LEARN · PRACTISE · DISCOVER
Local Government and Public Services
When people think about government, they often picture presidents, prime ministers and national parliaments. But many of the decisions that affect your daily life are made much closer to home, by local government. In this lesson you will learn how local government works and why it matters to you.
Levels of government
Many countries have several levels of government, each with different responsibilities.
| Level | Examples | Typical responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| National | national parliament or congress | defence, foreign affairs, currency, national laws |
| Regional | states, provinces, regions | many regions handle schools, health, policing |
| Local | city, town, county or district councils | parks, rubbish collection, local roads, libraries |
In a federal system, such as the United States, India, Canada or Germany, power is shared between the national government and regional governments by the constitution. In a unitary system, such as France or Japan, the national government holds most of the power and can give some powers to local bodies. The exact division of responsibilities varies a lot between countries.
How local government works
Local governments are often led by an elected council, a group of representatives who make local decisions. Many towns and cities also have a mayor. In some places the mayor is elected directly by voters; in others, the council chooses the mayor.
What local councils decide
- building and maintaining local roads and pavements
- collecting rubbish and recycling
- running parks, sports centres and libraries
- planning, such as where new houses or shops can be built
- local transport, such as buses
- in many places, schools and emergency services
Paying for local services
Local governments get money from:
- local taxes, such as property taxes
- grants from national or regional governments
- fees, such as parking charges or sports centre memberships
Councils must make a budget, a plan for spending their money. Because money is limited, they have to make trade-offs. Spending more on new parks might mean less money for road repairs. Citizens can share views on these choices.
Example
A town council has enough money for one major project this year: a new skate park or repairs to the library roof. Some residents want the skate park for young people; others say the library is unsafe if the roof leaks. The council holds a public meeting, hears from residents and studies the costs before deciding. This is local democracy in action.
How residents get involved
Local government is often the easiest level for young people to take part in:
- attend a public council meeting or watch it online
- respond to a public consultation, where councils ask for residents’ views
- contact a local councillor about an issue
- join a youth council, which some towns create to hear young people’s ideas
Why local government matters
Local decisions affect your safety on the walk to school, the parks where you play and the library where you study. Because local government is close to the community, a well-reasoned message from a student can sometimes make a real difference.
Key takeaways
- Many countries have national, regional and local levels of government.
- Federal systems share power between levels; unitary systems keep more power nationally.
- Local councils and mayors run services like parks, libraries and rubbish collection.
- Local budgets involve trade-offs, and residents can share their views.
Practice
1. Name three services usually provided by local government. 2. What is the difference between a federal and a unitary system? 3. Find out the name of your local council and one decision it made recently.
Answers: 1 any three, such as parks, libraries, rubbish collection or local roads. 2 a federal system shares power between national and regional governments by the constitution; a unitary system keeps most power with the national government. 3 answers will vary depending on where you live.