pols lecture 29

Cards (21)

  • Municipal corporation
    Legal status of a city
  • City charter
    Document that grants power of self-government to an incorporated community and determines the structure and powers of the city government
  • City charter
    • what it may or may not do
    • Like a "mini-constitution"
  • Types of municipal charters
    • Special act
    • General act/law
    • Home rule
  • Special act charter
    Specific charter for one community granted directly by the state
  • General act/law charter
    Legislature defines size at which an area can choose to incorporate, "one-size-fits-all" city
  • Home rule charter
    Local community adopts own form of government, voter approval required for adoption
  • Home rule cities
    • Have inherent powers not granted by state constitution or laws
    • May exercise those powers not forbidden by their charters or by the state
  • Types of cities in Texas
    • General law cities
    • Home rule cities
  • General law cities
    Smaller cities with limited powers of self-government, state law defines powers and duties
  • Home rule cities
    Cities of over 5,000 may adopt charter, have "full power of self-government"
  • Advantages of home rule
    • Reduced legislative interference in city affairs
    • State legislature can focus on state affairs
    • Democracy, citizen participation, and choice
    • May choose form of government and local administration
    • More control over local government policies
  • Disadvantages of home rule
    • Frequent amendment of charter can lead to perception of instability
    • Fragmentation of public policy, "a patchwork of local laws"
    • Local interest groups may have more influence
    • Longer ballots
  • Forms of municipal government

    • Commission
    • Town meeting and representative town meeting
    • Council-manager
    • Mayor-council
  • Commission form of government

    Elected commissioners form small governing board with nominal mayor who presides, combined executive and legislative functions
  • Town meeting form of government
    Found largely in New England, a form of direct democracy where all voters decide policy
  • Council-manager form of government
    Attempts to separate political and administrative functions, elected council makes policy and sets budget, council appoints city manager to carry out city business
  • Mayor-council form of government
    Common in larger cities, may be best at dealing with problems of major urban areas, both strong and weak sub-forms
  • Strong mayor-council form
    • Separation of powers, council is legislative, mayor is chief executive with veto power and considerable formal powers
  • Weak mayor-council form
    • Council has legislative and executive authority, mayor has little power outside council, mayor has ceremonial, figurehead role
    • No veto
  • Great variation across U.S. communities in charters, extent of municipal powers, organization and form of local government, and the specific ordinances that govern local affairs