FORMS OF GOVERNMENT AND CHARTERS
OF
THE CITY OF DALLAS

(Historical)

(1)   Session Laws, Vol. 2, page 1399. The act establishing Dallas as county seat.

(2)   Session Laws, Vol. 4, page 361.

   (A)   Incorporation of Dallas, February 2, 1856.

   (B)   Type of government: Mayor and six aldermen, treasurer, recorder and constable, all elected for one year.

   (C)   Power to levy tax on all persons and property, but tax not to exceed one-fourth of one percent ad valorem on such property.

(3)   Session Laws, Vol. 4, page 941.

   (A)   Incorporation of Dallas under the General Incorporation Act of January 27, 1858--adopted by the people June 30, 1858.

   (B)   Type of government: Mayor and marshal, and nine aldermen, all elected for one year.

   (C)   Power to levy tax on persons and property not to exceed 50 cents on the $100 in any one year.

(4)   Session Laws, Vol. 6, page 1294.

   (A)   Incorporation of Dallas, April 20, 1871. (Reincorporation)

   (B)   Type of government: Mayor and eight aldermen, marshal and assessor and collector all elected. Aldermen term was two years; mayor, marshal and assessor and collector term was one year.

   (C)   Power to levy tax on all property in the city not to exceed four-tenths of one percent ad valorem - Section 29.

(5)   Session Laws, Vol. 8, page 485.

   (A)   Incorporation of Dallas under General Incorporation Laws March 15, 1875; adopted April 27, 1875. (Reincorporation)

   (B)   Type of government: Mayor and eight aldermen, treasurer, assessor and collector, secretary, city attorney, marshal and city engineer; two year term, but one aldermen and mayor elected annually.

   (C)   Power to levy tax not to exceed one percent provided, that by consent of two-thirds of the qualified voters the council may levy an additional tax of not exceeding one percent.

(6)   Session Laws, Vol. 8, page 1259.

   (A)   Incorporation of Dallas, August 9, 1876.

   (B)   Type of government: Mayor and two aldermen from each ward (probably still four wards thus have eight aldermen), marshal, city recorder, city secretary, treasurer, city attorney, assessor and collector and city engineer--all elected for two years.

   (C)   Power to levy tax on all real and personal property in city not to exceed 1-1/2 percent of the assessed value; provided city council could levy an additional one percent on the assessed value if a majority under Section 3 of Article 6 of the State Constitution shall have first voted in favor of such additional levy.

(7)   Charter of 1889.

   (A)   Type of government: Mayor, city judge and two aldermen from each ward to be elected biennially (12 wards), also elected tax collector, city assessor and chief of police.

   (B)   Power to levy tax not to exceed 1-1/2 percent provided, council can lay an additional one percent if authorized by two-thirds of the voters.

   (C)   Power to levy school tax aggregate not to exceed one-fourth of one percent ad valorem.

   (D)   Schools under board of directors (mayor and one member from each ward).

   (E)   SB 259 of March 13, 1889; HB 676 of March 18, 1893, and HB 339 of March 13, 1889.

(8)   Charter of 1897.

   (A)   Type of government: Mayor and one alderman from each ward, city assessor, chief of police, health officer; president and six members of the board of education--all elected for one year.

   (B)   Power to levy tax not exceeding 1-1/2 percent provided an additional one percent can be levied if authorized by two-thirds of voters.

   (C)   Power to levy school tax aggregate not to exceed one-fourth of one percent ad valorem.

(9)   Charter of 1899.

   (A)   Type of government: Mayor, one alderman from each ward and one alderman from each aldermanic district (10 wards and five aldermanic districts maximum).

   (B)   Power to levy tax not exceeding 1-1/2 percent, provided council can levy an additional one percent if authorized by two-thirds of the voters.

   (C)   Power to levy school tax aggregate not to exceed one-fourth of one percent ad valorem.

(10)   Printed Charter of 1899 with amendments down to and including 1905.

(11)   Charter of 1907.

   (A)   Type of government: Commission form, mayor and four commissioners for term of two years.

   (B)   Power to levy tax not exceeding 1-1/2 per centum of assessed value provided, can levy an additional tax of one percent or any fraction thereof if authorized by a majority of the voters.

   (C)   Power to levy school tax--one-fourth of one percent.

   (D)   President and six members of school board elected biennially.

(12)   Council-manager form of government; 1907 Charter with amendments up to and including 1927 was amended in 1931 to set up council-manager form of government. The Charter amendments of 1945, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1956, 1965, 1968, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1989 (portions precleared by the United States Justice Department), 1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2014 are also included herein.