Table of Contents
Local government plays a vital role in managing community services and making decisions that affect daily life. Understanding how it works helps citizens participate effectively and advocate for their needs. From maintaining roads and providing emergency services to managing parks and enforcing zoning regulations, local government touches nearly every aspect of community life. This comprehensive guide will help you understand the structure, functions, and importance of local government, as well as how you can become an active participant in shaping your community's future.
What Is Local Government?
Local government refers to the administrative bodies that govern cities, towns, counties, and other geographic areas within a state. These governments are organized closest to where people live in order to meet community needs, solve problems, and deliver basic life amenity services such as water, sanitation, streets, fire, police, and citizen protection. Unlike federal and state governments, local governments focus on issues that directly impact residents' daily lives within specific geographic boundaries.
A local government must be granted power by the state. Local governments are created by and subordinate to state governments, cannot pass laws contradicting state legislation, and rely primarily on property taxes and service fees rather than broader tax bases. This relationship means that the authority and structure of local governments can vary significantly from state to state, and even within states themselves.
Types of Local Government Entities
The Census Bureau established five basic types for classifying government units: county, municipal, township, special district, and school district governments. Each type serves distinct purposes and operates within different geographic boundaries.
Counties are the largest local government units. Local governments generally include two tiers: counties, also known as boroughs in Alaska and parishes in Louisiana, and municipalities, or cities/towns. County governments are defined as general purpose governments which provide services to a broader geographic area that often includes multiple municipalities and special districts. Counties often handle law enforcement, vital records, and services in rural areas where municipal governments may not exist.
Municipalities include cities, towns, and villages. Municipalities are defined as a city, town or village that has corporate status and local government. Municipalities generally take responsibility for parks and recreation services, police and fire departments, housing services, emergency medical services, municipal courts, transportation services (including public transportation), and public works (streets, sewers, snow removal, signage, and so forth).
Townships exist in some states, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. In some states, counties are divided into townships. Towns in New England have considerably more power than most townships elsewhere and often function as legally equivalent to cities, typically exercising the full range of powers that are divided between counties, townships, and cities in other states.
Special Districts are created to provide specific services. Special districts consist of independent governments with a limited purpose usually focusing on a specific service such as water and sanitation. Special district governments provide specific services that are not being supplied by existing general-purpose governments. Most perform a single function, but, in some instances, their enabling legislation allows them to provide several, usually related, types of services.
The Scale and Complexity of Local Government
The result is a vast patchwork quilt of more than 90,000 different governments. The United States has one of the most complex and diverse local governance structures in the world with vast differences in form and function not only from state-to-state, but within states as well. This complexity reflects America's commitment to local control and the diverse needs of communities across the nation.
The number of local governments varies dramatically by state. Illinois had 6,930 local governments, which was more than 1.5 times as many as California, despite having less than a third as many residents. The two states with the highest number of governments per capita in 2022 were North Dakota and South Dakota, which had 330 and 209 governments per 100,000 residents, respectively. They were the only two states that had more than 200 governments per 100,000 people.
How Is Local Government Organized?
Local governments operate under various structural models, each with distinct characteristics regarding the distribution of executive and legislative powers. The form of government a community adopts significantly impacts how decisions are made and how officials are held accountable to residents.
Mayor-Council Form
The mayor-council form of government is the original model of municipal government in the United States. Under the mayor-council form of government, the mayor serves as the executive overseeing the daily operations and administration of government. This form is used in major cities including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago, as well as thousands of smaller communities.
The mayor-council form typically exists in two variations: strong mayor and weak mayor systems. In a strong mayor system, the mayor has significant executive authority, including the power to appoint department heads, prepare the budget, and veto council decisions. In a weak mayor system, the mayor's role is more ceremonial, with the council retaining most administrative powers.
Council-Manager Form
The Council-Manager format involves a City Manager hired to oversee the day-to-day operations as the council sets the policy. In this system, elected council members focus on legislative functions and policy-making, while a professionally trained city or county manager handles administrative responsibilities. This form aims to bring professional expertise to local government administration while maintaining democratic accountability through elected officials.
Commission Form
The Commission structure is where the body acts as a hybrid executive and legislative branch of government. In this less common form, elected commissioners collectively serve as the legislative body while also individually heading specific departments. Each commissioner typically oversees a particular area such as public works, public safety, or finance.
County Government Structures
Some common county government structures include the Commission system, Council-Administrator system, Council-Elected Executive system and Charter system. Los Angeles County currently has a Charter system, one of 13 in California, a unique form of government where the Board of Supervisors hold executive, legislative, and some judicial powers, along with other elected officials and department heads.
Town Meeting Form
The town meeting form of government is generally viewed as the purest form of democracy, because it allows all eligible voters a voice in local policy decisions, it is practiced in only about 5% of municipalities. The Town Meeting structure is a traditional form that involves direct participation of citizens in local decision making, where the Representative Town Meeting structure involves citizens electing representatives to make decisions on their behalf. This form is found primarily in small New England communities.
Evolving Government Structures
The most common mixing occurs across the two most prevalent forms, mayor-council and the council-manager. Many communities have adopted hybrid models that combine elements from different forms of government to meet their specific needs. This flexibility allows local governments to adapt their structures as communities grow and change over time.
Key Services Provided by Local Governments
The delivery of services to their citizens is at the heart of local government functions. Local governments provide a wide range of essential services that residents often interact with daily, though they may not always recognize the governmental entity responsible.
Public Safety and Emergency Services
Local governments are primarily responsible for protecting residents through police and fire departments. Law enforcement agencies maintain public order, investigate crimes, and work to prevent criminal activity. Fire departments respond to fires, medical emergencies, and hazardous material incidents. Many communities also operate emergency medical services (EMS) that provide pre-hospital emergency care and transportation.
Emergency management is another critical function, involving preparation for and response to natural disasters, public health emergencies, and other crises. Local emergency management agencies coordinate with state and federal partners to ensure communities are prepared for various threats.
Infrastructure and Public Works
Maintaining and improving infrastructure is one of the most visible local government responsibilities. This includes:
- Road construction, maintenance, and repair
- Street lighting and traffic signals
- Snow removal and street cleaning
- Sidewalk maintenance
- Bridge inspection and repair
- Stormwater management and drainage systems
Public works departments ensure that residents can safely navigate their communities and that infrastructure remains functional and well-maintained.
Water and Sanitation Services
Many local governments provide water treatment and distribution, ensuring residents have access to clean, safe drinking water. Wastewater treatment facilities process sewage and protect public health and the environment. Solid waste management includes garbage collection, recycling programs, and operation of landfills or transfer stations.
Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services
Local governments create and maintain public spaces that enhance quality of life. Parks departments manage green spaces, playgrounds, sports facilities, and trails. Recreation programs offer activities for all ages, from youth sports leagues to senior citizen programs. Many communities also support libraries, museums, community centers, and cultural events that enrich community life.
Planning and Development
Local governments regulate land use through zoning ordinances and comprehensive plans that guide community development. Planning departments review development proposals, issue building permits, and conduct inspections to ensure compliance with building codes and safety standards. These functions help communities grow in an orderly manner while protecting property values and quality of life.
Economic Development
Many local governments actively work to attract businesses, create jobs, and strengthen the local economy. Economic development efforts may include business recruitment, support for entrepreneurs, workforce development programs, and infrastructure improvements that make communities more attractive to employers.
Social Services
Depending on state law and local needs, some local governments provide social services such as public health programs, housing assistance, senior services, and support for vulnerable populations. County governments often play a significant role in administering state and federal social service programs at the local level.
Education
While often governed by separate school districts, public education is a critical local government function. School boards, typically elected by residents, oversee public schools, hire superintendents, approve budgets, and set educational policies. School districts represent a significant portion of local government spending in most communities.
How Local Government Budgets Work
Understanding local government budgets is essential for citizens who want to influence how their tax dollars are spent. The budget process determines which services receive funding and at what levels, directly impacting community priorities.
Revenue Sources
Local governments rely on several revenue sources to fund operations. Property taxes typically represent the largest source of local revenue, assessed on real estate and sometimes personal property. Sales taxes provide additional revenue in many communities, though not all states allow local sales taxes.
User fees and charges generate revenue from those who directly use specific services, such as water and sewer fees, parking fees, recreation program fees, and permit fees. Intergovernmental transfers from state and federal governments support specific programs or general operations. Some communities also receive revenue from fines, licenses, and investment income.
The Budget Process
Local governments set laws by way of ordinances through a legislative process consisting of proposed legislation discussed during public meetings, committee review, and then voting on these proposed measures. Once approved, the ordinance must be signed by the Mayor or the chief administrator, depending on the government structure.
The budget process typically begins with departments submitting funding requests to the chief executive (mayor or manager). The executive prepares a proposed budget that balances revenues with expenditures and reflects policy priorities. The legislative body (council or commission) reviews the proposal, holds public hearings, and may make amendments before adopting the final budget.
Citizens can influence budget decisions by attending public hearings, submitting written comments, and communicating with elected officials about their priorities. Some communities have adopted participatory budgeting, which allows residents to directly decide how to allocate portions of the budget.
Budget Transparency
Most local governments are required to make budget documents publicly available. These documents show how much revenue the government expects to collect, how funds will be allocated across departments and programs, and how spending compares to previous years. Understanding these documents helps citizens hold officials accountable and advocate for their priorities.
The Importance of Citizen Engagement in Local Government
When citizens engage, it helps government leaders better identify and understand problems, build relationships within the community and establish greater trust in local government among the public. The most effective governance involves the community as a whole, and when people feel they have agency in their local governments, their trust and approval increase.
When residents feel heard and involved in their local government's decision-making processes, trust is strengthened, collaboration improves, and public services become more effective. Active citizen participation ensures that government decisions reflect the diverse needs and perspectives of the entire community, not just the most vocal or well-connected residents.
Towns and cities with high civic engagement have a higher quality of life and can solve local issues better and more efficiently than areas with low engagement. Engaged citizens bring valuable knowledge about local conditions, creative solutions to problems, and support for initiatives that improve community life.
Ways Citizens Can Get Involved in Local Government
There are numerous ways for citizens to participate in local government, ranging from simple actions that require minimal time to deeper commitments that can significantly shape community outcomes.
Voting in Local Elections
Voting is the most fundamental form of citizen participation in a democracy. It is the primary mechanism through which citizens express their preferences and influence the direction of local governance. By voting in local elections, citizens have the power to choose representatives who align with their values and priorities, shaping policies that directly affect their communities. Voting ensures that elected officials are accountable to the community and encourages them to act in the public's best interest.
Local elections often have much lower turnout than state or federal elections, which means individual votes carry more weight. Staying informed about candidates and ballot measures, and voting in every election, is one of the most important ways citizens can influence their communities.
Attending Public Meetings
Local governments often hold public meetings, such as council meetings, town halls, and public hearings, where citizens can learn about ongoing projects, voice their opinions, and ask questions. Most local government meetings are open to the public and provide opportunities to observe decision-making processes, understand issues facing the community, and speak during public comment periods.
City council meetings, county commission meetings, planning commission meetings, and school board meetings all offer opportunities for citizen input. Many governments now livestream meetings or post recordings online, making participation more accessible for those who cannot attend in person.
Participating in Public Consultations
Public consultations are a vital tool for citizen engagement. They allow citizens to provide feedback on proposed policies, projects, or changes to local regulations. These consultations can take various forms, including public meetings, surveys, and online forums. By participating in public consultations, citizens can ensure that their voices are heard and their concerns are considered in the decision-making process.
Communicating with Elected Officials
Citizens can contact their local representatives through phone calls, emails, letters, or in-person meetings. Elected officials need to hear from constituents to understand community concerns and priorities. When communicating with officials, being specific about issues, providing relevant information, and suggesting solutions can make your input more effective.
Building ongoing relationships with local officials, rather than only contacting them when problems arise, can increase your influence and help officials better understand your community's needs.
Serving on Boards and Commissions
Many local governments have advisory boards and commissions that provide expertise and community input on specific issues such as planning, parks and recreation, historic preservation, or human rights. These bodies typically include citizen members appointed by elected officials. Serving on a board or commission allows citizens to develop deep knowledge of specific policy areas and directly influence recommendations to decision-makers.
Organizing and Signing Petitions
Citizens can organize or sign petitions to bring specific issues to the attention of local officials. Petitions are a powerful way to demonstrate public support for a particular cause or policy change. In some jurisdictions, citizens can also propose initiatives or referendums, which allow them to directly influence local legislation or policy.
Volunteering in the Community
There are a variety of ways citizens can participate and be engaged in their local governments beyond just voting in every election. It might take the form of: Participating in neighborhood cleanups or planting public gardens. Volunteering for community improvement projects, serving as a poll worker, participating in citizen academies, or joining neighborhood associations all contribute to stronger communities and more effective local government.
Using Technology to Engage
Technology offers powerful tools for enhancing citizen engagement. Online platforms, mobile apps, chat platforms, and digital surveys can make it easier for citizens to participate. Many local governments now offer mobile apps that allow residents to report problems like potholes, request services, and receive notifications about community issues.
Social media platforms are invaluable for reaching citizens where they already spend their time. By posting updates, sharing events, and engaging in conversations, local governments can build an online community that fosters trust and transparency. Following your local government on social media and participating in online discussions can help you stay informed and connected.
Participating in Civic Education Programs
Increased participation often begins with education. Many citizens don't get involved because they don't know where or how to get started. Building a knowledge and understanding of how their local government operates is often the first building block to creating more engaged citizens.
Many communities offer citizen academies or leadership programs that provide in-depth education about local government operations, services, and challenges. These programs help participants understand how government works and how they can effectively participate in civic life.
Overcoming Barriers to Participation
Despite the importance of citizen engagement, various barriers can prevent people from participating in local government. Understanding and addressing these barriers is essential for creating truly inclusive democratic processes.
Time Constraints
Many people struggle to attend meetings or participate in government activities due to work schedules, family responsibilities, or other commitments. The costs associated with attending events in person, including transportation and time off work, can deter participation, especially for low-income individuals.
Local governments can address this barrier by offering multiple ways to participate, including virtual meetings, online comment opportunities, and flexible meeting times. Recording meetings and posting them online allows people to stay informed even when they cannot attend in person.
Language and Cultural Barriers
Communities are often diverse, with residents speaking multiple languages. Offering multilingual support across websites, apps, and other communication channels ensures that all citizens have equal access to information and services. Providing translation services at public meetings and translating key documents helps ensure that non-English speakers can fully participate.
Lack of Awareness
Many residents simply don't know how local government works, when meetings occur, or how to get involved. Regular communication touchpoints with your residents is one of the easiest and lowest stakes ways to begin building citizen engagement. Depending on your city's resources and staffing, a newsletter to the community might look like a quarterly multi-page print newsletter mailed to citizen homes, a monthly PDF newsletter available for download on your city's website, or even a weekly email newsletter with the most up-to-date information.
Digital Divide
Low literacy rates and technological access in some areas remain significant barriers. While technology can enhance participation, governments must ensure that digital tools supplement rather than replace traditional engagement methods. Maintaining in-person options and providing assistance with technology helps ensure that all residents can participate regardless of their digital access or skills.
Feelings of Ineffectiveness
Some people avoid participating because they believe their input won't make a difference or that government is unresponsive to citizen concerns. Transparency breeds trust, and a strong democracy requires trust between citizens and government leaders. You can help build trust by making public records, such as budgets, meeting minutes, and planning documents, easily accessible online. Having access to these documents results in better-informed citizens that feel empowered to more fully participate in the decision-making process.
When governments demonstrate that they value and act on citizen input, more people become willing to participate. Providing feedback to participants about how their input influenced decisions helps build trust and encourages continued engagement.
Best Practices for Effective Citizen Engagement
Both citizens and government officials can take steps to make engagement more effective and meaningful.
For Citizens
Be Informed: Before participating in discussions or contacting officials, research the issue, understand different perspectives, and review relevant documents. Well-informed input is more likely to influence decisions.
Be Respectful: Productive engagement requires respectful dialogue, even when disagreeing with others. Focus on issues rather than personal attacks, and listen to different viewpoints.
Be Specific: When raising concerns or making suggestions, provide specific information and examples. Vague complaints are harder to address than concrete, well-documented issues.
Be Persistent: Change often takes time in government. Following up on issues, attending multiple meetings, and building coalitions with others who share your concerns can increase your effectiveness.
Be Solution-Oriented: Rather than only identifying problems, suggest potential solutions. Officials appreciate constructive input that helps them address challenges.
For Local Governments
Local governments must ensure that engagement processes are inclusive and accessible to all residents, regardless of their socio-economic status, language, or digital literacy. This requires intentional efforts to reach diverse populations and remove barriers to participation.
Holding regular public forums gives citizens the opportunity to voice their concerns, provide feedback, and offer suggestions for civic improvements. Governments should schedule forums at convenient times and consider livestreaming them to increase participation.
Best practice for effective citizen engagement planning include: Define the community or target population and develop context (learn from the past, understand relationships, stakeholders etc.). Understanding who you're trying to reach and what methods will work best for different populations improves engagement outcomes.
Governments should provide clear information about how citizen input will be used and follow up with participants about how their contributions influenced decisions. This transparency builds trust and encourages continued participation.
The Future of Local Government and Citizen Engagement
Local government continues to evolve in response to changing demographics, technology, and citizen expectations. Understanding these trends can help both officials and citizens prepare for the future of local democracy.
Technology and Innovation
Digital tools are transforming how local governments deliver services and engage with residents. Online portals allow citizens to pay bills, apply for permits, and access information 24/7. Mobile apps enable residents to report problems and track service requests in real time. Data analytics help governments identify trends, allocate resources more efficiently, and measure performance.
Virtual and hybrid meeting formats, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, have made participation more accessible for many residents. These technologies are likely to remain important tools for engagement even as in-person meetings resume.
Participatory Budgeting
More communities are experimenting with participatory budgeting, which allows residents to directly decide how to spend portions of public budgets. This approach deepens democratic participation and helps ensure that spending reflects community priorities. While still relatively uncommon in the United States, participatory budgeting is growing as governments seek new ways to engage residents in decision-making.
Collaborative Governance
Empowering community leaders and organizations can enhance citizen engagement in local government. For example, the city of Portland, Oregon, works closely with neighborhood associations to facilitate community involvement in city planning and policy development. This collaborative approach recognizes that government alone cannot solve all community challenges and that partnerships with residents, nonprofits, and businesses can produce better outcomes.
Equity and Inclusion
Few residents participate in many types of community decision-making, and there is uneven representation by race, age, and income as well. As a result, local institutions make decisions that often reflect the values and needs of older, wealthier, and mostly white residents rather than the population at large.
Addressing these disparities requires intentional efforts to reach underrepresented populations, remove barriers to participation, and ensure that diverse voices influence decisions. Many governments are adopting equity frameworks that guide policy-making and service delivery to ensure fair treatment and outcomes for all residents.
Regional Cooperation
U.S. local government entities often form "councils of governments", "metropolitan regional councils", or "associations of governments". These organizations serve as regional planning agencies and as forums for debating issues of regional importance, but are generally powerless relative to their individual members.
As challenges like transportation, housing affordability, and environmental protection increasingly cross jurisdictional boundaries, regional cooperation becomes more important. While full consolidation of governments remains rare and politically difficult, collaborative approaches to shared challenges are likely to increase.
Resources for Learning More About Local Government
Numerous resources can help citizens deepen their understanding of local government and become more effective participants in civic life.
Government Websites and Publications
Your local government's website is often the best starting point for information about services, meetings, officials, and how to get involved. Most governments post meeting agendas, minutes, budgets, and other documents online. Many also offer newsletters, social media accounts, and email alerts that keep residents informed about community issues.
National Organizations
Organizations like the National League of Cities, International City/County Management Association, and National Association of Counties provide research, best practices, and educational resources about local government. While primarily serving government officials, these organizations' websites offer valuable information for citizens as well.
Civic Education Programs
Many communities offer citizen academies, leadership programs, or other educational opportunities that provide in-depth knowledge about local government. Libraries, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations may also offer civic education programs.
News Media
Local newspapers, television stations, and online news outlets cover local government meetings, decisions, and issues. Following local news helps citizens stay informed about what's happening in their communities. Some communities also have dedicated government access television channels that broadcast meetings and other government programming.
Community Organizations
Neighborhood associations, civic groups, advocacy organizations, and community foundations often focus on local issues and can provide opportunities to learn about and engage with local government. These organizations may also offer training, organize community forums, or coordinate advocacy campaigns on specific issues.
Common Challenges Facing Local Governments
Understanding the challenges local governments face can help citizens appreciate the complexity of local governance and contribute constructively to solutions.
Fiscal Constraints
Many local governments face tight budgets due to limited revenue sources, unfunded mandates from state and federal governments, and increasing costs for services like public safety and infrastructure maintenance. Economic downturns can significantly reduce tax revenues while increasing demand for services. These fiscal pressures force difficult decisions about service levels and priorities.
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's local infrastructure—roads, bridges, water systems, sewer systems—is aging and requires significant investment to maintain or replace. The costs of infrastructure improvements often exceed available resources, forcing governments to prioritize projects and seek creative funding solutions.
Changing Demographics
Communities are becoming more diverse in terms of age, race, ethnicity, and language. This diversity enriches communities but also requires governments to adapt services, communication strategies, and engagement approaches to meet varied needs and preferences.
Economic Development
Local governments must balance economic growth with quality of life concerns. Attracting businesses and creating jobs is important, but development must be managed to preserve community character, protect the environment, and ensure that growth benefits all residents.
Intergovernmental Relations
Local governments must navigate complex relationships with state and federal governments, which provide funding but also impose requirements and regulations. Changes in state or federal policy can significantly impact local governments' ability to serve their communities.
Public Trust
Building and maintaining public trust is an ongoing challenge. Scandals, perceived inefficiency, or lack of responsiveness can erode confidence in government. Transparency, accountability, and meaningful citizen engagement are essential for maintaining the trust necessary for effective governance.
Making Your Voice Heard: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you're ready to become more involved in local government but aren't sure where to start, follow these steps to make your voice heard effectively.
Step 1: Identify Your Issue or Interest
What aspect of your community do you care about most? It might be a specific problem like potholes on your street, a broader concern like affordable housing, or an interest in a particular service like parks and recreation. Focusing your efforts on issues you're passionate about will make participation more meaningful and sustainable.
Step 2: Research the Issue
Learn about the issue from multiple perspectives. What is the current situation? What are the challenges? What solutions have been proposed or tried? Who else cares about this issue? Understanding the context will make your participation more effective.
Step 3: Identify the Right Officials and Bodies
Determine which government entity has authority over your issue. Is it the city council, county commission, school board, or a specific department? Knowing who makes decisions about your issue helps you direct your efforts appropriately.
Step 4: Connect with Others
Find others who share your concerns. Collective action is often more effective than individual efforts. Join existing organizations working on your issue or connect with neighbors who share your interests.
Step 5: Engage with Decision-Makers
Contact relevant officials to share your perspective. Attend meetings where your issue will be discussed. Speak during public comment periods. Submit written comments. The more decision-makers hear about your concerns, the more likely they are to take action.
Step 6: Stay Involved
Change rarely happens after a single contact or meeting. Stay engaged over time, follow up on your concerns, and continue to participate in the process. Persistence and sustained involvement increase your chances of success.
Step 7: Celebrate Successes and Learn from Setbacks
When your efforts lead to positive change, celebrate and thank those who helped make it happen. When you face setbacks, reflect on what you learned and how you might approach the issue differently in the future. Both successes and challenges provide valuable lessons for continued civic engagement.
Conclusion: The Power of Local Democracy
Local government is where democracy is most accessible and where individual citizens can have the greatest impact. The decisions made by local officials affect nearly every aspect of daily life, from the quality of roads and schools to the safety of neighborhoods and the vitality of local economies.
Understanding how local government works—its structure, functions, and processes—empowers citizens to participate effectively in shaping their communities. Whether through voting, attending meetings, serving on boards, or simply staying informed, every form of engagement contributes to stronger, more responsive local government.
The relationship between citizens and local government should be a partnership, with residents providing input, expertise, and support while officials make decisions that reflect community values and needs. When this partnership functions well, communities thrive, trust in government increases, and democracy becomes more than an abstract concept—it becomes a lived reality in everyday life.
As you've learned from this guide, there are countless ways to engage with local government, regardless of how much time or expertise you have. The most important step is simply to start. Attend a meeting, contact an official, or learn more about an issue that matters to you. Your community needs your voice, your ideas, and your participation.
Local government may not always make headlines like national politics, but it shapes the quality of life in your community every single day. By understanding how it works and actively participating in local democracy, you can help create the kind of community where you want to live, work, and raise a family. The power to shape your community's future is in your hands—use it wisely and use it well.
For more information about civic engagement and local government, visit the USA.gov guide to local governments or explore resources from the International City/County Management Association.