LOCAL LOCAL GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

County GovernmentsCounty Governments CountyCounty: the largest territorial and : the largest territorial and

political subdivision of a statepolitical subdivision of a state Make sure people have order, protection, Make sure people have order, protection,

and servicesand services

Run by a Run by a county board of county board of commissionerscommissioners Elected by residents of countyElected by residents of county Administers statewide programs and Administers statewide programs and

makes rules to meet the needs of the makes rules to meet the needs of the citizens of the countycitizens of the county

City GovernmentCity Government City: a municipal governmentCity: a municipal government A municipality is an incorporated place.A municipality is an incorporated place. What does it mean to be incorporated?What does it mean to be incorporated?

A place with an officially organized A place with an officially organized government that provides services to government that provides services to residentsresidents

Cities are created when residents apply to Cities are created when residents apply to the state legislature for a the state legislature for a city chartercity charter.. City charterCity charter: a document that grants power : a document that grants power

to a local governmentto a local government A city constitutionA city constitution

City GovernmentCity Government Services provided by city Services provided by city

governments:governments: Law enforcementLaw enforcement Fire protectionFire protection Street repairStreet repair Water and sewage systemsWater and sewage systems Garbage pickupGarbage pickup Parks and recreationParks and recreation

Mayor-Council FormMayor-Council Form Power divided between branchesPower divided between branches

Legislative = city councilLegislative = city council Sets city policy, enacts laws (ordinances), adopts city Sets city policy, enacts laws (ordinances), adopts city

budgetbudget Executive = mayorExecutive = mayor

Represents the cityRepresents the city Oversees the operation of administrative officesOversees the operation of administrative offices Appoints the heads of departmentsAppoints the heads of departments

Voters elect mayor and city council membersVoters elect mayor and city council members Strong-mayor systemStrong-mayor system: mayor has strong executive : mayor has strong executive

powerspowers Weak-mayor systemWeak-mayor system: mayor’s authority is limited: mayor’s authority is limited

Council-Manager FormCouncil-Manager Form Voters elect the city council Voters elect the city council

(legislature)(legislature) Makes policy, adopts ordinances, Makes policy, adopts ordinances,

approves budgetapproves budget City council appoints a city managerCity council appoints a city manager

Recommends a budget, oversees city Recommends a budget, oversees city departments, deals with personal mattersdepartments, deals with personal matters

Mayor acts as member and presiding Mayor acts as member and presiding officer of the councilofficer of the council

Most popular form of city government today.Most popular form of city government today.

Commission FormCommission Form Voters elect 5 commissionersVoters elect 5 commissioners Each commissioner heads a major dept.Each commissioner heads a major dept.

police, fire, finance, health, public workspolice, fire, finance, health, public works Commissioners perform executive duties Commissioners perform executive duties

for their particular department.for their particular department. Meet together with legislative powers to Meet together with legislative powers to

pass city ordinances and make policy pass city ordinances and make policy decisionsdecisions

One commissioner chosen to be ceremonial One commissioner chosen to be ceremonial mayormayor

Not very popular.Not very popular. No one person in charge.No one person in charge. New commissioners may not be very familiar with dept.New commissioners may not be very familiar with dept. Difficult to resolve disputes between commissioners.Difficult to resolve disputes between commissioners.

Special DistrictsSpecial Districts A unit of government that deals with a A unit of government that deals with a

specific functionspecific function Ex: education, water supply, transportationEx: education, water supply, transportation

Most common example: local school districtMost common example: local school district School board: council of a local school districtSchool board: council of a local school district Can be either elected or appointedCan be either elected or appointed Help determine educational policy in a city or Help determine educational policy in a city or

countycounty

Alderman represents city districts and work Alderman represents city districts and work with the mayor to run city gov’twith the mayor to run city gov’t

Metropolitan AreasMetropolitan Areas A central city and its surrounding A central city and its surrounding

suburbssuburbs

Growth in population and Growth in population and expanding businesses & industryexpanding businesses & industry Problems: transportation, pollution Problems: transportation, pollution

control, law enforcement, land-use control, law enforcement, land-use managementmanagement

TownsTowns A political unit that is A political unit that is

larger than a village and larger than a village and smaller than a citysmaller than a city

Town meetings popular in New Town meetings popular in New England statesEngland states

TownshipsTownships A subdivision of a countyA subdivision of a county Smaller than New England towns but Smaller than New England towns but

have similar governmentshave similar governments Most run by an elected body of officialsMost run by an elected body of officials Have declined in importance due to the Have declined in importance due to the

growth of cities and countiesgrowth of cities and counties Townships often work together with Townships often work together with

county governments to provide local county governments to provide local servicesservices

Law enforcementLaw enforcement SheriffSheriff

County’s highest elected law County’s highest elected law enforcement officerenforcement officer

Chief of PoliceChief of Police Appointed commanding officer of Appointed commanding officer of

the city’s police departmentthe city’s police department