Local Governance and Democracy

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The relationship between local administration and democratic governance, including participatory decision-making, accountability, and transparency.

Local Governance: Local governance refers to the system and process through which local authorities manage and regulate governmental affairs in their respective territorial areas.
Decentralization: Decentralization is the process of transferring power and authority from the central government to the lower levels of government, such as the local government.
Devolution: Devolution is the transfer of authority and power from the central government to the elected representatives of the people at the local level.
Local Government Structure: Local government structures vary from country to country, but some common structures include municipal, district, and county governments.
Local Government Finance: Local government finance refers to the process of managing financial resources at the local level to provide public services and administer governance activities.
Local Government Accountability: Local government accountability is the process of holding local government officials responsible for their actions and decisions.
Citizen Participation: Citizen participation refers to the involvement of the local residents in decision-making processes related to local governance and democracy.
Local Elections: Local elections are held to elect officials for local government positions.
Public Service Delivery: Public service delivery refers to the provision of services to citizens by the local government, such as water supply, waste management, and transportation.
Urban Planning: Urban planning is the process of managing and regulating the use of land in urban areas to ensure efficient use of resources and sustainable development.
Community Development: Community development refers to activities aimed at improving the social, economic, and cultural well-being of communities.
Gender and Local Governance: Gender and local governance refer to the analysis of how gender affects the design, implementation, and impact of local governance policies and programs.
Conflict and Local Governance: Conflict and local governance refer to the impact of intra and inter-community conflicts on local governance, roles of local governments in conflict management, and peacebuilding.
Environmental Governance: Environmental governance refers to the planning, management and regulation of natural and environmental resources in a community or area.
Inter-governmental relations: Inter-governmental relations are the interactions and communication between different levels of governments to ensure coordination of policies and programs.
Human Rights and Local Governance: Human rights and local governance refer to the integration and promotion of universal human rights values and principles in local governance and democracy.
Local and Regional Economic Development: Local and regional economic development refers to strategies and actions aimed at enhancing economic growth and development in a community or region.
Local Government Digital Transformation: Local government digital transformation involves the use of technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness in local governance and service delivery.
Local Government Ethics and Integrity: Local government ethics and integrity refer to expected standards of behavior, codes of conduct or values that guide elected and appointed officials in their public duties.
Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Localizing the SDGs involves the adaptation and implementation of global development goals in the context of local governance and democracy.
Unitary System: This is a system of local governance in which power is centralized in one governing body responsible for governing all local areas within a given jurisdiction.
Federal System: This is a system of local governance in which power is shared between a central government and smaller, regional governments.
Mayor-Council System: This is a system of local governance in which the mayor is the chief executive officer and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the local government.
Council-Manager System: This is a system of local governance in which an appointed city manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the local government.
Strong Mayor System: This is a variation of the Mayor-Council System in which the mayor has a greater degree of authority and direct control over government operations.
Commission System: This is a system of local governance in which a group of commissioners is responsible for governing the local area.
Town Meeting System: This is a system of local governance in which all eligible voters in a town or municipality are invited to participate in a town meeting for the purpose of formulating and debating local policies and ordinances.
Direct Democracy System: This is a system of local governance in which all eligible voters are allowed to participate in decision-making through direct voting on specific issues or policies.
"Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state."
"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."