"Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state."
The legal provisions and processes governing local administration, including laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Constitutional and Legal Framework: It is crucial to have a basic understanding of the constitutional and legal framework that governs Local Administration.
Local Government Structures: Understanding the overall structure of local government is important, including the roles and responsibilities of elected officials, appointed officials, and non-elected staff.
Elections and Political Participation: Local elections and the role of citizens in local decision-making processes are central to understanding Local Administration.
Local Revenue and Finance: Local budgeting and taxation, as well as funding sources and grants, are essential topics that every Local Administrator should understand.
Service Delivery and Public Safety: Local government is responsible for delivering essential public services, such as water, sanitation, and public safety, and these topics must be understood by Local Administrators.
Land Use Planning and Environmental Protection: Understanding the laws and regulations that govern land use and environmental protection is critical for the success of Local Administration.
Inter-governmental Relations: The relationships between different levels of government can have a significant impact on Local Administration, and understanding them is essential to success.
Administrative Law and Ethics: Legal and ethical standards must be adhered to in Local Administration, and understanding them is important for maintaining transparency, accountability, and public trust.
Conflict Resolution and Dispute Management: Conflict resolution and dispute management are unavoidable aspects of Local Administration, and learning how to address them effectively is critical.
Policy Analysis and Planning: Understanding how to analyze policies, develop plans, and implement change is essential for Local Administrators who seek to lead effectively.
Common Law: This legal framework is primarily adopted by countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Canada. Under the Common Law system, judicial decisions and contracts are based on precedents set by previous cases.
Civil Law: This legal framework is popular in European countries such as France, Germany, and Spain. It is based on codes and statutes, and judicial decisions are not usually given much weight as compared to statutes.
Islamic Law: Islamic law or Sharia is the legal framework based on Islamic principles, traditions and religious texts. It is used in several countries in the Middle East and Asia.
Customary Law: Customary law is based on the traditional practices, customs, and values of a particular community or group. It is still utilized in many African countries and remote areas around the world.
Administrative Law: Administrative law regulates the activities of administrative agencies of the government. It sets out the procedures and powers of government decision-making bodies.
Constitutional Law: Constitutional law deals with the principles, rules and guidelines that constitute a nation’s constitution. It outlines the powers and functions of different organs of the government and protects individual rights.
International Law: International law regulates the conduct of nation-states in their dealings with one another. It also governs the relationship between nation-states with international organizations.
Statutory Law: Statutory law is the result of the enactment of statutes by the legislative bodies of governments. It outlines the rules and procedures to be followed by individuals and organizations in their dealings with the government.
Common-pool resource management: Common-pool resource management is another framework designed for the administration and management of natural resources, e.g., water, forests, fisheries, and pasturelands.
"The term local government is always used specifically in contrast to national government."
"Sub-national, first-level administrative divisions (which are generally known by names such as cantons, provinces, states, oblasts, or regions)."
"Local governments generally act only within powers specifically delegated to them by law and/or directives of a higher level of government."
"In federal states, local government generally comprises a third or fourth tier of government."
"The question of municipal autonomy is a key question of public administration and governance."
"Yes, local elections are held in many countries."
"The institutions of local government vary greatly between countries."
"Common designated names for local government entities include state, province, region, canton, department, county, prefecture, district, city, township, town, borough, parish, municipality, shire, village, ward, local service district, and local government area."
"Local government is a level of administration that is both geographically localized and has limited powers."
"In some countries, 'government' is normally reserved purely for a national administration."
"The term local government is always used specifically in contrast to national government – as well as, in many cases, the activities of sub-national, first-level administrative divisions."
"In unitary states, local government usually occupies the second or third tier of government."
"Local governments generally act only within powers specifically delegated to them by law and/or directives of a higher level of government."
"In federal states, local government generally comprises a third or fourth tier of government."
"The institutions of local government vary greatly between countries."
"Common designated names for local government entities include state, province, region, canton, department, county, prefecture, district, city, township, town, borough, parish, municipality, shire, village, ward, local service district, and local government area."
"The term local government is always used specifically in contrast to national government – as well as, in many cases, the activities of sub-national, first-level administrative divisions."
"Local government usually occupies the second or third tier of government in unitary states."
"Local governments generally act only within powers specifically delegated to them by law and/or directives of a higher level of government."