1. Local Governments Organization

2. Power of Local Government
decides how much power will be given to the local government.
State Government

3. Local power is VERY limited.
Dillon’s Rule
Dillon’s Rule – said that local government could do what the state said they could do.
ONLY
Local power is VERY limited.

4. More local power but not absolute power.
Home Rule
Home Rule says that local governments can govern themselves.
More local power but not absolute power.

5. Today most states use a mixture of Dillon’s Rule and Home Rule.
What do we do today?
Today most states use a mixture of Dillon’s Rule and Home Rule.

6. Environment and Housing
What do they provide?
Local Governments provide 6 basic services:
Education
Health and Welfare
Public Safety
Utilities
Environment and Housing
Land Use

7. How do they provide services?
Local governments pay for the services they provide 2 ways:
(from local and state governments)
Taxes Collected
Grants

8. How does it affect me?
How does the local government and its decisions affect you? Let’s take a look….
LOCAL GOV.

9. Types of Local Government
There are 3 types of Local Government
City Governments
County Governments
Towns and Villages, Township, and Special District Governments

10. 3 Types of City Government
Mayor-Council Plan
Council-Manager Plan
Commission Plan

11. Mayor-Council Plan Mayor Council Consists of:
(elected head of the city government – enforces the laws)
(elected members who make the laws for the city)
Mayor
Council

12. Roles of Mayor and Council
strong
weak
The mayor may be either or
If the mayor’s role is WEAK his power is very
If the mayor’s role is STRONG he has
power
limited
more

13. Council-Manager Plan Council City Manager Consists of:
(elected members who make laws for the city and hires the city manager)
(a professional, nonpolitical director hired by the council who is responsible to the council)
Council
City Manager

14. Commission Plan Commission Mayor Consists of:
(a group of people – appointed or elected – to head a department of the city. Passes laws and controls spending)
(represents the government but has NO power)
Commission
Mayor

15. 3 Types of County Government
Commission
Commission-Administrator
Council-Executive

16. Board Commission Plan (group of elected supervisors
Consists of:
(group of elected supervisors
who make and enforce the laws)
Board

17. Commission-Administrator Plan
Consists of:
(group of elected supervisors)
(appointed by the board to carry out plans and policies)
Board
Administrator

18. Council-Executive Plan
Consists of:
(group of elected supervisors)
(chief administrative officer who can veto laws passed by the county board)
Board
County Executive

19. 6 Other County Officials
Treasurer
Sheriff
District Attorney
Property Assessors
Superintendent of Schools
Auditor

20. 3 Other Governments
Towns and Villages
Townships
Special Districts

21. Towns and Villages Board Consist of: (group of elected supervisors)
They help run the government for their area.
Board

22. Townships Trustees Treasurer Supervisor Clerk
Various structures but usually consists of:
(people elected or appointed to control the funds and policy of the area)
Also generally includes:
Trustees
Supervisor
Treasurer
Clerk

23. Special Districts
Consists of:
(a group of elected supervisors)
Board

24. What do they do? special services Water districts Park districts
Special Districts are set up to provide
4 Examples:
special services
Water districts
Park districts
Fire districts
Library districts

25. Charging fees Receiving funding How are they funded?
Special districts are funded two ways: or
from the state, city, or county
Charging fees
Receiving funding

26. 2 BIG Problems for ALL Local Governments
Finances
If taxes are low, services are cut.
It is not always clear who provides a service or who funds it.
Lack of Cooperation

27. Local Government Overview
City
Governments
County
Governments
Other
Governments
Mayor-Council
Mayor and
Council
Commission
Board
Town & Village
Board
Council-Manager
Council and
City Manager
Commission-Administrator
Board and Administrator
Townships
Trustees
Commission
Commission and
Mayor
Special Districts
Board
Council-Executive
Board and
County Executive