Local Government Organization

1. Local Government Organization Section 2 Chapter 21

2. Focus Questions • What are the four main types of local government? • What are the different types of municipal government? • What are the functions of a county government? • What do special districts provide? • In what ways do local governments promote the public good?

3. Local governments provide a range of services—anything from installing signal lights to testing water quality • Local governments promote public good by making people’s lives easier and safer • There are over 87,000 local governments in the United States • Local governments are classified as counties, towns or townships, municipalities, and special districts

4. Authority of Local Government • The framers of the Constitution took great care to ensure that states would retain the power to make their own laws • The Constitution does not address the relationship between state and local governments • Local governments are generally established by state charters • Localities may only exercise only these powers expressly granted to them by the state • Local charters are often very long because they have to be detailed with every local power

5. Authority of Local Government • Every state restricts in some way the ability of the local government to tax • Some states even regulate the administration of finances • About have the states all local governments to pass legislation without state approval • State legislatures have been unable to handle individual cities complexities with the same expertise as local administrators

6. County Government • Counties generally function as unites of government over a particular area • County governments play a stronger role in the South and West where rural areas with less populated areas are located • County government began in agricultural areas where towns and cities were far away from one-another

7. County Government • In 1998, there were 3,043 counties in the United States • Cities and towns are bound by state and county laws • New York city spans over five counties • County may have the power to regulate the use of county property, establishing requirements for business licenses, and levying taxes

8. County Government • Counties administrative powers include operating welfare programs, hospitals, schools, and jails; keeping records of deeds, marriage licenses, and other legal documents; supervising elections • County governments also maintain public roads, highways, and recreational facilities, as well as prosecute people accused of committing crimes with the counties borders which also includes in cities

9. Towns and Townships • In some parts of the country, especially the Middle Atlantic and Midwestern states towns and townships provide services in areas outside major cities • Early New England towns people governed their communities through town meetings • Many towns have abolished the town meeting form of government

10. Towns and Townships • Townships were established in states such as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania • Townships are responsible for some of the same functions as towns but also provide roads, schools, and means for assisting the poor • Township governments have generally decreased as municipal and county governments have taken over

11. Municipalities • Most Americans live in municipalities (cities, towns, and villages) • The smallest municipalities was Valley Park, Oklahoma (one inhabitant)– over 90 percent have under 10,000 people • Municipalities generally provide services beyond those offered by a county government or township • They are responsible for public services like police, fire department, initiating garbage collection, constructing and maintaining sewer systems, streets, parks, and public building

12. Municipalities • Municipalities also adopt zoning laws • There are three forms of municipal governments in the United States: mayor-council, council-manger, and commission

13. Municipalities Mayor-Council Government • Mayor-Council system of city government consists of separately elected legislature (city council) and chief executive (mayor) • In some systems the mayor does not play a substantial role and may lack veto or appointment powers (weak mayor plan) • The Strong mayor plan gives the mayors more authority with the councils to make decisions • Few city councils outside of large cities have any staff

14. Municipalities Council-Manager Government About one-third of city governments have a council-manager system– public does not elect an independent executive The legislature appoints the chief of the executive branch Very common with cities of populations between 25,000-500,000 Many of these cities have elected mayors but their role is limited to running the council meeting

15. Municipalities Council-Manager Government Many of these cities have elected mayors but their role is limited to running the council meeting The council-manager system executives are called city managers and they are professionals trained to manage city services and are nonpartisans City managers are wholly responsible to the council and they can be dismissed at any time

16. Municipalities Council-Manager Government City managers are not political leaders but in doing their job they as policy maker may involve them in politics City managers administer the policies made by the council The mangers may become the most influential official in the city

17. Municipalities Council-Manager Government City managers may have the right to appoint or remove the heads of various city departments without council approval Some people question city managers because they are not accountable to the voters and that running city government is too great

18. Municipalities Commission Government • Commission– an elected body that holds both legislative and executive powers • City agencies are managed directly by the commission and this made up of three to nine members • Each commissioner serves individually as the head of a city administrative department, while the commission as a whole makes city policy • Most of the cities that have commissions are small and are located in Texas • Portland, Oregon is the only large city that has a commission

19. Special Districts • About 34,000 governments are special districts • Special Districts are units of government that perform a single service and are generally independent of other units of government • These include seaport facilities and other aspects of the urban environment • The most familiar special districts are school district, which run public schools

20. Special Districts • Other districts might include transportation, swage disposal, and a water supply • Some are also formed to construct and manage low-rent housing and to undertake other types of urban renewal projects • Special districts are run by commissioners and the commissioners are appointed by elected officials in the city, county, or other

21. Metropolitan Government • For years some have argued that metropolitan areas should have single units of government uniting cities and their suburbs • This is more cost effective and allows for governments to share problems but also allows a city to tax the suburbs and the people who use those services • Because a metropolitan government can combine operations it can provide those services at a lower cost • Some also argue that water and air pollution do not respect local boundaries and should be regulated at Metropolitan levels • Many suburban residence use a variety of city services to attend work and should be taxed for those services

22. Metropolitan Government • Opponents point to the fact that consolidation does not always mean cheaper services • Also some feel that the same level of service is needed in all areas and that diverse situations appear • Others feel that competition of local governments allows for those governments to be responsive to the people

23. Metropolitan Government • In modern America joint councils have been formed to discuss and act on common problems • Some suburban residents have voted down metropolitan governments because they fear that they will be required to pay city taxes and will not be able to maintain a high level of public services in their communities

24. Local Government and the Public Good • Most local governments have developed a tracking system to determine how well they are fulfilling their responsibilities to citizens • The biggest problem local governments face is delivering services adequately to the needs of their many communities • Some people hold that a more active and informed citizenry will produce local government leaders and alternative solutions that can help improve services without dramatically increasing spending

25. Local Government and the Public Good • Life would be much more difficult if individuals had to achieve trash collection and protection from fire and crime alone • Working together more efficiently meets these needs

26. Focus Questions • What are the four main types of local government? • What are the different types of municipal government? • What are the functions of a county government? • What do special districts provide? • In what ways do local governments promote the public good?