Local Governments

Counties

Cities

Village of Key Biscayne

County Government

-Largest level of local government

-Gets all authority from the State Government

• Cannot operate without state’s permission

-Charters

-Local version of a Constitution—It is given to local governments by the State

• Describes government, structure, and powers

-Common Purposes

• Protection of and services to the people

The county level of government is the largest level of local government in the United

States. Why is that? How come county governments are larger

than city governments? What is the difference between a city and a county? Does it matter which you live in? Can some

people live in both?

County Officials

- Mayor

-County Board (legislature)

-Commissioners

-Alderman

• Elected local legislature

-Manager

• Hired professional, runs countyDade County citizens elect a Mayor & 5-member Board of County

Commissioners through partisan elections held every two years. The

Board of County Commissioners (BCC) are the people elected in 13 districts to

represent you

The Dade County Board of Commissioners is the governing body for the entire county. Responsibilities include overseeing the budget, zoning

and planning issues, promoting growth, and improving the quality of life for

citizens of Dade County.

County Officials

-Sheriff

• Chief law enforcement officer

• Runs jail and Sheriff’s Dept.

-Coroner

• Declares deaths, works on crime scenes

-Clerk

-Register of Deeds

• County records/ownership papers

-District Attorney

• Represents the county in court

• Prosecutor for the county

 

County Services

-Pass laws and regulations

ordinances--Term for local laws—also referred to as blue laws in some areas

• All paid for with some money from the state, but mostly county taxes

-law enforcement

-fire services

-recreation

-sanitation

-education

-planning

-transportation

-health

-welfare

City Governments

-get powers from a charter given by the state (must have permission to form)

-Incorporation-- Official recognition from the state of a local government’s power (want services for citizens)

-Annexation-- the addition of more land into a city or town (by choice or force - to provide services)

City Governments

-Usually one of two major types of city governments

-Mayor-Council Form (power divided)

-Strong Mayor System

-Weak Mayor System

• Mayor’s power limited by city council

-Council-Manager System

-elected Council hires professional to run gov’t (called a manager)

The government of Key Biscayne is made up of a mayor and 6 council members that are elected every

two years. Village council meetings are open to the public and held the 2nd & 4th Tuesday evenings at 560

Crandon Blvd.

There has been a shift in most cities to give the mayors more power in the mayor-council form

governments.

City Officials

-Mayor

• Elected chief executive of the city who is responsible for overseeing city government

-Council (city’s legislature)

-Pass ordinances to regulate city known as “home rule”

-Manager

• Professional manager with full responsibility of government

• Appointed by city council

Key Biscayne Mayor Frank

Caplan

Council Member Davey

Village Manager John

Gilbert

City Services

-Can face more serious problems in urban areas

• Cities have more people

• More problems, more services (sometimes more taxes)

-Same types of services

• Paid for with extra city taxes and user fees

-law enforcement

-fire services

-recreation

-sanitation

-education

-planning

-transportation

-health

Public works include cleaning, repairing, and maintaining city

streets and sewers. We also coordinate street excavation work;

enforce litter laws; and remove graffiti and illegal signs. We

regulate street and sidewalk use while enhancing and protecting the

public right-of-way; and provide architectural, civil, structural, and mechanical engineering services, including project and construction

management. Our staff work to bring these services to the citizens

of Angier all year long.

End of Course / interim question:

The law making body in local government refers to which of the following terms?

a. mayor-council

b. Advisory committee

c. Board commission

d. City council

End of Course / interim question:

Which of the following terms refers to when a city has the power to write and amend it’s own laws?

a. Home rule

b. Advocacy

c. lobbying

d. City rule

End of Course / interim question:

Which of the following refers to influencing the votes of members of a legislative body such as the city council or county commission?

a. Home rule advising

b. Strategic planning

c. advocacy

d. lobbying

End of Course / interim question:

Which of the following occurs under the mayor-council plan of government?

a. The mayor appoints the city council

b. The city commission is the lawmaking body

c. The city council is the lawmaking body

d. Laws are always passed by referendum

End of Course / interim question:

A group of city commissioners want to make a number of changes for the city. One problem that might arise is which of the following?

a. Commissioners may disagree over their areas

of authority

b. Changes may cost more than the

commissioners are willing to spend.

c. The mayor may become too powerful

d. Board of commissioners will not have authority

to act.