Chapter 4 – Foundations of Ohio Government
4.8 Local Government
The Ohio Constitution sets the ground rules for local governments. It spells out what cities, counties, townships, and other local bodies are allowed to do and what limits they face. This creates a common framework for how local governments operate across the state, while still giving communities some room to make their own choices.
Common local governments in Ohio include:
- Cities, villages, and townships
- Counties
- School districts
- Other special districts
We will also explore the relationship between local governments and the state, and how they work together to serve the public.
The system that we’ve created in the U.S. is complicated. It’ll take some work for you to grasp the different types of local government and the jargon that we use to describe it. Our system of local government isn’t always the simplest or most efficient, but it is the result of adaptation to change over time.
To prepare you and get you in the right frame of mind, watch this seemingly unrelated Saturday Night Live skit. No one said we can’t have fun in this class:
YouTube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYqfVE-fykk
Duration: 4:50
The skit highlights how our systems are often nuanced, path-dependent, and repurposed. Don’t get frustrated as we work our way through the material. You will finish reading this textbook a more informed citizen.
