Government

The City of Jacksonville is a Home-Rule Council-Manager form of government. The City of Jacksonville has a five-member city council Mayor and four Council-members. Council-members are elected for two years terms, without term limits. There are four Council districts in Jacksonville.  The Mayor is elected city wide and is limited to three -two-year terms. Jacksonville City Council is a stable organization and politically is very stable. The City Council works as a cohesive unit working together setting the vision and policies for the city. More information about the Jacksonville Government style can be found in the City Ordinances Article 1 Section 1-18.

According to the International City Management Association, the council-manager "combines the strong political leadership of elected official with the strong managerial experience of an appointed manager or administrator. All power and authority to set policy rests with an elected governmental body, which includes a Mayor or Chairperson and members of the council, commission, or board. The governing body in turn hires a non-partisan manager who has very broad authority to run the organization".

According to the International City Management Association, the council-manager "combines the strong political leadership of elected official with the strong managerial experience of an appointed manager or administrator. All power and authority to set policy rests with an elected governmental body, which includes a Mayor or Chairperson and members of the council, commission, or board. The governing body in turn hires a non-partisan manager who has very broad authority to run the organization".

Sec. 2. - Form of Government

The municipal government provided by this charter shall be and shall be known as the "council-manager government." Pursuant to its provisions and subject only to the limitations imposed by the state constitution, the state laws, and by this charter, all powers of the city shall be vested in and exercised by an elected council, hereinafter referred to as the "city council," which shall enact all local legislation, adopt budgets, determine policies, and appoint the city manager, who shall execute the laws and administer the government of the city. All powers of the city shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by this charter, or, if the manner is not prescribed, then in such manner as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution.

Sec. 4. - General Powers

The city shall have all the powers granted to municipal corporations and to cities by the constitution and laws of the State of Texas, together with all the implied powers necessary to carry into execution such granted powers. The city may acquire property within or without its corporate limits for any municipal purposes in fee simple or any lesser interest or estate, by purchase, gift, devise, lease or condemnation; and may sell, lease, mortgage, hold, manage and control such property as its interests may require; and, except as prohibited by the constitution of this state or restricted by this charter, the city shall and may exercise all municipal powers, functions, rights, privileges, and immunities of every name and nature whatsoever. The city may use a corporate seal; may sue and be sued; may contract and be contracted with; may implead and be impleaded in all courts and places and in all matters whatever; may cooperate with the government of the State of Texas or any agency thereof, the federal government or any agency thereof, or any political subdivision of the State of Texas, to accomplish any lawful purpose for the advancement of the interest, welfare, health, morals, comfort, safety and convenience of the city or its inhabitants; and may pass such ordinances as may be expedient for maintaining and promoting peace, welfare, and government for the city, and for the performance of the functions thereof. The enumeration of particular powers by this charter shall not be deemed to be exclusive; and in addition to the powers enumerated therein or implied thereby, or appropriate to the exercise of such powers, it is intended that the city shall have, and may exercise, all powers of local self-government, and all powers enumerated in chapter 13, title 28, Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas, of 1925 [Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., art. 1165 et seq.], and the acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, now or hereafter enacted, or any other powers, which, under the constitution and laws of the State of Texas, it would be competent for this charter to enumerate; and also such further powers as may hereafter be granted under the constitution and laws of the State of Texas.