1. Local Government
Chapter 13

2. City Government
Chapter 13 Section 1

3. Words to Know
Incorporate: To receive a state charter, officially recognizing the govt. of a locality.
City Charter: A document granting power to a local govt.
Home Rule: Allows cities to write their own charters, choose their own type of govt., and manage their own affairs.
Ordinance: A law, usually of a city or country.
Strong-Mayor System: A type of govt., usually in large cities, under which the mayor has strong executive powers.
Weak-Mayor System: A type of govt. under which the mayor has limited executive powers.

4. Words to Know cont.
At-Large Elections: An election for an area as a whole; for example, statewide.
Special District: A unit of govt. that deals with a specific function, such as education, water supply, or transportation.
Metropolitan Area: A large city and its suburbs.

5. Created by the State
Local Govt.’s: closest unit of govt. to the people:
Have no legal independence
Created by and dependent upon the state
State can take control and do away with them
States define municipalities as an incorporated place:
Cities=municipal govt.
New cities created yearly:
Apply to state legislature for city charter
Communities must meet requirements to obtain a charter:
Must have a certain population
Submit signed petitions supporting charter

6. Created by the State cont.
City charters are like constitutions:
Describes type of city govt.
Structure
Powers
State legislature remains in control
Some state legislatures have granted home rule to cities:
Must follow state laws
City govt. provide same basic services:
Law enforcement
Fire protection
Street repair
Water
Etc…

7. The Mayor-Council Form
Power divided between separate legislative and executive branches:
Voter elect mayor
Elect city council members
Mayor= Chief Executive of city govt.:
Oversees operations of administrative offices
Appoints the head of dept.
Council= city’s legislature:
Approve cities budget
Pass city laws (ordinances)

8. The Mayor-Council Form
Most city councils have fewer than 10 members:
Serve 4-year terms
Powers of Mayor vary from city to city:
Large cities= Strong-Mayor System
Power to veto ordinances
Appoint and remove officials
Design city-budget
Smaller towns= Weak-Mayor System:
Mayor’s authority limited
Council appoints department heads
Council makes most policy decisions
Mayor leads council meeting; votes only in a tie

9. The Council Manager Form
Popular form of city govt.:
Elected council and mayor make policy
City council appoints city manger
Manager:
Recommends budget
Oversee city departments
Deals with personnel matters
Reports to the council
Council can hire and remove manager with majority vote
Smaller cities with managers= council members elected at large:
Must be interested in entire city rather than just their neighborhood

10. The Commission Form
5 commissioners are selected in citywide elections:
Each heads a dept.
Heads of dept. called commissioners
Meet together to pass city ordinances/make policy decisions
Pick one of their members to act as mayor
Mayor presides over commission
Drawbacks:
No one person in power

11. Special Districts Special District: Most numerous type of local govt.
Several kinds of special districts overlap
Example: School district
Board or commission runs special district
Has power to collect taxes from district residents to pay fo rthe services it provides

12. Metropolitan Areas Metropolitan Area: May include small towns
Expand around central cities

13. Homework
Chapter 13 Section 1 worksheets