Local Governance
Local government is a term that describes five different forms; including (1) County Governments, (2) Municipal Governments, (3) Town Governments, (4) School Districts, and (5) Special Districts. Of these, only two forms—School Districts and Special Districts—serve a single and specific purpose. The three other forms are general-purpose governments that serve multiple uses. “[g]eneral-purpose governments, such as counties, cities, and towns have wider latitude than special purpose entities like school districts,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 314). Thus, they bear both differences and similarities in their application—but the optimal form is a municipality—specifically, a city—as the following context reveals.
Counties were “created by states to function as their administrative appendages,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 262). Counties are smaller than Municipalities; thus, “[m]ore than three-fourths of American counties have fewer than 100,000 inhabitants,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 262). The basic functions of Counties are “property tax assessment and collection, law enforcement, elections, recordkeeping, and road maintenance,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 262). Black’s Law Dictionary defines the word County as, “[t]he largest territorial division for local government within a state, generally considered to be a political subdivision within and a quasi-corporation. Every county exists as a result of a sovereign act of legislation, either constitutional or statutory, separating it from the rest of the state as an integral part of its territory and establishing it as one of the primary divisions of the state for purposes of civil administration,” (Garner, B., p. 443).
Similarly, the term City is “a legal recognition of settlement patterns in an area,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 266). Conversely, the prerequisite criteria differ depending on the “area slated for incorporation;” and “in most cases, a referendum is required,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 266). Black’s Law Dictionary defines the word City as “[a] municipal corporation, usu. headed by a mayor and governed by a city council; a municipality of the highest grade, (Garner, B., p. 308).
Municipalities are “cities . . . [and] specific, populated territor[ies], typically operating under a charter from state government,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 266). Therefore, municipalities are often densely populated and tethered to the authority of the state by charter. The term Incorporation is defined by the authors as “[t]he creation of a municipality through the granting of a charter from the state,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 266). Black’s Law Dictionary defines the word Municipality as “[a] city, town, or other local political entity formed by charter from the state and having the autonomous authority to administer the state’s local affairs,” (Garner, B., p. 1223).
Local Government Analysis
Comparisons. Similarly, “[l]ike counties, cities are general-purpose units of local government,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 266). Both Counties and Municipalities are forms of local government designed to address the needs of the people, and ensure proper stewardship over its resources. Both require the citizens to elect an official into office and strive to fulfill the needs of its residents.
Contrasts. Municipalities differ from Counties “in terms of how they were created and what they do,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 266). Municipals are the “primary units of local government,” and have existed since the nation’s founding. Also dissimilarly, municipalities have greater decision-making when compared to counties. Further, municipalities off a vast range of public services that are unfounded in Counties, (Bowman & Kearney, p. 267). Municipalities have an elected official that represents its jurisdiction, whether be it mayor or city manager; whereas counties do not have an elected representative official. Municipalities differ from Counties by their presence. Counties offer greater immediate representation over their constituency; as the top-level officials are elected; only the Board of County Commissioners may appoint anyone to office. Municipalities offer the election of Mayor and Council; in Counties with Strong Mayors, a single entity, the mayor, is responsible for appointing other officials into office. In Counties with Weak Mayors, the power of appointment is shared between the mayor and the council.
Optimal Governance
The best form of government is a limited one; as all authority originates from God. A government that exists unnoticed to those adherent to God’s presupposed natural laws, and the municipality’s sanctions. Therefore, obedient government serves an essential purpose, especially at a local level where it can regulate of the jurisdiction of man; guarantee his liberties; and afford consistent community resources by district. No unanimous consensus exists by professional analysts on the best practices of local government; as “[e]xperts disagree about which city government structure is best. Most would probably agree that structures lacking a strong executive officer are generally less preferable than others,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 270). Metropolitans offer a diverse constituency seeking representation through government policy. Black’s Law Dictionary defines the word Metropolitan, as [o]f or relating to, or involving a city or metropolis, (Garner, B., p. 1187).
Additionally, a Municipality’s optimal form of local government must observe the delicate balance between Elitist Theory and Pluralist Theory; thereby precluding the centralization of power, whilst preventing the exploitation of clashing rivalries between polarized partisans. Municipalities tend to be diverse; but that is the commission of the elected official to facilitate a united body of citizens, not divide them further; nor distance them completely from the state. Thus, the pluralist theory must be considered to de-centralize power, whereby preventing the elites from invoking persistent controlled crises upon the citizens, in an attempt to remain authoritative over them. The optimal form of municipal government is likely one based in Pluralist Theory, that focuses itself on the process of decision-making, compromise and accommodation. There appears no optimal form of Elite Theory; as centralized power ought to be thwarted by any means necessary to preclude tyranny.
Unlike Devolution, or the transfer of power from the national government unto the state; the concept of Second-Order Devolution, occurs when state governments shift power to local governments, (Bowman & Kearney, p. 316). This action provides local governments with decision-making power; known as home rule. The power of home rule grants “power from the state to the local government . . . [and many] State Constitutions set forth a provision for home rule,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 260). Ann Bowman declares this political concept as “an important step in the direction of greater government decision-making,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 316). Black’s Law Dictionary defines the word Devolution as “[t]he act or an instance of transferring one’s rights, duties, or powers to another, as when a national government gives power to a group or organization at a lower or more local level,” (Garner, B., p. 568).
Structure. The optimal structure of local government is one capable of attaining the funds necessary to not fall reliant on federal appropriations—be it national or state. Local governments must be autonomous in nature when it comes to their policymaking; as “State governments can impose its will on local governments . . . [this] involves conflict as each level [of government, (both local and state)] tries to exert its will,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 317). The legislature ought to be separate from the executive; as to not impose personal bias unto the constituency, nor act unrepresentative of their constituents—favoring their political cronies. The structure of a functional and representative government is correlative to the intent of our Commission as it honors the presence of God. Thus, government remains an instrument of His authority, (Rom 13:1); as Paul scribed in the New Testament, “[s]o I want you to know that this salvation from God has also been offered to the Gentiles, and they will accept it,” (Acts 28:28; NLT). The word salvation is representative of God’s eternal natural law; observable in contemporary polity. But some fallen men have converged in faction against the majority—at first honorably to form a centralized fortification against those within its jurisdiction—and recently has begun eroding the state of the Republic; by policymakers who declaring themselves under the same context, but act against the interests of the constituency. These imposters reject the Christian doctrine in favor of their own conglomerative worldview—when this is not preference of a believer but an observance of His actual presence and his consistency throughout antiquity. As it is written of negligent governance originating from poor self-regulation, “[l]et my soul not enter into their council; [l]et not my glory be united with their assembly,” (Genesis 49:6a; NASB1995). God’s essence must be preserved within government; His intentions bear the origin of our inherent liberties, as they were designed before the existence of man. The ideal structure ought to originate from a bottom-up approach; starting with elected representatives. This may seem inverse to a Christian government; considering the near millennium-long dark ages of Christendom that led up to the Reformation in the 1500s. These elected officials are obligated to hear the voices of their constituency at all times, no matter their convenience, as they remain public servants tasked with uphold the original intentions of this nation; an assured state of commonwealth, and a fortified national defense against foreign invasion and domestic insurrection. This power stops at tyranny. Any elected official acting in a despotic manner imposes the burden unto the citizens of his abdication by referendum.
Finances. Financially, the most beneficial form of local government is one non-reliant on federal funding—thus a limited government capable of attain its own revenue; and investing its capital in an efficient manner. But even when power is passed with Second-Order Devolution, they still “[fall] short of actual local self-government,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 316). Therefore, local government ought to rely on state provisions to provide them greater strength beyond their immediate capacity. But the objective outcome should not be dependency. Local counties should limit their acceptance of state funding to necessities like the preservation of existing infrastructure; not the development of new facilities.
Representation. On Representation, the best form of government ought to consider both the interests of the citizens and the needs of the State. An optimal government mustn’t be inverted: the needs of the citizenry are socially diverse and contingent on culture; and the interests of the State are self-serving and maleficently positioned to detract from civic sovereignty.
Power. The optimal Power of local government must consider Dillon’s Rule; the powers of local government are limited “to those expressly granted by the state of those powers closely linked to the express powers,” (Bowman & Kearney, p. 314). Black’s Law Dictionary defines the word Power as “[t]he ability to act or not act; esp., a person’s capacity for acting in such a manner as to control someone else’s responses,” (Garner, B., p. 1414). Bryan Garner dates the origin of the term to John F. Dillon, The Law of Municipal Corporations § 89, at 115 (3d ed. 1881); and defines Dillion’s Rule as “[t]he doctrine that a unit of government may exercise only those powers that the state expressly grants to it, the powers necessarily and fairly implied from that grant, and the powers that are indispensable to the existence of local government,” (Garner, B., p. 574). Black’s Law Dictionary defines the term Express Power as “[a] power explicitly granted by a legal instrument,” Garner, B., p. 1415). Thus, Devolution, Second-Order Devolution plays a large role in the proper delegation of responsibility to the state and local governments depending on the specific needs and focus required from leaders.
Leadership. The leadership required to produce the highest possible output in government is one that takes into account the expectant outcome objectives of its stakeholders; their constituents. Thus, a leader must prioritize representation above his own personal interests; bearing in mind the structure of pluralism that is preserved by our Constitution. Historically, successful leadership acknowledged God’s authority, even if he himself was irreligious. In the New Testament, the Pharisee named Gamaliel warned that “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God,” (Acts 5:38-39; NASB1995).
Relationship with State Authority.
A local government’s relationship with the state depends on a variety of factors including jurisdiction, population, civic expectation, ability to attain finances, and policymaking. Additionally, the relationship with state authority is contingent on the elected official's appointment power granted and decisions of whom is appointed. Moreover, it depends on the elected individual’s ability to properly delegate responsibility to those elected and appointed. Some level of state compliance is necessary, as local governments who rejects all state actions are likely to receive less requested funding than compliant ones. Author Margaret Dewar writes that “[s]ince the early 1970s, observers of American cities have noted residential abandonment, concentrated in low-income, often minority-race or minority-ethnic neighborhoods,” (Dewar, M., pp. 1-14). According to Geotab.com, the organization has investigated “over 3,800 ghost towns to show their spread across the country and within each state,” (Geotab). The publication Scientific American believes that “[t]housands of U.S. Cities could become virtual ghost towns by 2100,” (ScientificAmerican). Scientific American adds, “‘[t]he way we’re planning now is all based on growth, but close to half the cities in the U.S. are depopulating,’ [said] senior author Sybil Derrible, an urban engineer at the University of Illinois Chicago.” The action of city abandonment can be thwarted by assuring diplomatic relations with the state. Yet, as Paul reminds us, no local government can attain a universal utopia; “since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect,” (Hebrews 11:40; ESV).
Conclusion
In sum, the best form of government is a strong mayor municipality—id est a city—with its policymaking focused on civic representation, policymaking, and taking responsive action. An optimal government is one that does not rely on a centralized external source of funding, like the state; but can utilize funds for capital investments on existing infrastructure—not developments of new ones. New construction projects and resources ought to be able to be fundraised by the local government itself or through donors without imposing provisions attached to their contributions. Yet a local government that exists closer to the interests of the state and national government assures its generational existence. Therefore, a municipal city can provide the needs of a pluralistic constituency; whilst ensuring both the collective needs and individual natural rights of the citizenry remain preserved.
Bibliography
Bowman, A. et al. (2018). State and Local Government. Cengage Publishing.
Dewar, M. et al. (2013). Introduction: The City After Abandonment. In The City After Abandonment. University of Pennsylvania Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt3fh93k.3
ESV. Hebrews 11:40.
Garner, B.A. (2021). Black's Law Dictionary, Eleventh Edition. St. Paul, MN: Thomson Reuters.
Geotab. (Accessed on September 25th, 2024). Ghost Towns of America. Mapped and Photographed. Geotab. https://www.geotab.com/ghost-towns/
NASB1995. Acts 5:38-39.
NASB1995. Genesis 49:6a.
NLT. Acts 28:28.
ScientificAmerican. (Accessed on September 25th, 2024). Thousands of U.S. Cities Could Become Virtual Ghost Towns by 2100. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/thousands-of-u-s-cities-could-become-virtual-ghost-towns-by-2100/