Local Government Law

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.

Hardbound - New, hardbound print book.

The Fourth Edition considers the unique role that local governments play in the federal system. The book asks about the distinct characteristics of local governments that distinguish them from other levels of government. The materials then explore three relationships involving local governments: the relationship between the locality and the state, the relationship between the locality and its residents, and the relationship between the locality and its neighbors. The new edition discusses recent developments in the relationship between the federal government and states and localities, including: the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions in Riegel v. Medtronic (2008), Good v. Altria Group (2009), and Levine v. Wyeth (2009) concerning the federal preemption of state law; the 6th Circuit's decision in School District of Pontiac v. Secretary of the U.S. Dep't of Education (2009), involving the No Child Left Behind Act and unfunded federal mandates to states and school districts; and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Gonzales v. Raich (2005), affirming Congress's power under the Commerce Clause to prohibit states from authorizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The fourth edition also includes new materials concerning the role of local governments in local economic development.

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.