 |    | The Constitution of the USA does not define local government. This has been left up to the different wishes and circumstances of the states. America 's local government and administration is carried out at county level.
In the first years of organised American government, the counties were treated as arms of state government. But, over time, they gradually became more independent. Local government has developed a stronger role as populations have grown and spread throughout the country. As the counties gradually provided more services to their population, they were held more accountable at the local level. The counties offer important opportunities for real participation and representation.
As in the UK , local government is responsible for the types of duties best managed by local people. These may include, for example, education, child welfare, fire and police emergency services, consumer protection, economic development and managing water quality. Some counties have responsibility for constructing and maintaining roads. They raise taxes on local property and, in some states, can levy a local tax on sales.
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 | There are three basic forms of county government:
Commission - an elected body both makes local ordinances (by-laws) and takes executive decisions.
Commission and Administrator - the elected body appoints an Administrator. He or she has responsibility for local services and may be dismissed by the Commission.
Council and Executive Officer - each is elected separately and each is independent of the other. There is separation of powers. The person in charge of administration (EO) can veto decisions of the elected county board.
Although a majority of counties maintain the Commission form, more than 40% have shifted to the county administrator or the elected executive type. In many cases, the states have legislated for the introduction of an elected executive at the county level.
There are 3,066 counties and these vary hugely in area.
The largest county in the USA is the Borough (another name for a county) of North Slope , Alaska (area 227,559 sq km). One of the smallest is Arlington County , Virginia (area 67 sq km).
Populations of the counties also vary enormously. Los Angeles County , California , has more than 9.5 million people, while Loving County , Texas , has a mere 140 residents.
The number of counties in each state also varies: Massachusetts has 14 counties; Alabama has 67; New Jersey has 21 and Texas 254.
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