Local Governments

Types of Local Governments

Chapter 30

Section 1

Local Governments at Work

Services

Police protection

Garbage collection

Water & sewer services

Education

Fire protection

3 types of local government

City

County

Special districts

Two Kinds of City Governments

• General-Law City– Population of less than 5,000

– Function under general laws of Texas

– Provide basic services (police, fire, water, & sewer)

• Home-Rule City– Has the freedom to govern unless prohibited by state or

federal laws

– Increase tax base through annexation of nearby land

Organizations of City Governments

• Mayor-Council– Gives mayor executive authority– Strong-mayor city – mayor responsible for day-

to-day operation, hiring/firing department heads, vetoing city council actions (i.e., Houston and El Paso)

– Weak-mayor city – mayor shares administrative duties with the city council

Organizations of City Governments

• Council-Manager– Generally home-rule– Mayor has less power – presiding over council

meetings and having only one vote– Dallas and San Antonio– Hire a professional city manager to handle day-

to-day affairs and prepare the city budget

Organizations of City Governments

• Commission– Voters elect commissioners to operate the

government– Serve as city council – but each member is head

of a department– Mayor has little power – presides over meetings

and acts as spokesperson– Least common form of government in Texas– Galveston and Sweetwater

City Governments Need Funds

• Property tax – most important; paid by owners of homes, land, and businesses– Financial worth of property

determined by tax assessors

• Sales tax• Fees for services (garbage

collection)• Building permits • Fines for traffic violations

• Spend $– Fire and police

departments, Jail maintenance, Parks, Streets, Sanitation, Animal shelters, Recycling, Museums, Bridges, Libraries, and Airports

• Issue bonds – certificates that guarantee payment plus interest

County Government

• Commissioners Court– Responsible for determining county budget

– Setting property-tax

– Deciding how tax monies are spent

– Do not conduct trials

– Make policies and direct county business

• Texas divided into 4 precincts that elect one commissioner

• Serve four-year terms

• Headed by the county judge

• See page 659

County Commissioner

Ed Chance

Precinct 3

County Officials

• Commissioner – make policies and direct county business

• County Judge – head of commissioner court, judge of the county

• Sheriff – county’s chief law-enforcement officer

• County Attorney – legal advisor; represents county in criminal cases

• County Clerk – maintains records of county courts

• District Clerk – keeps records of state district courts

• Treasurer – county banker

• Tax Assessor – collects property taxes

• Justice of the Peace – hears minor criminal/civil cases

• Constable – serves official papers issued by courts

Montgomery County Officials

Judge Adam Sadler

Financing County Governments

• Property taxes – Real estate (buildings and lands)– Personal automobiles and airplanes

• Bonds – pay for long-term projects

• Fees for permits

• Fuel tax

• Fee for vehicle registration

Special Districts• Created to meet a specific need

– School districts– Rapid transit authorities– Municipal utility districts– River authorities

• School districts the most common type (get $ from federal, state, and local funds)– Hire teachers– Set salaries– Provide transportation to and from school– Make school policies– Maintain school buildings

Local Governments

Participating in Government

Chapter 30

Section 2

Democratic Principles

• Citizens should govern themselves• Right and duty to supports democratic

government• 3 important beliefs

– Needs and opinions of citizens are important– Citizens have different needs, values, and

experiences– Citizens should participate in government

Individual Participation• Learn about government

– TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, talking to people

• Voting qualifications– 18 years of age– U.S. citizen– Read and write– Register 30 days prior to election– Resident of county

• Volunteer– City cleanup campaigns– Read to children at libraries– Answer phones at crisis hot lines

Running for Political Office

• Any Texans who wants to serve as an elected official must campaign to win voter supports

• Some receive salaries, but others donate their time

Political Parties in Texas

• Primary elections – candidates from same party compete against each other

• General elections – 1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November in even-numbered years

• Special elections – fill vacancies in legislature, city councils or school boards; approve bonds

• Local elections – elect city council members, mayor, school board members – usually nonpartisan (candidates not with any particular political party)

Political Parties in Texas

• Political party functions– Nominate people to run for public office– Encourage volunteers to campaign– Conduct voter registration drives– Watchdogs – keep track of the other parties

• Democratic Party – use to dominant Texas• Republican Party – won the last few

elections

Special Interest Groups

• Organizations of people who share a common interest and seek to exert influence over a particular aspect of government

• Racial and ethnic groups promote political, economic, and social equality

• Texas League of Women’s Voters • Sierra Club – maintain clean air and water• L.U.L.A.C. – Hispanic civil rights• N.A.A.C.P. – African American civil rights

Directly Influencing Government

• Elect officials that agree with own views

• Purchase advertisement on radio, TV, and newspaper

• Hold public events to share their views and opinions

• Lobbying – persuade government leaders to favor certain causes