Local Government Law provides a unique resource with concise, easy-to-understand explanations of important legal issues faced by local public officials, community boards, and city councils. From the moment officials take office, they face decisions related to basic principles found in state and federal law. The same is true for those in the private sector aiming to work successfully with local governments. This practical guidebook will empower public and private representatives with a functional grasp of legal principles, with chapters explaining what a local government is, the requirement to follow due process, local land use controls, the basics of the Freedom of Information Act, and many other important subjects that regularly arise. As a practical guidebook on local government law, this book provides a basic and empowering understanding for officials and private actors in the local government arena.

This Hornbook provides an overview of the operations and the interrelationships of the various levels of government in the United States, with emphasis on local units. The text first discusses local government units and examines the forms of government within these units. The relationship of local governments to state and federal governments is inspected. Additional coverage includes local units and their power, the limitations on those powers, the forms local legislative action may take, and the means for holding local governments liable.

This book provides a number of windows into homeland security and emergency management law - covering both the basic structure of the homeland security and emergency management system and presenting detailed analysis of specific areas (such as applying for federal preparedness funds, negotiating intergovernmental agreements, applying for disaster assistance, and managing the impact of catastrophic events).

The Oxford Handbook of State and Local Government is an historic undertaking. It contains a wide range of essays that define the important questions in the field, evaluate where we are in answering them, and set the direction and terms of discourse for future work. The Handbook will have a substantial influence in defining the field for years to come. The chapters critically assess both the key works of state and local politics literature and the ways in which the sub-field has developed. It covers the main areas of study in subnational politics by exploring the central contributions to the comparative study of institutions, behavior, and policy in the American context. Each chapter outlines an agenda for future research.

Local Governing Power: General Aspects, Limitations, Resolution of Power Conflicts and Challenges; Formation of the Local Government, Alteration, Boundary Changes; Some Problems of Organization and Operation: Officers, Employees, Allocation and Delegation of Functions, Elections; Regulation of Conduct and the Use of Land: Acquisition, Limitations on Use and Disposition of Goods, Services and Property; Revenues; Considerations Pertinent to Citizen Litigation with Local Governments.

"This edition continues the emphasis of prior editions on such topics as the relationship of local governments to state and federal governments; the needs of local governments for territory, for personnel, and for adequate financing; and the principal activities and possible liabilities of local government. There is increased attention to land use control, an area of growing activity on the part of institutions, ranging from the U.S. Supreme Court to local zoning boards. This includes material not found in some books in this field, on such important concepts as 'smart growth,' 'new urbanism,' and 'regulatory takings.'"--

This handbook evaluates the persistent problems in the fiscal systems of state and local governments and what can be done to solve them. Each chapter provides a description of the discipline area, examines major developments in policy practices and research, and opines on future prospects.