Question

under the texas constitution, counties

pass laws to be implemented by cities.
possess home-rule and ordinance-making authority.
are administrative arms of the state.
are primarily responsible for conducting common school education.

Explanation:

Analyze the constitutional role of Texas counties

Under the Texas Constitution, counties are created as administrative arms of the state government. Unlike home-rule cities, Texas counties lack general ordinance-making authority and cannot pass local laws. Their primary function is to administer state laws, manage state records, build roads, and run local courts and jails.

Evaluate the given options

• "pass laws to be implemented by cities": Incorrect. Counties do not have legislative power to pass laws for cities.
• "possess home-rule and ordinance-making authority": Incorrect. In Texas, only cities with populations over 5,000 can adopt home-rule charters; counties do not have home-rule or general ordinance-making authority.
• "are administrative arms of the state": Correct. This is the legal and constitutional definition of counties in Texas.
• "are primarily responsible for conducting common school education": Incorrect. Independent school districts (ISDs), not counties, are responsible for public education in Texas.

Answer:

• pass laws to be implemented by cities.
• possess home-rule and ordinance-making authority.
• are administrative arms of the state. (Correct answer)
• are primarily responsible for conducting common school education.