared in 1913.
Over 300 use this form today
The form prevails in the majority of Texas’s home-rule cities.
The council appoints a city manager to be responsible for budget
coordination, policy implementation, and managing the city’s
departments.
A separately elected mayor who presides over the council but
has no other powers may be a part of the structure.
Similar to a mayor in the Weak Mayor-Council form
13. Municipal Governments
Forms of Municipal Government
Council-Manager
In theory, the form attempts to separate policymaking from
administration
Council and mayor concern themselves with policymaking
The city manager concerns him/herself with administration and day-to-
day issues
Issues
Grey area in defining the line between policymaking and administration
Lack of a leader whom citizens can bring concerns
Mayor is weak, council is numerous, and the city manager is supposed to “stay
out of politics”
Typically, this form responds well to the elite and middle-class
15. Municipal Governments
Forms of Municipal Government
Commission
This form of municipal government lacks a chief executive, as
each commissioner has administrative responsibility over a
specific department.
Ex. Public Safety, Finance, Public Works, Welfare, Legal, etc.)
No Texas home-rule city currently has a pure commission form of
government, though a few general-law towns and villages have
variations on this structure.
16. Municipal Governments
Municipal Politics
Although municipal elections in Texas are nonpartisan,
politics is not eliminated from local government.
Rules Make a Difference
All city and special district elections are nonpartisan in Texas.
However, party politics is again becoming important in some city
elections.
More and more Texas cities are changing from an at-large or place
system to single-member district elections or cumulative voting.
17. Municipal Governments
Municipal Services
In the eyes of most citizens and city officials, the major job of city
government is to provide basic services that affect people’s day-
to-day lives:
police and fire protection, streets, water, sewer and sanitation, and
perhaps parks and recreation.
Municipalities also regulate important aspects of our lives,
notably zoning, construction, food service, and sanitation.
18. Municipal Governments
Municipal Government Revenue
Taxes
Cities are limited to raising funds from three tax sources:
property, occupation, and sales.
The two largest tax sources in Texas —sales and property
taxes—are limited by state law.
1 percent sales tax (collected with the state sales tax)
Cities also receive a share of some state-collected taxes.
Cities may implement a half-cent surtax on sales for a designated
function by approval of a majority of the voters.
19. Municipal Governments
Municipal Government Revenue
Fees
Cities may collect a franchise fee from various privately owned public
utilities, fees for issuing certain licenses and permits, and fees for
services provided.
TABC municipality fees, building permits, franchise fees (based on gross
receipts from telephone and cable TV companies)
Operation of electric, water, and gas utilties
Bonds
Money for capital improvements (such as construction of city
buildings or parks) and emergencies (such as flood or hurricane
damage) often must be obtained through the sale of bonds.
The Texas Constitution allows cities to issue bonds, but any bond
issue to be repaid from taxes must be approved by the voters.
20. Check my SlideShare page
(rfair07) for more lectures
Lectures posted for:
United States History before 1877 / after 1877
Texas History
United States (Federal) Government / Texas Government
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