What is Home Rule?

Home Rule is the privilege citizens have at the grass roots level to manage their own governmental affairs with minimal interference from the State. Home Rule assumes that government issues should be solved at the level closest to the people.

The City of Garden Ridge is currently a General Law City governed by the laws of the State of Texas. Since the City has grown to over 5,000 inhabitants, the Texas Constitution allows the City to establish its own rules for municipal government by adopting a Home Rule Charter. The City would still be subject to statutory and Constitutional constraints, but the powers available to the City through the Charter would be greatly expanded up to the limits set in the Charter, not by State law.

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1. What is Home Rule?
2. What is the Difference between Home Rule Cities and General Law Cities?
3. What is a City Charter?
4. What is the Charter Commission?
5. How would changing to Home Rule affect me?
6. Are there disadvantages to changing to Home Rule?
7. What are the Major Provisions of the City Charter for Garden Ridge?
8. What is Recall, Initiative, and Referendum?
9. When is Early Voting?
10. When is Election Day?