• HOME
• CHAPTERS
• 1. Introduction: They Tax Dogs in West Virginia, Don’t They?
• 2. Federalism: The Power Plan
• 3. Constitutions: Operating Instructions
• 4. Political Attitudes and Participation: Venting and Voting
• 5. Parties and Interest Groups: Elephants, Donkeys, and Cash Cows
• 6. Legislatures: The Art of Herding Cats
• 7. Governors and Executives: There Is No Such Thing As Absolute Power
• 8. Courts: Turning Law into Politics
• 9. Bureaucracy: What Nobody Wants but Everybody Needs
• 10. Local Government: Function Follows Form
• 11. Metropolitics: The Hole Government Problem
• 12. Finances: Filling the Till and Paying the Bills
• 13. Education: Reading, Writing, and Regulation
• 14. Crime and Punishment
• 15. Health and Welfare Policy: State, Heal Thyself!
• OTHER LINKS
• About the Book
• About the Authors
• Help

Chapter 10: Local Government

Study

Chapter Summary
Localities have the enormous responsibility of providing basic services to citizens. They are often the first and last connection between citizens and government. Although localities are universally dependent upon states for policymaking power, a norm formalized by Dillon’s Rule, there is still widespread variation in government structure. Differences in governmental organization at the county and municipal level create differences in approaches to public policy.

Local governments provide a unique opportunity for organizational experimentation in governing procedures. Government structure at the municipal level tends to be distinguished by the separation of executive and legislative functions (mayor-council) and the separation of political and administrative functions (council-manager). An increasing number of localities also have created special districts to further enhance political and policymaking authority. The comparative approach outlined at the beginning of this text provides a useful tool for examining these variations in structure and the resulting variations in local public policy.

Objectives
After reading this chapter, you should understand…

• the nature of the relationship between states and localities
• the different types of county government
• the different types of municipal government
• the difference between strong mayor and weak mayor systems
• what defines a special district
• the concepts of Dillon’s Rule and home rule

Study Questions

1. What are the three different kinds of local government commonly found in the United States? Provide appropriate examples.


2. Compare and contrast the three different kinds of county government.

3. Compare and contrast the three different kinds of municipal government.

4. How do strong mayor systems differ from weak mayor systems?

5. Define what a special district is and provide examples. What are the advantages of creating/using a special district?

6. What is Dillon's Rule? What is home rule?