Assignment
SLO #3: Local Control in Texas. 70% of students will successfully analyze 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: https://www.texasvox.org/tag/local-control/ [this is a pro-local control Texas interest group. Read their page, and see what they believe]
https://www.tribtalk.org/2015/03/12/liberty-trumps-local-control/ [this is an op-ed by Rep. Matt Rinaldi, on why state control over local ordinances upholds liberty]
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