LOCAL GOVERNMENT
“ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL”
What does this quote suggest about
the importance of the local
governments?
REMEMBER…
• How many governments do
we have in America?
FEDERALISM
POWER SHARED BY:
NATIONAL
GOV'T
STATE GOV'T
CREATES:
LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS
What types of Local Governments are
there?
What types of Local Governments are
there?
•
•
•
•
•
County
New Hanover County
City
Wilmington
Towns
(Generally in New England)
Villages
Landfall?
Special Districts
New Hanover County
School Board: New
Hanover County Water
and Sewer
How do local governments get
created?
How do local governments get
created?
• Through the STATE
• Must get a CHARTER
– Document that grants power to a local
government: said to be incorporated
– Many getting HOME RULE now
• Right of local government to create own charters, still
must be allowed by the state.
How has Wilmington changed in size
over time?
How has Wilmington changed in size
over time?
• Why?
• Annexation
– Bringing unincorporated land and its residents
into an existing municipality(city, town, etc.)
– Why would the City want to add lands to its
limits?
– What would be the PROS and CONS of being
annexed into a city?
Annexation: Pros and Cons
ZONING BOARDS
• SECTIONING A CITY FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES
• EXAMPLES:
– RESIDENTIAL
– AGRICULTURAL
– COMMERCIAL
– INDUSTRIAL
• Why would we do this?
Structure of Local Governments
• Which of the three branches do they have?
– Legislative-makes laws-called ordinances at local
level.
– Executive-enforces laws-mayor for city.
– Judicial-interprets laws-local gov’t uses state court
officials.
• Structure of the governments depends on the
local government.
Structures of Local Government
• Mayor-Council Form
– Strong Mayor
– Weak Mayor
• Council Manager Form
• Commission Form
Strong Mayor form of Mayor-Council Form of Government
Voters Elect
Mayor
Proposes Legislation
Prepares Budget
Appoints officials
Heads of City
Departments
City Council
Weak Mayor form of Mayor-Council Form of Government
Voters Elect
Mayor
Leads City Council
Meetings
Votes to break tie
City Council
Makes policy decisions
Appoints city officials
Heads of City
Departments
Commission Form of Government
VOTERS ELECT
Police Commissioner
Fire Commissioner
BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
Parks Commissioner
Finance Commissioner
Public Works
Commissioner
Pass ordinances
Controls Funds
Carry Out Policy
Council-Manager Form of Government
VOTERS
CITY MANAGER
Elects
MAYOR
Hires
Appoints
Elect
CITY COUNCIL
HEADS OF CITY
DEPARTMENTS