U.S. Government and Civics / Unit 11: State and Local Government and Public Policy
11.3 Local Government
Notes
Local governments provide many of the services people use every day. They are created by the states.
- Counties are the largest local units in most states (called parishes in Louisiana and boroughs in Alaska). They often run courts, jails, records and some roads.
- Municipalities (cities, towns, villages) provide police, fire protection, water, parks and zoning.
- Forms of city government: mayor-council (elected mayor and council; a "strong" mayor has broad powers), council-manager (the council hires a professional city manager to run daily operations) and commission (elected commissioners each lead a department).
- Special districts handle one task, such as a school district run by an elected school board, or a water district.
- Dillon's Rule: local governments have only the powers the state grants them. Home rule gives some cities broader power to govern themselves.
- Zoning: local rules on how land may be used (homes, businesses, industry).
Practice
A city council hires a trained professional to run the city's daily operations. The city uses the:
In council-manager government, an appointed manager handles administration.
Which local government body usually sets policy for public schools?
School districts are special districts led by school boards.
A family wants to open a store in a neighborhood where only houses are allowed. Which local rule applies?
Zoning laws set what land in each area may be used for.
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