UNIT #8
State and Local
Government
CHAPTER #22
Local Government
LESSON #1
Types of Local
Government
UNIT #8
State and Local
Government
CHAPTER #22
Local Government
LESSON #1
State Authority
-Local governments are created by the state
-Local governments exist because states
allow them to exist
-This is a unitary system
Types of Local
Government
Page 1
County Government
-A county is the largest political & territorial
unit in the state (WI72 counties)
UNIT #8
State and Local
Government
CHAPTER #22
Local Government
LESSON #1
Types of Local
Government
Page 2
(continued)
-A board generally governs a county
-County boards vary in size
-Taylor County has a board of supervisors
that has 17 members
-County boards generally have both
legislative and executive powers
-Legislative, because they can levy taxes,
determine how money is too be spent, etc.
-Executive, because they oversee the running
of departments (i.e. Highway Dept.)
-Often times boards will hire dept. heads
Towns, Townships & Special Districts
-Boards govern most other political/territorial
units as well
UNIT #8
State and Local
Government
CHAPTER #22
Local Government
LESSON #1
Types of Local
Government
Page 3
(continued)
-Townships are rural areas that surround a
small hub of houses, businesses and a
town hall
UNIT #8
State and Local
Government
CHAPTER #22
Local Government
LESSON #1
Types of Local
Government
Page 3
(continued)
-Townships are rural areas that surround a
small hub of houses, businesses and a
town hall
-Special districts are a unit of local
government that deals with one function
-School districts are the most common of
these
School Districts in Taylor County
UNIT #8
State and Local
Government
CHAPTER #22
Local Government
LESSON #1
Types of Local
Government
Page 3
(continued)
-Townships are rural areas that surround a
small hub of houses, businesses and a
town hall
-Special districts are units of local
government that deals with one function
-School districts are the most common of
these
Municipal Government
-A city has one of three forms of government
1. Mayor-council form
2. Commission form
3. Council-manager form
-Half of cities use the mayor-council form
UNIT #8
State and Local
Government
CHAPTER #22
Local Government
LESSON #1
Types of Local
Government
Page 4
(continued)
-Both mayor and council is elected in this
form
-Many larger cities use a strong-mayor
system, while smaller cities use a weakmayor system
Executive &
Legislative
Power
Executive &
Legislative
Power
UNIT #8
State and Local
Government
CHAPTER #22
Local Government
LESSON #1
Types of Local
Government
Page 4
(continued)
-Both mayor and council is elected in this
form
-Many larger cities use a strong-mayor
system, while smaller cities use a weakmayor system
-The commission form is run by a group of
elected commissioners
-Each commissioner heads a department (i.e.
Police Department)
Executive &
Legislative
Power
UNIT #8
State and Local
Government
CHAPTER #22
Local Government
LESSON #1
Types of Local
Government
Page 4
(continued)
-Both mayor and council is elected in this
form
-Many larger cities use a strong-mayor
system, while smaller cities use a weakmayor system
-The commission form is run by a group of
elected commissioners
-Each commissioner heads a department (i.e.
Police Department)
-The commission form combines legislative
and executive power
-The council-manager form separates
legislative and executive power
-A manager handles the executive powers
Legislative Power
Executive Power