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Do not fill this in! ==Government== {{Main|Politics of Houston}} [[File:Houston City Hall in January 2012.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Houston City Hall]]]] [[File:Harris County Family Law Center.jpg|thumb|Harris County Family Law Center]]The city of Houston has a [[mayor–council government|strong mayoral]] form of municipal government.<ref name="home rule">{{cite web |title=Office of the Controller, City of Houston |work=Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/controller/cafr/cafr2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212225110/http://www.houstontx.gov/controller/cafr/cafr2.html |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Houston is a [[Home rule in the United States|home rule]] city and all municipal elections in Texas are [[Non-partisan democracy|nonpartisan]].<ref name="home rule"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government in Texas: Cities, Towns, Counties, and Special Districts |work=Politics in America, Sixth Edition |first=Thomas R. |last=Dye |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_dye_politics_6/27/7116/1821883.cw/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506115644/http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_dye_politics_6/27/7116/1821883.cw/index.html |archive-date=May 6, 2009}}</ref> The city's elected officials are the mayor, city controller and 16 members of the [[Houston City Council]].<ref name="Houston City Council">{{cite web |title=City Council |work=City of Houston eGovernment Center |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/council/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402042639/http://www.houstontx.gov/council/index.html |archive-date=April 2, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The current mayor of Houston is [[John Whitmire]], a Democrat elected on a nonpartisan ballot. Houston's mayor serves as the city's chief administrator, executive officer, and official representative, and is responsible for the general management of the city and for seeing all laws and ordinances are enforced.<ref name="Houston Mayor's Office">{{cite web |title=Mayor's Office |work=City of Houston eGovernment Center |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327030617/http://www.houstontx.gov/mayor/index.html |archive-date=March 27, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The original city council line-up of 14 members (nine district-based and five at-large positions) was based on a U.S. Justice Department mandate which took effect in 1979.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Strong Currents of Change |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=November 19, 1979 |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,948775,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505135403/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,948775,00.html |archive-date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At-large council members represent the entire city.<ref name="Houston City Council"/> Under the city charter, once the population in the city limits exceeded 2.1 million residents, two additional districts were to be added.<ref>{{cite web |title=City Council may grow by two seats, Houston Chronicle |last=Stiles |first=Matt |work=Houston Chronicle |date=August 10, 2006 |access-date=March 27, 2009 |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4168311 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712175750/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4168311 |archive-date=July 12, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The city of Houston's official 2010 census count was 600 shy of the required number; however, as the city was expected to grow beyond 2.1 million shortly thereafter, the two additional districts were added for, and the positions filled during, the August 2011 elections. The city [[comptroller|controller]] is elected independently of the mayor and council. The controller's duties are to certify available funds prior to committing such funds and processing disbursements. The city's fiscal year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. Chris Brown is the city controller, serving his first term {{as of|2016|January|lc=y}}. As the result of a 2015 referendum in Houston, a mayor is elected for a four-year term and can be elected to as many as two consecutive terms.<ref>Houston voters lengthen term limits for city officials "[http://www.chron.com/politics/election/local/article/Voters-lengthen-term-limits-for-city-officials-6609018.php] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214014257/http://www.chron.com/politics/election/local/article/Voters-lengthen-term-limits-for-city-officials-6609018.php|date=December 14, 2015}}''. Retrieved on January 10, 2015.''</ref> The term limits were spearheaded in 1991 by conservative political activist [[Clymer Wright]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7397637.html |title=Aimee Buras, "Clymer Wright, force for Houston term limits, found dead", January 25, 2011 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=January 25, 2011 |access-date=January 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129015703/http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7397637.html |archive-date=January 29, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> During 1991–2015, the city controller and city council members were subjected to a two-year, three-term limitation–the 2015 referendum amended term limits to two four-year terms. {{as of|2017}} some councilmembers who served two terms and won a final term will have served eight years in office, whereas a freshman councilmember who won a position in 2013 can serve up to two additional terms under the previous term limit law–a select few will have at least 10 years of incumbency once their term expires. Houston is considered to be a politically divided city whose balance of power often sways between [[Republican Party of Texas|Republicans]] and [[Democratic Party of Texas|Democrats]]. According to the 2005 Houston Area Survey, 68 percent of non-Hispanic whites in Harris County are declared or favor Republicans while 89 percent of non-Hispanic blacks in the area are declared or favor Democrats. About 62 percent of Hispanics (of any nationality) in the area are declared or favor Democrats.<ref name="Houston Area Survey 1982–2005">Klineberg, Stephen. [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090227010353/http://cohesion.rice.edu/CentersAndInst/HAS/emplibrary/REPORT-2005.pdf Houston Area Survey 1982–2005], Page 40.</ref> The city has often been known to be the most politically diverse city in Texas, a state known for being generally conservative.<ref name="Houston Area Survey 1982–2005"/> As a result, the city is often a contested area in statewide elections.<ref name="Houston Area Survey 1982–2005"/> In 2009, Houston became the first U.S. city with a population over 1 million citizens to elect a gay mayor, by electing [[Annise Parker]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/us/politics/13houston.html |title=Houston Is Largest City to Elect Openly Gay Mayor |last=McKinley |first=James C. Jr. |date=December 12, 2009 |work=The New York Times |access-date=September 6, 2019 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126023232/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/13/us/politics/13houston.html?_r=1 |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> Texas has banned [[Sanctuary city|sanctuary cities]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/09/politics/sanctuary-city-bans-states/index.html |title=Florida is about to ban sanctuary cities. At least 11 other states have, too |first=Catherine E. |last=Shoichet |website=CNN |date=May 9, 2019 |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616132746/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/09/politics/sanctuary-city-bans-states/index.html |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> but Houston Mayor [[Sylvester Turner]] said Houston will not assist [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|ICE]] agents with immigration raids.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Cities Prepare For Planned ICE Raids |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/13/741118939/u-s-cities-prepare-for-planned-ice-raids-on-sunday?t=1567683134930 |publisher=NPR |date=July 13, 2019 |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905113848/https://www.npr.org/2019/07/13/741118939/u-s-cities-prepare-for-planned-ice-raids-on-sunday%3Ft%3D1567683134930 |archive-date=September 5, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Crime=== {{main|Crime in Houston}} [[File:HoustonPoliceDeptHQ.JPG|thumb|Houston Police Department headquarters]] Houston's crime rate is one of the top three in Texas and notably higher than the national average.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cw33.com/news/local/these-are-the-11-most-dangerous-cities-in-texas-dallas-and-houston-listed/ | title=These are the 11 most dangerous cities in Texas— Dallas and Houston listed | date=April 14, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://realestate.usnews.com/places/texas/houston/crime |title=Houston, TexasCrime Rate & Safety |work=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref> Houston's murder rate jumped significantly since 2020. In 2021, nearly 500 people were murdered in the city which was almost double the murdered count in 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/increased-gang-activity-leads-to-spike-of-violent-crime-in-dallas/285-442103737 | title=Increased gang activity leads to spike of violent crime in Dallas | date=May 23, 2017 }}</ref> Rising gang activity is blamed for the increased crime rates in the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/freemoney-gang-arrests/285-6e0126aa-f607-4cdb-9b04-fd5e5c04724e | title=Houston crime crackdown leads to bust of 'very violent' Freemoney gang members | date=October 24, 2022 }}</ref> Houston leaders are continually discussing and implementing strategies to combat crime in the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://abc13.com/houston-safety-crime-mayor-john-whitmire-police/14272959/ | title=Mayor Whitmire meets with Houston leaders in law enforcement in collaboration to tackle crime | date=January 4, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2022/08/17/430995/county-leaders-unveil-150-million-public-safety-initiative-to-reduce-violent-crime-across-the-region/ | title=Harris County leaders unveil $150 million public safety initiative to reduce violent crime across region | date=August 17, 2022 }}</ref> Houston is a significant hub for trafficking of [[cocaine]], [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]], heroin, [[MDMA]], and [[methamphetamine]] due to its size and proximity to major illegal drug exporting nations.<ref>[http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs32/32771/distribution.htm "Distribution – Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2009"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725040338/http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs32/32771/distribution.htm |date=July 25, 2009 }} ''[[U.S. Department of Justice]]''. Retrieved on August 11, 2009.</ref> In the early 1970s, Houston, [[Pasadena, Texas|Pasadena]] and several coastal towns were the site of the [[Dean Corll|Houston mass murders]], which at the time were the deadliest case of [[serial killing]] in American history.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Crime: The Houston Horrors |magazine=Time |date=August 20, 1973 |access-date=May 2, 2010 |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907718-1,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924032209/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,907718-1,00.html |archive-date=September 24, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Residents of Houston Curbing Murder Talk |work=[[Beaver County Times]] |date=August 16, 1973 |access-date=May 2, 2010 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D4MkAAAAIBAJ&pg=4597,220911 |via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> In 1853, the first execution in Houston took place in public at Founder's Cemetery in the [[Fourth Ward, Houston|Fourth Ward]]; initially, the cemetery was the execution site, but post-1868 executions took place in the jail facilities.<ref>{{cite web |author=Pando, Patricia |url=https://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pando-fourh-ward.pdf |title=Two Worlds a Mile Apart: A Brief History of the Fourth Ward |publisher=Houston History Magazine |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=37–41 |access-date=August 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906103452/http://houstonhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pando-fourh-ward.pdf |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, the city of Houston made enforcement of an anti-food sharing ordinance a priority. This has resulted in volunteers receiving over 80 tickets, and a federal lawsuit to be filed against the city of Houston.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pitcher |first=Michelle |date=2023-08-31 |title=A Courtroom Drama About Feeding Unhoused Houstonians |url=https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-food-not-bombs-trial/ |website=The Texas Observer |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240114171044/https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-food-not-bombs-trial/ |archive-date= January 14, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-01 |title='It's not fair': Group feeding the homeless outside Houston Public Library hit with 29 citations |url=https://abc13.com/food-not-bombs-houston-homeless-volunteer-group-cited-city-of-public-library-for/13325575/ |first1=Mycah |last1=Hatfield |website=ABC13 Houston |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240222021041/https://abc13.com/food-not-bombs-houston-homeless-volunteer-group-cited-city-of-public-library-for/13325575/ |archive-date= Feb 22, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/06/us/houston-food-not-bombs-fined-feeding-homeless.html|title=Houston Volunteers Fight Tickets for Serving Meals to Homeless People|work=The New York Times |date=August 6, 2023 |url-access=subscription |first1=Amanda |last1=Holpuch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104134638/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/06/us/houston-food-not-bombs-fined-feeding-homeless.html |archive-date= Jan 4, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/04/texas-volunteers-fined-feeding-homeless-heat|title=Houston volunteers face thousands in fines for feeding homeless|website=The Guardian |date=August 4, 2023 |last1=Sainato |first1=Michael |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240214104152/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/04/texas-volunteers-fined-feeding-homeless-heat |archive-date= February 14, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Evan |date=May 11, 2023 |title=In Houston, homelessness volunteers are in a stand-off with city authorities |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/houston-homelessness-volunteers-are-stand-off-with-city-authorities-2023-05-11/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230511225105/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/houston-homelessness-volunteers-are-stand-off-with-city-authorities-2023-05-11/ |archive-date=11 May 2023 |website=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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