Assignment:
Local Control in Texas. A nalyze the concept and consequences of local control in Texas, using current examples of local control issues.
Activity for Assessment: Who has the control?
Texas is a small-government state. Its politicians, of all stripes, bemoan the intrusion of the federal government, yet the 84th legislature acted to impose its will on local government in a number of areas.
Read:
1. TexasVox: The Voice of Public Citizen in Texas: https://www.texasvox.org/tag/local-control/
2. Liberty trumps local control By Matt Rinaldi: https://www.tribtalk.org/2015/03/12/liberty-trumps-local-control/
Discuss the issue of Local Control from both sides. What are the arguments for and against local control?
Is it hypocritical for the state government to impose its will on the policies?
Choose one issue below, and explore how local control has been handled by state government.
Fracking
Sanctuary Cities
Non-discrimination ordinances (e.g., Houston's HERO)
Zoning
Red Light Cameras
Plastic bags