Governing States and Localities, Chapter 11

Municipalities

Political jurisdictions, such as cities, villages, or towns, incorporated under state law to provide governance to defined geographical areas; more compact and more densely populated than counties.

Counties

Geographical subdivisions of state government.

County Commission System

A form of county governance in which executive, legislative, and administrative powers are vested in elected commissioners.

Council-Executive System

A form of county governance in which legislative powers are vested in a country commission and executive powers are vested in an independently elected executive.

Commission-Administrator System

A form of county governance in which executive and legislative powers reside with an elected commission, which hires a professional executive to manage the day-to-day operations of government.

Cities

Incorporated political jurisdictions formed to provide self-governance to particular localities.

Townships

Local governments whose powers, governance structure, and legal status vary considerably from state to state. In some states, townships function as general-purpose municipalities; in others, they are geographical subdivisions of counties with few responsibilities and little power.

Mayor

The elected chief executive of a municipality

City Council

A municipality's legislature.

City Manager

An official appointed to be the chief administrator of a municipality

Mayor-Council System

A form of municipal governance in which there is an elected executive and an elected legislature.

Strong Mayor System

A municipal government in which the mayor has the power to perform the executive functions of government.

Weak Mayor System

A municipal government in which the mayor lacks true executive powers, such as the ability to veto council decisions or appoint department heads.

Wards

Divisions of municipalities, usually representing electoral districts of the city council.

Council-Manager System

A form of municipal governance in which the day-to-day administration of government is carried out by a professional administrator.

City Commission System

A form of municipal governance in which executive, legislative, and administrative powers are vested in elected city commissioners.

Town Meeting Form of Government

A form of governance in which legislative powers are held by the local citizens

Special District

A local governmental unit created for a single purpose, such as water distribution

Dillon's Rule

The legal principle that says local governments can exercise only the powers granted to them by state government.

Home Rule

The right of a locality to self-government, usually granted through a charter.

Charter

A document that outlines the powers, organization,, and responsibilities of a local government.

General Act Charter

A charter that grants powers, such a s home rule, to all municipal governments within a state.

Special Act Charter

A charter that grants powers, such as home rule, to a single municipal government.

Ward, or District, Election

An election in which voters in a municipal ward vote for a candidate to represent them on a council or commission.

At-Large Election

An election in which city or county voters vote for council or commission members from any part of the jurisdiction.