The Nature of State and Local Relations

Counties in the United States

•County Government

•County Performance

Growth of Governments in the United States

Type of government 1972 1982 1992 1997U.S. government 1 1 1 1State government 50 50 50 50Local government 78,218 81,780 84,955 87,453

County 3,044 3,041 3,043 3,043

Municipal 18,517 19,076 19,297 19,372

Township 16,991 16,734 16,65616,629

School district 15,781 14,851 14,42213.726

Special district 23,885 25,078 33,55534,683Total 78,269 81,831 85,00687,504

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, at www.census.gov.

The 15 Largest U.S. Counties by Population

1. Los Angeles County, California 2. Cook County, Illinois 3. Harris County, Texas 4. Maricopa County, Arizona 5. Orange County, California 6. San Diego County, California 7. Kings County, New York 8. Miami-Dade County, Florida 9. Queens County, New York10. Dallas County, Texas11. Wayne County, Michigan12. King County, Washington13. San Bernardino County, California14. Santa Clara County, California15. Broward County, Florida

The Commission Form of County Government

The Council with Elected Executive Form of Government

Towns, Cities, Suburbs

•The Rise of “Edge Cities”

The 15 Largest U.S. Cities by Population

1. New York, N.Y. 2. Los Angeles, Calif. 3. Chicago, Ill. 4. Houston, Tex. 5. Philadelphia, Pa. 6. Phoenix, Ariz. 7. San Diego, Calif. 8. Dallas, Tex. 9. San Antonio, Tex.10. Detroit, Mich.

11. San Jose, Calif. 12. Indianapolis, Ind.13. San Francisco, Cailf.14. Jacksonville, Fla.15. Columbus, Ohio

City Government Today

•The Mayor-Council Charter

•Weak Mayor Councils and Strong Mayor Councils

•The Council-Manager Charter

The Mayor-Council Form of City Government

carry out policy

makespolicy

The Council-Manager Form of City Government

makespolicy

carry out policy

Department heads

appoints

The Role of the Mayor

Who Influences Local Policy Making?

•Interest Groups in Cities

The Five Fastest-Growing Metropolitan Areas

1. Las Vegas, Nev.2. Naples, Fla.3. Yuma, Ariz.4. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Tex.5. Austin-San Marcos, Tex.

SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2000 (U.S. Government Printing Office, 2000).

The Central City and Its Politics

Meeting the Challenges of Growth and Economic Development

•Strategies to Govern Metro Regions

•Annexation

•Agreements to Furnish Services

•Regional Coordinating and Planning Councils

•City-County Consolidations

•Federated Government

California Consists of58 Counties500+ Cities1025+ School Districts

Other DistrictsRegions

Ten Largest Cities in California

1. Los Angeles 3,957,875 2. San Diego 1,305,736 3. San Jose 944,857 4. San Francisco 799,263 5. Long Beach 491,564 6. Fresno 464,7277. Sacramento 452,959  8. Oakland 412,318 9. Santa Ana 351,697 10. Anaheim 345,317