1. Local Government in Texas
Municipal Systems 1:
Cities

2. The Unitary State
In unitary states, authority flows generally downward
Citizens elect state gov’t
States develop and administer policy either
Directly to citizens,
Or indirectly through counties
These policies are generally uniform throughout the state: the ‘general law’
Another system to develop and administer policy specific to individual communities:
Municipal government
Cities
Special Districts
Central Government
County A
County B
County C
City SD SD
City
City
City
Citizens
Citizens
Citizens

3. Classes of Cities in Texas
General Law cities
Equivalent to unincorporated towns and townships in other states
Typically cities with populations under 5000
No city charter
Structure established by the Local Government Code
Only state and federal taxes apply
Unable to provide most municipal services
Number of General Law Cities in Texas: 895

4. Structure of General Law Cities
Resident Voters
Mayor
Board of Aldermen
Appointed City Offices
Public Works
Officer
City Secretary
Municipal Judge
Municipal Court Clerk
Chief of Police
Assistant Secretary
For Utilities

5. Classes of Cities in Texas
Home-Rule cities
Population > 5000
Defined by a city charter
The constitution of a municipal government
Structure of municipal government
Modes of election and appointment
Modes of ordinance
Jurisdictional boundaries
How to get a city charter
Residents of GL city assemble a charter committee
Committee develops and submits proposal to resident voters
If approved by voters, charter sent to State Legislature and County Clerk
Recognized by the Texas Legislature
Lays and collects municipal taxes
Provides municipal services
Number of Home-Rule cities in Texas: 315

6. Types of Home Rule Charter
Mayor-Administrator
Mayor-Council
Strong Mayor
Weak Mayor
Council-Manager
City Commission

7. Appointed City Offices
Mayor-Administrator
Resident Voters
The simplest form of municipal government
Exceedingly rare
Places most city power in one set of hands
Citizens elect mayor
Mayor appoints a city administrator
City administrator appoints city officers
Mayor
Appointed City Offices
City Administrator
Police Chief
Municipal Judge
City
Clerk
Fire Chief
Public Works

8. Appointed City Offices
Weak Mayor-Council
City Charter variant of the General Law structure
City council elected by voters
At-large
By Place
By Precinct
Mayor may be directly elected by voters or
Elected by city council among their members
Mayor and city council choose city offices
Resident Voters
Mayor
City Council
Appointed City Offices
Municipal Judge
City Secretary
Chief of Police
City Attorney
Municipal Court Clerk
Public Works
Officer
Fire Chief

9. Appointed City Offices
Strong Mayor-Council
Municipal structure resembling the separation of powers principle in the federal government
Mayor has strong executive powers
Usually strong appointment power
May have veto power over city ordinances
May have initiative power
Fairly uncommon in Texas
Houston largest Texas city with a Strong Mayor government
Resident Voters
Mayor
City Council
Appointed City Offices
Police Chief
Municipal Court
City
Secretary
Fire Chief
Public Works

10. Council-Manager Most common city charter in Texas
Resident Voters
Most common city charter in Texas
Citizens elect City Council
Citizens may elect a Mayor
Mayor serves as city council chair
Council appoints a city manager and a few other offices
City manager typically an MPA
City manager serves as actual chief executive
Appoints most city offices
City Council (may include Mayor)
Appointed by
City Council
Municipal court
City
Manager
City Attorney
City Auditor
Appointed by
City Manager
Other city offices
City Secretary

12. Public Works Commissioner
City Commission
Resident Voters
Police Commissioner
Fire Commissioner
Public Works Commissioner
City
Secretary
Municipal Court
Originally developed in Galveston
hurricane of 1900 killed up to 10,000
¾ of Galveston destroyed
Commission charter developed to rebuild the city
Municipal equivalent of a plural executive
All major city offices directly elected in at-large elections
Abandoned by Galveston in 1919
Turf battles
Lack of coordination among departments
Commissions still found outside Texas
Some Texas cities call their councils ‘commissions’ but are not true commissions