<P> Texas does not have townships; areas within a county are either incorporated or unincorporated . Incorporated areas are part of a city, though the city may contract with the county for needed services . Unincorporated areas are not part of a city; in these areas the county has authority for law enforcement and road maintenance . Their local ordinances, rules, and police regulations are usually codified in a "code of ordinances". </P> <P> Cities are classified as either "general law" or "home rule". A city may elect home rule status (i.e., draft an independent city charter) once it exceeds 5,000 population and the voters agree to home rule . Otherwise, it is classified as general law and has very limited powers . Larger cities (those exceeding 225,000) have a unique authority: that of "limited annexation", whereby an adjoining area may be annexed for purposes of imposing city ordinances related to safety and building codes . The residents can vote for mayor and council races but cannot vote in bond elections (and, consequently, the city cannot directly collect city sales tax from businesses or city property tax from owners). </P> <P> Municipal elections in Texas are nonpartisan in the sense that candidates do not appear on the ballot on party lines, and do not run as party tickets . However, a candidate's party affiliation is usually known or can be discerned with minimal effort (as the candidate most likely has supported other candidates on partisan tickets). </P> <P> In addition to cities and counties, Texas has numerous special districts . As with municipal elections in Texas, board members or trustees are elected on a nonpartisan basis or may be appointed . </P>

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