Title

An Analysis of Texas Home Rule Charters

Document Type

Research Report

Comments


An Applied Research Project (Political Science 5397) Submitted to the Department of Political Science, Texas State University, in Partial Fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Public Administration, Summer 2008.
Faculty Approval:
Dr. Patricia Shields
Dr. Kay Hofer
Ms. Micky Autry, MPA

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this Applied Research Project is two-fold. The first is a description of the content of current Texas home rule charters. The second is a description of what changes, if any, have occurred in that content since Blodgett’s 1994 monograph.

Method: The research method is a hybrid approach combining surveys and content analysis in order to determine how local government is structured within Texas home rule charters. Survey questionnaire/coding sheets are sent out to the 340 currently existing home rule cities in Texas which are then used to review their content for a determination of what, if any, changes have occurred in home rule structure since 1994.

Findings: Overall findings reveal forms of government remain relatively unchanged since Blodgett’s 1994 survey. However, certain aspects of those forms have changed. Generally, there is a trend towards requiring more unanimity in city council decisions, an increase in term limit requirements, and increased mandatory capital budget requirements.