What is a general law city that does NOT have a home-rule charter?

What is a general law city that does NOT have a home-rule charter?

• A. A city with population less than 5,000
• B. A city with population exactly 5,000
• C. A city with population under 5,000
• D. A city with population over 5,000

Answer: (D)

In Texas, whether a city is general-law or home-rule depends on charter status and population. A city becomes a home-rule city when it has adopted a home-rule charter and has a population of 5,000 or more. If a city has not adopted a home-rule charter, it remains a general-law city, even if its population is above that threshold. That’s why a city with population over 5,000 can be considered a general-law city without a home-rule charter: it has reached the population level that could support a charter, but it hasn’t adopted one. The other population options either describe situations where charter status would be clear (under 5,000 is typically general-law, and exact 5,000 is the eligibility point but not itself proof of a charter) or don’t convey the lack of a charter as directly. Thus, the best description given is a city with population over 5,000 that has not adopted a home-rule charter.

In Texas, whether a city is general-law or home-rule depends on charter status and population. A city becomes a home-rule city when it has adopted a home-rule charter and has a population of 5,000 or more. If a city has not adopted a home-rule charter, it remains a general-law city, even if its population is above that threshold.

That’s why a city with population over 5,000 can be considered a general-law city without a home-rule charter: it has reached the population level that could support a charter, but it hasn’t adopted one. The other population options either describe situations where charter status would be clear (under 5,000 is typically general-law, and exact 5,000 is the eligibility point but not itself proof of a charter) or don’t convey the lack of a charter as directly. Thus, the best description given is a city with population over 5,000 that has not adopted a home-rule charter.