Cities 101

Cities 101 is a series of resources developed by the National League of Cities to introduce and explain municipal government in the United States. There are many ways cities are created, and there exists considerable variation in their power and authority. 

Officials & Powers

• Mayoral Powers
• Council Powers
• Delegation of Power
• Annexation

Forms & Types

• Types of Local Governments
• Forms of Local Governments
• Municipal Charters
• Metro Councils
• Consolidations
• Number of Local Governments

Finance

• Local Budgets
• Revenue Structures
• Municipal Bonds
• Pensions
• Bankruptcy
• School Financing

Elections

• Terms and Term Lengths
• Partisan vs. Non-Partisan