Yo, what it is! You know what it is, it’s your man Kingmusa— and welcome to The Study Guide! I'm here to break down today's class notes and help us learn together. Today we are going over Texas Gov’t and we will be focusing on Week 7: Texas Local Government" Let's dive into our exploration of Texas Local Government. We've covered the big state and federal levels, and now we're zooming in on what's happening right in our own communities.
Key Concept of the Day:
Today, we will dissect the intricate world of Texas local governments, examining their place within the federal framework, the crucial roles and officials of county entities, the diverse structures of General Law Cities, the distinctions and similarities between General Law and Home Rule Cities, and the function of Special Districts as localized governing bodies. This week’s module explores the role of local governments within the federal system, detailing their relationship with both state and federal entities. We'll examine county governments, their structure, key officials, and functions as extensions of the state. The module also differentiates between General Law and Home Rule cities, outlining the various governmental forms within General Law cities and the unique powers afforded to Home Rule cities, such as annexation, initiative, referendum, and recall. Finally, we will delve into Special Districts, their defining characteristics, and how they address specific local needs, using Independent School Districts as a primary example.
This course aims to shed light on the role of local governments in the federal system. We’ll explore various types of local governments, such as County governments, General Law Cities, Home Rule Cities, and Special Districts. We’ll also compare and contrast General Law and Home Rule Cities. Additionally, we’ll delve into the authority of Texas local governments, which are derived from the state government. Supplemental laws like the Texas Local Government Code provide specific regulations and forms of government. Home rule cities have the power to adopt their own city charter, granting them greater autonomy. Local governments play a crucial role in implementing state and national policies and serving as intermediaries between the state and citizens. They are essentially the “arm of the state,” responsible for carrying out state directives and providing essential local services.
Understanding Texas local governments helps us see how decisions are made and services are delivered right where we live. It shows how counties support the state, how cities organize themselves, and how special districts address specific needs like schools. Knowing this empowers us to be more informed and engaged citizens at the local level.
Here are the main points:
- Texas local governments operate under a unitary system, with the state holding ultimate authority. Counties act as the state's arm, providing services like law enforcement (Sheriff), health, records (Clerk), tax collection, election administration, and infrastructure (roads/bridges). They are run by a Commissioners' Court (County Judge + 4 Commissioners).
- Cities come in two main types: General Law and Home Rule. General Law cities follow state rules and can have weak/strong mayor or council-manager systems. Home Rule cities (population > 5,000 can apply) have more freedom, create their own charters, and have unique powers like annexation, initiative, referendum, and recall. Texas has a Council-Manager System as the most common city government, except for Houston which uses a Strong Mayor System. General Law cities are categorized by population (Type A < 200, Type B 200-600, Type C historically < 200). Type B uses an Alderman system.
- Special Districts are single-purpose governments, independent from cities and counties, with their own funding and state recognition. Independent School Districts (ISDs) are a prime example, managing education within their districts through elected boards and property taxes. They are the most common type of local government in Texas.
Alright, so this week we're looking at Texas local governments – that's your cities, counties, and those special little districts. It's interesting to see how they fit into the bigger picture with the state and even the federal government. Counties are kind of like the state's helpers on the ground, taking care of things like law enforcement (that's the Sheriff!), health, records (think birth certificates and property deeds, handled by the Clerk!), tax collection, and even running elections. Then you've got cities, and they come in a couple of flavors: General Law cities, which follow a standard set of rules from the state, and Home Rule cities, which have more freedom to make their own rules. General Law cities can have different setups, like a weak mayor, a strong mayor, or a city manager. Home Rule cities? They can even decide how they want to be run and have cool powers like taking over nearby areas (annexation) and letting citizens directly propose or change laws (initiative and referendum) and even vote to remove elected officials (recall)! Lastly, we'll talk about Special Districts. Think of these as governments with a specific job, like running schools (that's your ISDs!) or handling water. They're separate from cities and counties, have their own money, and the state recognizes them.
State governments are held accountable for the actions of local governments, including implementing policies and following federal laws. Law enforcement is handled by county sheriffs, who provide county-wide law enforcement, manage the county jail, and offer security for county courts. Public health is managed by counties, which monitor and ensure public health, offering services like hospitals, EMTs, and mental health services. In emergencies, they can declare disasters. Public records are maintained by counties, including vital statistics, land records, tax assessments, and court records, which become public records after a certain period. Tax collection is handled by counties, who assess and collect property taxes, making it easier for citizens and distributing funds to local governments. Election administration is overseen by counties, from voter registration to result certification, ensuring a smooth and accountable process. Infrastructure management is the responsibility of counties, who are tasked with building and maintaining county roads and bridges, which are crucial for local governance. The county government structure in Texas consists of a Commissioner’s Court with five members, a county judge, and four county commissioners. The Commissioner’s Court manages the county budget, tax rate, employee salaries, and oversees economic development in unincorporated areas. The county judge serves as the presiding officer of the Commissioner’s Court, manages emergency services, and oversees elections. The county’s law enforcement is now in the hands of newly elected sheriffs. They’ll be in charge of keeping the peace, managing the county jail, and handling legal matters.
Constables work for Justice of the Peace Courts, handling things like subpoenas, warrants, and legal notices. Sheriffs and constables are elected officials; sheriffs serve the whole county, while constables work in specific areas. County attorneys handle misdemeanor crimes in county courts and represent the state, while district attorneys deal with felony crimes in district courts and also represent the state. Clerks take care of records, including important documents like birth certificates, property deeds, court records, and election results. Tax assessors and collectors figure out how much property is taxable, collect the taxes, and distribute the money to local governments. Texas cities are either General Law Cities or Home Rule Cities. In General Law Cities, the Texas Local Government Code sets the rules for their structure, elections, and government type based on how many people live there. Mayors have some power in the Weak Mayor System, mostly focused on the city budget, but they also have a lot of executive power, like the power to say no to City Council decisions. In the Strong Mayor System, the mayor has more power, while the City Council is like the legislature. In the Council-Manager System, the mayor’s role is mostly ceremonial. In the Weak Mayor System, both the City Council and mayor have equal power, so they have to work together to make decisions. In the Strong Mayor System, the mayor has more power, and the City Council is just there to make the rules. In the Council-Manager System, the City Council makes the rules, and the City Manager makes sure they’re followed.
Texas has a Council-Manager System, which is the most common way cities are run. Most big cities in Texas use this system, except for Houston, which has a Strong Mayor System. Texas’s Local Government Code says that cities are divided into three types based on how many people live there. Type A cities have less than 200 people, Type B cities have between 200 and 600 people, and Type C cities have historically had fewer than 200 people. Type B cities have an Alderman system, where six people are elected to the council and one is the mayor. This is similar to the City Council-Mayor system. Cities with more than 5,000 people can ask to become home rule cities. If they do, they get more freedom to make their own rules and take care of their own affairs. Home-rule cities in Texas can choose their own form of government and write their own rules. This gives them more power than regular cities. Home-rule cities can also buy up areas that aren’t part of their city, which means they can collect more taxes. Citizens in home-rule cities have more control over their local government than citizens in regular cities. Citizens in home-rule cities can propose new rules for the city charter by signing a petition and voting. They can also vote to get rid of old rules that people don’t like. And they can even vote to get rid of elected officials if they don’t like what they’re doing. Texas cities can apply to become home rule cities, but most of them still stay regular cities.
Basically, Texas local government is all about how our communities are organized and run. From counties helping the state to cities making their own rules and special districts focusing on specific needs like schools, it’s a diverse landscape that directly impacts our daily lives. Understanding it helps us be better neighbors and more informed participants in our local democracy. To wrap it up, Texas local governments are essential for making sure things run smoothly at the community level. Counties serve as the state's direct link, while cities have different structures and levels of autonomy. Special Districts focus on particular needs. Understanding these different types and how they operate helps us see how services are delivered and how we can be involved in our local communities. In Texas, special districts are the most common type of local government. They’re created to fill in gaps when counties or cities can’t handle certain tasks. These districts are independent, have their own money, and are officially recognized by the state. They offer services like trash pickup, pest control, and even medical care. But here’s the catch: if you live in multiple special districts, you’ll have to pay property taxes for each one, which could add up.
Now, let’s talk about Independent School Districts (ISDs). They’re the most common type of special district in Texas. They’re responsible for providing education within their specific school district. Each district has an elected school board that’s in charge of everything from managing the school to approving the school calendar and budget, and even hiring the Superintendent. The Superintendent is the boss of the day-to-day operations, makes sure everything’s following the rules, gets involved with the community, evaluates the teachers and staff, and comes up with the school calendar and budget for the board to approve. Most of the money for ISDs comes from property taxes paid by the residents within the district, but they can also use bonds to get more funding. The school district system was created in 1883 when the Texas constitution was amended. All ISDs follow this system, which meets the third important thing about special districts. And guess what? New school districts can be created or merged based on the needs of the community.
That wraps up today’s episode of The Study Guide. Remember, we teach to learn, and I hope this has helped you understand Week 7: Texas Local Government better. Keep studying, keep learning, and keep pushing toward your academic goals. Don’t forget to follow me on all platforms @Kingmusa428 and check out more episodes at kingmusa428.com. See y’all next time!
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