| A | B |
|---|
| block grant | federal funds given to state and local governments for broad purposes |
| borough | a term used in Alaska for a county |
| charter | a basic plan of government granted by a state legislature to a local government |
| city | the largest type of municipality |
| city council | the lawmaking body of a city |
| commission | a local government body that has both legislative and executive powers |
| constable | an officer who enforces township laws |
| council member-at-large | a member of a local council who is elected by all the voters of a community |
| county seat | the town or city in which a county government is located |
| county | a subdivision of state government formed to carry out state laws, collect taxes, and supervise elections |
| county clerk | the official who keeps count records |
| district attorney | the official who represents the state government in county trials |
| grant-in-aid | federal funds given to state and local government for specific projects |
| home rule | the power of a city to write its own municipal charter and to manage its own affairs |
| mayor | the chief executive of a city government |
| municipality | a local governmental unit that is incorporated by the state and has a large degree of self government |
| ordinance | a regulation that governs a local governmental unit |
| parish | a term used in Louisiana for a county |
| sheriff | the chief law-enforcement official in some county governments |
| special district | a unit of local government set up to provide a specific service |
| town | a unit of local government, usually larger than a village and smaller than a city |
| town meeting | a form of government in which all citizens meet regularly to discuss town issues |
| township | a unit of local government that maintains local roads and rural schools within counties |
| village | a unit of local government, usually smaller than a town |
| ward | an election district within a city or county |
