Understanding Local Government: Key Concepts and Structures

Local Government: Key Concepts and Structures

Statutory Law

Laws passed by legislatures.

Common Law

Legal traditions developed through court cases going back to England.

Judicial Federalism

State courts' authority to interpret their own states' constitutional guarantees to expand upon those in the U.S. Constitution.

Judicial Activism

The making of new laws through judicial interpretation of laws and constitutions.

Judicial Restraint

Self-imposed limits on courts to defer to legislative intent or to previous court decisions.

Service Function

Supplying goods and services not sufficiently supplied by private entities; a purpose of local governments.

Political Function

Managing conflict over public policy; a purpose of local governments.

General Purpose Government

A government that provides a wide range of services such as county or city township.

Special-Purpose Government

A government that performs a very specific function, such as a school district or a mosquito control district.

Rural County Government

The traditional administrative subdivision of state government. It is responsible for law enforcement, courts, roads, elections, and the recording of legal documents.

Urban County

County governments that perform all of the services of the traditional rural counties together with many contemporary urban services.

Communitarian View

Praises the many values of direct citizen participation in community affairs, not just by voting, but perhaps more importantly, by participating in groups & forums, working with neighbors to solve the problems of the community.

Public-Regardingness

The tendency of upper-class, liberal voters to support recreational, cultural, & environmental projects.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

A core urban area of 50,000 or more people together with adjacent counties with predominantly urban populations and with close ties to the central city.

Micropolitan Statistical Area

A smaller core urban area of 10,000-50,000 people with adjacent territory that has a high degree of social and economic interconnectedness with the urban core.

Megalopolis

Metropolitan areas that adjoin each other, creating a continuous urban environment over an extended area.

Fragmented Government

Multiple governmental jurisdictions, including cities, townships, school districts, and special districts, all operating in a single metropolitan area.

Gentrification

The movement of upper-class residents and trendy high-priced restaurants and boutiques to downtown locations; revitalizes downtown areas.

Annexation

The extension of city boundaries over adjacent territory in unincorporated areas; often requires voter approval.

Special Districts

Local governmental units usually charged with performing a single function; often overlap municipal and county boundaries.