Whereas the Federal Government and State governments share power in countless ways, a local government must be granted power by the State. In general, mayors, city councils, and other governing bodies are directly elected by the people.

The most common mixing occurs across the two most prevalent forms, mayor-council and the council-manager.

Mayor

Local government is defined as the people who have the authority to make decisions or pass laws in a small geographic area near to them. An example of local government is the town council. The people chosen to administer this government. Government of the affairs of a town, district, etc.

Most states and territories have at least two tiers of local government: counties and municipalities. In some states, counties are divided into townships. There are several different types of jurisdictions at the municipal level, including the city, town, borough, and village.

• Background. Through their constitutions or laws, all states establish mechanisms by which local governments are created.
• Counties.
• Municipalities.
• Townships.
• Special Districts.
• School Districts.
• Regions.
• Sources.

Understanding the Purpose of Local Government The purpose of local government is to provide an organized system where councils exercise their power and responsibilities to work together for peace, order and good governance of their municipal districts.

Local authorities are multi-purpose bodies responsible for delivering a broad range of services in relation to roads; traffic; planning; housing; economic and community development; environment, recreation and amenity services; fire services and maintaining the register of electors.

Local government is responsible for: the function of and delivery of a complete range of services and infrastructure required by their individual communities. devising, approving and enforcing local laws relating to building, planning and the health and wellbeing of each individual.

1 Answer. (i) At the local level, it is possible for the people to directly participate in decision making. This helps to inculcate a habit of democratic participation. (ii) Constitutional states for local government has also increased women’s representation and voice in our democracy.

(i) Most states have not transferred significant powers to the local governments. (ii) There is a shortage of resources. (iii) Elections are not held regularly. (iv) The Gram Sabhas are not held regularly.

Federalism has two levels of government: One is the government for the entire country that is usually responsible for a few subjects of common national interest. 2. The others are governments at the level of provinces or states that look after much of the day-to-day administering of their state.

The Panchayati Raj system of India has been introduced by Balwant Rai Mehta Committee. Its achievements are: (i) The introduction of local governments has helped to deepen the roots of democracy in India. (ii) It has increased representation of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women as well.

It has facilitated decentralisation and taken democracy to grass roots level by involving people in decision making about their local problems. It has empowered the backward sections of society and women by stipulating reservations for them in elected bodies.

Federalism divides power between multiple vertical layers or levels of government—national, state, county, parish, local, special district–allowing for multiple access points for citizens. The governments, by design at the national and state levels, check and balance one another.

Following are three features of federalism:

• In a federal structure of government, there are two or more levels or tiers of government.
• The different tires of the government govern the same citizens.
• The Constitution of the country specifies the respective jurisdictions of the different tiers of government.