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?

FEDERALISMPOWER 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

Voters Elect

Heads of City Departments

MayorProposes LegislationPrepares BudgetAppoints officials

City Council

Strong Mayor form of Mayor-Council Form of Government

Heads of City Departments

MayorLeads City Council MeetingsVotes to break tie

City CouncilMakes policy decisionsAppoints city officials

Weak Mayor form of Mayor-Council Form of Government

Voters Elect

VOTERS ELECT

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Police Commissioner

Pass ordinancesControls Funds Carry Out Policy

Fire Commissioner

Parks Commissioner

Finance Commissioner

Public Works Commissioner

Commission Form of Government

VOTERS CITY MANAGER

Elect Elects

MAYOR

Appoints

HEADS OF CITY DEPARTMENTS

Hires

Council-Manager Form of Government