The City of Melissa is a home rule city governed by a Council-Manager form of government in which the City Council establishes City policy through ordinances and resolutions, and the City Manager carries out City policy and is responsible for City operations. Originally submitted to a vote of the people on November 8, 2011, and amended by a vote of the people on November 7, 2023 Home Rule Charter (PDF).
The purpose of the Home Rule Charter is to:
- Define and limit the powers, duties, and responsibilities of local government based on local preferences and desires
- Define the form of local government and establishes organizational Provisions; identify necessary controls over their City government such as elections, referendums, initiatives and recall
- Define the procedures to amend the Charter
All powers of the City shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by this Charter, or if the manner not be prescribed, then in such manner as may be prescribed by ordinance, the State Constitution, or by the statutes of the State of Texas.