Structure and Function of Local Government

Structure of Local Government

 Local governments have no legal independence.  Each is dependent on its state government.  State constitutions set forth the powers and duties of local governments.

 The four basic types of local government are: ◦ 1) the county, ◦ 2) the township, ◦ 3) the municipality, ◦ 4) the special district.

 The county is normally the largest territorial and political subdivision of the state.  Counties vary in number, size, population, power, and influence.  In most metropolitan areas, the county government has been growing more powerful.

 In most counties, a county board has both executive and legislative powers.  Board officials are usually elected by the voters.  The county form of government is found in every state except Connecticut and Rhode Island.

 Townships exist in less than half the states, and their powers and duties vary from state to state.  In New England, selectmen now make some of the decisions citizens once made in the direct democracy of a town meeting which became impractical as government grew.  Some towns have hired town managers to perform duties similar to those of county administrators.

 The municipality is an urban unit of government that has legal rights granted to it by the state.  The special district is a unit of local government that deals with a specific function such as education or transportation.  Some states also have a separate tribal government that serves its Native American population.

 A municipal government may be formed when people in a community ask the state legislature to permit their community to incorporate.  Urban areas in the United States use one of three basic forms of government: ◦ 1) the mayor-council, ◦ 2) the commission, ◦ 3) the council-manager.

 In the most widely used form of municipal government, the mayor-council form, executive power belongs to an elected mayor and the legislative power to an elected council.  There are two types of mayor-council government: ◦ 1) the strong-mayor system ◦ 2) the weak-mayor system.

 The commission form of municipal government combines executive and legislative powers in an elected commission that passes laws and makes policy decisions.  Today only a few American cities use the commission form as there is no strong executive to persuade groups to action or agreement.

 Under the council-manager form of government, the executive and legislative powers are separated.  The council acts as a legislative body and makes the policy of the municipality.  A manager carries out the council’s policies and serves as chief administrator.

Serving Localities

 Local school districts provide most of the money and make most of the decisions regarding the operation of public schools.  Local governments use zoning to regulate the way land and buildings are used.  Police and fire protection make up a large part of the local budget.

 Local governments make vital decisions regarding road maintenance, water service, and sewage disposal and treatment.  Many local governments offer important services to citizens who have special needs and provide recreation and cultural programs for their residents.

 Urban communities differ greatly in size.  Cities are densely populated areas with residential, commercial, and industrial sections.  Cities in the southern and western United States are the fastest growing.

 In the nation’s early years, most Americans lived in small towns.  After the 1860s, cities grew faster than towns and villages.  Between 1950 and 1990, suburbs, small towns, and rural areas again attracted many Americans.

 Local governments frequently establish special districts to solve problems.  The school district is governed by the school board.

 In the 1990s, local governments joined to develop new approaches for handling regional problems.  Cooperative efforts have solved land use, water supply, waste management, and law enforcement problems.

 Local governments finance services by levying taxes, such as property taxes.  Most Americans view property taxes as unfair because they place a heavier burden on those with low incomes and may result in unequal public services.

 Revenue sources for local governments include: ◦ local income taxes, ◦ sales taxes, ◦ fines and fees, ◦ government-owned businesses, ◦ bonds, ◦ state grants.

Challenges of Urban Growth

 Municipal governments attempt to manage land use to encourage orderly growth.  This is difficult since population shifts have caused inner cities to decline.  Mayors of large cities in decline appealed to the federal government for help in the 1950s and 1960s.

 The federal government provided massive spending to help cities address their housing problems but the results were not encouraging.  Urban renewal programs added new low-rent public housing, but slowed construction of other types of housing.

 For many years, suburbs and smaller communities excluded African Americans and other minorities, and apartment owners discriminated against the elderly, the poor, and families with children.  Many large cities responded to the housing shortage by renovating older housing units.  The federal government also provided loans to local housing authorities through public housing programs.

 Large cities face serious social problems.  Unemployment and housing shortages contribute to the problem of homeless people.  The federal government, through the media, has publicized drug abuse and spent huge amounts for drug treatment and prevention programs.

 Large cities also have many problems that add to their financial burdens.  The infrastructure of older large cities shows severe signs of wear and needs repair.  Local governments encourage the public to use mass transit to reduce traffic and air pollution.

 Cities struggle to solve their financial problems, and recently have focused on stimulating greater economic development.  Beginning in the 1980s, middle income suburbanites and recent immigrants moved into the cities, often restoring old houses and other buildings.  While this improved many neighborhoods, it also displaced residents.

 In the 1980s, the nation’s attention seemed to be shifting from city problems to suburban opportunities.  Many people feel that metropolitan government must be reorganized to serve a larger region and to reduce government waste and duplication of services.