Pols lecture 28

• Local governments


  Subdivisions of state governments that exercise authority delegated by their state government
• The U.S. Constitution outlines the basic relationship between states and the national government, but contains no mention of local government
• Dillon's Rule


  A narrow interpretation of local authority where local governments have only those powers granted to them by the state, and powers must be expressly granted by constitution or by law
• As a political matter, local governments may enjoy substantial autonomy due to wariness of one-size-fits-all solutions and tradition of local governance
• Localities in the U.S.

  • Great diversity in terms of geographic size, population, socioeconomic composition, governing structures, powers and responsibilities, and method of selecting officials
• Service function of local governments


  Providing services not offered by the private sector due to market failure, natural monopolies, or merit goods
• Political function of local governments


  Managing conflict over public policy and questions of 'who gets what'
• Two broad categories of local governments

  • General purpose
  • Special purpose
• General purpose local governments

  • County governments, municipal/city governments, towns and townships
• County governments in Texas

  Have a dual role: provide basic services and serve as limited administrator for state functions
• Council-executive form of county government


  • Has a county executive or "county mayor" as chief executive, with the board of commissioners acting as the legislature
• Council-administrator form of county government


  • Has a county administrator who answers to the elected commissioners, with the commissioners fulfilling the political function and the administrator overseeing efficient service delivery
• Some states permit counties more autonomy from the state, allowing county residents to adopt a charter that allows a unique form of organization
• Texas counties all use the traditional county commission structure, with the structure and powers defined by the Texas Constitution
• The biggest expenses for Texas county governments are law enforcement, roads and bridges, and health and welfare
• Texas counties also serve as local administrators for the state
• The relationship b/t state & local gov’t is unitary.
• Trends in U.S. local governments & governance:• Becoming more urban• Increased demand for more services• Increased centralization & professionalization
• Municipal / City Gov’t (~19,500 in U.S; 1,225 in TX)• Responsible for police, fire, parks, streets, sanitation, welfare &(sometimes) education
• Towns & townships (~16,000 in U.S.)• Differences w/ municipalities not easily defined• Rooted in history, population, region of U.S.
• Special Districts• Usually serve single specificpurpose, such as:• e.g. fire-protection, mosquito-control, MUD, parks, library• Most common type of gov’t, butleast understood & often least transparent!
• County Government in the U.S.• Oldest form of U.S. local government
• County Government Traditional form is body of commissioners w/ both legislative &executive power
• Council-Executive Form More centralized variation on county gov’t• Has a county executive or “county mayor” as chief executive• Board of Commissioners acts as legislature
• Council-Administrator Form: Professionalized variation on county gov’t• Has county administrator who answers to elected commissioners
• County Government Controls land use for unincorporated land