Which term describes local cities with the power to pass their own laws derived from State legislation?

• A. Home Rule
• B. General Law
• C. Charter City
• D. Municipal Ordinance

Answer: (A)

Home Rule is the concept being tested. In Texas, cities that have adopted a charter and meet certain requirements gain broad authority to pass their own local ordinances and govern internal affairs, as long as those laws don’t conflict with state or federal law. This autonomy comes from the state enabling legislation and the city’s charter. General law cities, by contrast, derive their powers solely from state statutes and have more limited authority. A charter city is a type of home-rule city, but the broader term describing localities with the power to make their own laws is Home Rule. An ordinance is just the local law itself, not the descriptor of the city's governance framework.