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Local

Governments
Chapter 24
Section1
Section 1
Created by the State
• Local governments have no legal
independence.
• Established by the state, they are entirely
dependent on the state governments
under which they exist.
• The state can assume control over them or
even abolish them.
Section 1
Types of Local Government
• The county is normally the largest territorial
and political subdivision of a state.
• The number of counties within a state
varies from state to state, and counties
differ in size and population.
• A county board has the authority to
govern most counties. County boards
decide on the county budget, taxes, and
zoning codes.
Section 1
Types of Local Government (cont.)
• Townships exist as units of local
government in 20 states—mostly in New
England and in the Midwest.
• In areas with rapid metropolitan growth,
townships have assumed some functions of
city government, such as providing water,
sewage disposal, and police protection.
• With strong community spirit fostered by their
founders, New England towns became
models of citizen participation in local
government.
Section 1
Types of Local Government (cont.)
• A municipality is an urban unit of
government—a town, borough, city, or
urban district that has legal rights granted
by the state through its charter.
• The special district is a unit of local
government that deals with a specific
function, such as education, the water
supply, or transportation.
Section 1
Forms of Municipal Government
• The mayor-council form follows the traditional
concept of separation of powers.
• Executive power belongs to an elected
mayor, and legislative power belongs to an
elected council.
• Most city councils have fewer than
10 members, who usually serve
four-year terms.
Section 1
Forms of Municipal Government (cont.)
• In the strong-mayor system, the municipal
charter grants the mayor strong executive
powers.
• In the weak-mayor system, the mayor has
little control over the budget or the hiring and
firing of municipal personnel. The city council
makes most policy decisions, and the
mayor’s veto power is limited.
Section 1
Forms of Municipal Government (cont.)
• The commission form of government
combines executive and legislative powers in
an elected commission.
• Each commissioner heads a specific
department and performs all the executive
duties related to that department.
Section 1
Forms of Municipal Government (cont.)
• Under a council-manager form of
government, legislative and executive powers
are separated.
• Appointed by the council, the city manager is
chief executive.

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