Chapter 12 Study Guide Vocabulary: Incorporate, Municipality, Charter, Home Rule, Ordinance, Strong-Mayor System, Weak-Mayor System, Wards, At-Large Election, Special District, Metropolitan Area, Suburb, County, County Seat, Town, Town Meeting, Township, Village, User Fee Lesson 1: City/Municipal Government U.S. Now Mostly Urban, 75%. Besides Cities, There Are Several Types Of Municipalities, Or Incorporated Places, With Governments And Services Provided To Residents. Cities – Largest Municipality; Have One Of Three Main Forms Of Government: Council-Mayor Form 🡪 With Either Strong Or Weak Mayor (Look Over Your Diagrams In Your Notes Or The Book); Strong-Mayor System Preferred By Cities, Towns, Boroughs – Mayor Is Head Of Executive Branch With Appointment Power Over Dept. Hds; Council Heads The Legislative Branch; Mayor Controls Day-To-Day Government, Has Veto Power Over Council, Can Be Overridden By Council. Council Members Elected Within Individual Wards, Or Voting Districts, And Some Are Members At-Large (Elected By Whole Community) In Order To Represent The Entire Community. Council-Manager Form 🡪 See Diagram In Notes Or Book For Description – Many Municipalities Now Have A Full-Time, Hired “Administrator” To Handle Day-To-Day Affairs. Commission Form 🡪 See Diagram In Notes Or Book For Description. This Is Rp’S Form! Remember…Combines Legislative And Executive Power In One Group. Mayor Is Elected From, And Is One Of, The Commissioners. Flaws: Sometimes Seen As Inefficient, With No Clear Leadership, And Conflicting Goals Among Areas That Commissioners Oversee With Absolute Power. No Clear Checks And Balances, Either! Because Of Home Rule, Other Types Of Municipalities Like Villages, Towns, Townships, And Boroughs Can Choose From One Of The Three Traditionally “City” Forms Above, Or Some Variation As Allowed By State Law. Example: Some Have “Weak” Mayors, With Councils Handling Most Legislative And Executive Functions; Other Units Of Government 🡪 A. Special Districts (Ex: School – Most Common; Fire; Water); B. Metropolitan Councils That Sometimes Create Units Like The Port Authority Of Ny And Nj. Lesson 2: County Government Know The Name Of Your County, The Number Of Nj Counties, The Title Of The Elected Head Of The Executive Branch, And The Name Of The 7-Member Board That Is The Legislative Branch. Know The Six Main Additional County Positions We Described In Notes. Lesson 3: Towns, Townships, And Villages Towns – Oldest Form In U.S.; New England Example Is The Oldest; Began As “Direct Democracy” With Regular Town Meetings; Now Uses Mainly Selectmen In New England, And Council-Mayor System Elsewhere; Towns Now Usually Have A Strong-Mayor Plan. Townships – Original Nj Form; Now Second To The “Borough” In Nj; Very Popular In South, West; Western States Began As 36-Square Mile Townships With Central Government; Later Divided Up Into Smaller Units With Their Own Governments As Settlers Moved In; Usually Bigger Than Towns. Village – Smallest Unit; Forms Usually Within A Larger Township Or County To Provide Their Own Services; True Villages Usually Have A Board Of Trustees And President; Only One True Village Left In Nj (Fyi: Township Of South Orange Village); Often Have Higher Taxes In Exchange For Higher Status.

Municipality

A local area with its own government, such as a city, town, or village.

Home Rule

The ability of a local government to govern itself within the framework of state laws.

Council-Mayor Form

A type of city government where there is a city council and a separately elected mayor.

Special Districts

Units of government that provide specific services, such as schools or utilities, to a defined area.

Selectmen

Elected officials who serve on the executive board of a town government.

Urbanization

The process of an increasing population shifting from rural to urban areas.

Commission Form

A type of city government where commissioners are both legislative and executive authorities.

Metropolitan Councils

Regional bodies that coordinate planning and development across multiple local governments.

Board of Trustees

Governing body in some villages responsible for decision-making and policy setting.

At-Large Election

A voting system where candidates are elected by the entire voting population of a region, rather than by specific districts.