Texas is one of 39 states to follow the so-called “Dillon’s Rule” for at least some of its local governments. The rule makes clear that municipalities are subordinate to state government. The Texas constitution also specifies that even home-rule cities can’t pass ordinances that contradict state law.
Q. Which governments are most common in Texas?
The most common form of county government is the commission system. Under this structure, an elected commission, which generally consists of a small number of commissioners, serves as the governing body within the county, performing all legislative and executive functions.
Table of Contents
Q. Can Texas counties pass laws?
Counties in Texas have limited regulatory (ordinance) authority. Counties also have much less legal power than home rule municipalities. They cannot pass ordinances (local laws with penalties for violations) like cities can.
Q. Do cities have their own laws?
Cities and counties have only those legislative powers that are expressly granted to them by their state’s constitution or laws. The constitution further states that ordinances passed by home rule charter cities and counties take precedence over conflicting state laws as to local affairs.
Q. What states are home rule?
Home rule and Dillon’s Rule states
| State | Home Rule State? | Dillon’s Rule State? |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Yes | No |
| Arizona | Yes | Yes |
| Arkansas | Limited | Yes |
| California | Yes | Yes |
Q. Who runs a city?
In the strong-mayor form of government, the mayor is the city’s chief executive. The city manager position does not exist. The closest equivalent is deputy mayor. Even in this form of government, the mayor is still an elected official.
Q. What is the general law?
Legal Definition of general law : a law that is unrestricted as to time, is applicable throughout the entire territory subject to the power of the legislature that enacted it, and applies to all persons in the same class. — called also general act, general statute.
Q. What is common law based on?
Common law is a body of unwritten laws based on legal precedents established by the courts. Common law influences the decision-making process in unusual cases where the outcome cannot be determined based on existing statutes or written rules of law.
