Civics & Government · 9th Grade · State and Local Government · Quarter 4

The Structure of Local Governments

Explore the different forms of local government, including counties, municipalities (cities and towns), and special districts. Understand who is responsible for services like schools, police, and parks in your community.

TL;DR:Ever wonder who decides where a new park goes or why your school has a different vacation schedule than the next town over? This week, we investigate the governments closest to home.

• Common Core State Standards
• C3 Framework: D2.Civ.1.9-12: Distinguish the powers and responsibilities of local, state, tribal, national, and international civic and political institutions.

About This Topic

This topic, 'The Structure of Local Governments,' is a cornerstone of 9th-grade civics, grounding the abstract principles of American federalism in the tangible reality of students' daily lives. While federal and state governments often dominate headlines, it is local government that most directly impacts citizens through services like education, public safety, sanitation, and recreation. This unit moves beyond a simple definition of government to explore the diverse and complex web of counties, municipalities (cities, towns, villages), and special districts that form the landscape of American governance. Understanding these structures is crucial for developing informed and engaged citizens.

By examining the different forms of municipal government, such as the mayor-council and council-manager systems, students learn that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to local administration. This exploration encourages critical thinking about the balance of power, efficiency, and political accountability. Furthermore, the concept of special districts introduces students to a layer of governance created for specific purposes, like schools or water management, highlighting how communities tailor government to meet unique needs. This topic provides a practical framework for students to analyze their own communities and identify the specific entities responsible for the services they use every day, empowering them to become active participants in local civic life.

Key Questions

1. Identify the different types of local governments that serve your community.
2. Compare the mayor-council and council-manager forms of city government.
3. Explain the purpose and function of special districts, such as school districts or water districts.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the functions of counties, municipalities, and special districts.
• Compare and contrast the mayor-council and council-manager forms of city government.
• Analyze how different local government entities serve their own community.
• Explain how citizens can interact with their local governments.
• Describe the purpose of a city charter and local ordinances.

Key Vocabulary

Municipality	A city, town, or other district possessing corporate existence and powers of self-government.
County	The largest territorial division for local government within a state.
Special District	An independent unit of local government organized to perform a single governmental function or a limited number of functions (e.g., school district, park district).
Mayor-Council System	A form of city government where voters elect both a mayor (chief executive) and a city council (legislative body).
Council-Manager System	A form of city government where an elected city council hires a professional city manager to administer the daily operations of the city.
Ordinance	A law or regulation made by a city or town government.
Charter	A document, granted by the state, that outlines the structure, powers, and responsibilities of a local government.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The mayor is the 'boss' of the city, just like the President is for the country.

What to Teach Instead

The mayor's power varies greatly. In a 'strong mayor' system, they have significant executive authority, but in a 'council-manager' system, the mayor may be a largely ceremonial figurehead, with a professional city manager running daily operations.

Common Misconception

The city government runs everything in town, including the schools.

What to Teach Instead

While cities provide many services, schools are almost always managed by a separate entity called a school district. This is a type of 'special district' with its own elected board and budget, independent of the city or town council.

Common Misconception

Counties are just for rural areas; cities are what matter.

What to Teach Instead

Counties are a primary unit of local government for everyone, providing key services like public health, court administration, and election oversight to both rural and urban residents. In many areas, residents live under the jurisdiction of both a city and a county government.

Active Learning Ideas

Town Hall Meeting

Local Government Map

Students research and create a visual map or infographic of their own community's government. They must identify their county, municipality, school district, and at least two other special districts, along with the key elected officials for each.

90 min·Pairs

Town Hall Meeting

Mayor vs. Manager Role-Play

Divide the class into two groups, one representing a strong-mayor system and the other a council-manager system. Present both groups with a community problem (e.g., budget shortfall for parks) and have them role-play a public meeting to solve it according to their assigned government structure.

45 min·Small Groups

Town Hall Meeting

A Day in the Life

Students keep a 24-hour log of their activities and then identify which local government entity is responsible for the services they used. Examples include driving on a county-maintained road, drinking water from a municipal utility, and attending a school run by a school district.

30 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Determining which government body to contact to fix a pothole or a broken streetlight.
• Understanding the role of the local school board in decisions about school calendars, curriculum, and budgets.
• Recognizing how local zoning ordinances affect what types of businesses or housing can be built in a neighborhood.
• Following local elections for city council, mayor, or school board members who make decisions that directly impact the community.
• Knowing the rules for getting a driver's permit from the county clerk or a building permit from the city.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

An exit ticket where students must list one service provided by their county, one by their city, and one by a special district.

Peer Assessment

Students create a detailed diagram or presentation that maps the structure of their local government, identifying key leaders and explaining the function of each major component.

Quick Check

Students complete a K-W-L (Know, Want to Know, Learned) chart about local government at the beginning and end of the unit to reflect on their learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we need counties and cities? Don't they do the same things?

They often have overlapping jurisdictions but distinct primary roles. Counties typically serve as administrative arms of the state, providing services like courts, public health, and record-keeping over a larger area. Cities and towns (municipalities) are created at the request of residents to provide more localized services like trash collection, local police, and streetlights.

What is a 'special district' and why do they exist?

A special district is an independent unit of government created to perform a single function or a limited number of functions. They exist because a specific service, like public transportation, fire protection, or water management, might be needed across multiple city or county lines, or it requires a dedicated funding source and specialized oversight.

How can I find out what form of government my city has?

The best place to look is your city's official website. Look for an 'About Us' or 'Government' section, which often describes the roles of the mayor and city council. You can also look for the city's charter, which is the legal document that establishes its form of government.