Layers of Government

Layers of Government

Municipal Government

Municipal governments refer to the governments of cities or towns. These governments often provide police and fire protection, garbage collection, and water and sewer services. Under the Texas Constitution, the state legislature legally establishes, or incorporates, a city government.

Multiple Choice

Municipal governments refer to the governments of

• cities or towns

• States

• nation

• federal

Municipal

Two forms of city governments are found in Texas: the mayor-council and city-manager forms. Their function is to provide government services, police and fire protection, emergency medical services (ambulances), sewers and water lines, inspection of health and sanitation rules, and zoning rules that govern what kinds of buildings may be placed in certain parts of the city. 

Open Ended

What government services does the Municipal government provide:

County Government

The 254 county governments in Texas are the local administrative supporters of the state. The structures of the county governments are the precincts.

Each precinct has a county commissioner, headed by a county judge.

County Government

County governments run elections, provide public safety, and operate jails. They maintain roads and bridges. They keep records of property deeds, births, deaths, and marriages. They also collect taxes. Some county governments provide public transportation and emergency medical services. 

Open Ended

Country governments provide:

State Government

Like the U.S. government, the Texas state government has three branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

In Texas the legislative is the most powerful branch. Like the U.S. Congress, the state legislature’s main job is to make laws.

Multiple Choice

Like the US, Texas government has ___ branches of government.

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

State Government

The structure of the Texas legislature, like the structure of the U.S. Congress, is bicameral. That means that Texas has two houses or chambers—called the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate has 31 members, and the House has 150.

Multiple Choice

Texas has two houses called the

• President and Vice President

• Congress and Cabinet

• Legislative, Judicial, and Executive

• Senate and the House of Representatives.

State Government

Each member of the legislature represents a district.

The Executive Branch or Governor is in charge of enforcing the laws. The current governor is Greg Abbott.

The Judicial consists of judges, whose job is to interpret the law.

Multiple Choice

The Executive Branch or Governor is in charge of -

• write the laws

• review the laws

• interpreting the law

• enforcing the laws

State Government

The functions of the state government is to:

maintain highways and state law enforcement, interpret and enforce laws, a prison system, and a National Guard, supports public schools, colleges, universities, and public health.