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Definition
| A geographic subdivision of state government. |
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Term
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| Political jurisdictions, such as cities, villages, or towns, incorporated under state law to provide governance to a defined geograpic area. More compact and more densely populated than counties. |
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| Local government units created for a single purpose, such as water distribution. |
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Definition
| A form of county governance in which executive, legislative, and administrative powers are vested in elected commissioners. |
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Definition
| A form of county governance where legislative powers are vested in a county commission and executive powers are vested in an independently elected executive. |
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| Commission-Administrator system |
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Definition
| A form of county governance where executive and legislative powers reside with an elected commission, which hires a professional executive to manage the day-to-day operations of government. |
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Term
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Definition
| A common type of local government whose powers, governance structure, and legal status vary considerably from state to state. In some states townships function as general purpose municipalities, in other they are geographic subdivisions of counties with few responsibilities and little power. |
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Definition
| The elected chief executive of a municipality. |
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| A municipality’s legislature. |
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| An official appointed to be the chief administrator of a municipality. |
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Definition
| A form of municipal governance in which there is an elected executive and an elected legislature. |
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Definition
| A mayor with the power to perform the executive functions of government. |
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Definition
| A mayor who lacks true executive powers, such as the ability to veto council decisions or appoint department heads. |
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| Divisions of municipalities, usually representing electoral districts of the city council. |
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Definition
| A form of municipal governance in which the day-to-day administration of government is carried out by a professional administrator. |
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Definition
| A form of municipal governance in which executive, legislative, and administrative powers are vested in elected city commissioners. |
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Term
| Town Meeting Form of Government |
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Definition
| A form of governance where legislative powers are held by local citizens. |
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Term
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Definition
| The legal principle that says local governments can exercise only the powers granted to them by state government. |
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| The right of localities to self-government, usually granted through a charter. |
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| A document that outlines the powers, organization, and responsibilities of a local government. |
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| Charters that grant powers, such as home rule, to all municipal governments within a state. |
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Term
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Definition
| Charters that grant powers, such as home rule, to a single municipal government. |
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Term
| Ward, or District, Elections |
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Definition
| Elections in which voters in a municipal ward vote for a candidate to represent them on a council or commission. |
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Term
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Definition
| Elections in which city or county voters vote for council or commission members. |
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