A feud over local taxes turns into a referendum on government itself
For more than a year, the residents of Amelia, just outside Cincinnati, Ohio, have been consumed by a fiery debate over a proposal to impose a new local tax of
Read moreFor more than a year, the residents of Amelia, just outside Cincinnati, Ohio, have been consumed by a fiery debate over a proposal to impose a new local tax of
Read moreThe Census of Governments occurs every 5 years, covering all active state and local government units in the U.S. The 2017 Census of Governments, similar to those taken since 1957,
Read moreGovernment fragmentation has long been torn between two competing interests. On one hand, many officials argue consolidation boosts efficiency and makes coordination easier. Citizens, though, remain attached to their local
Read moreMost state constitutions require that counties have an elected sheriff who serves as the county’s chief law enforcement officer. The sheriff’s office is over a thousand years old and today
Read moreCalifornia is too large to be governed effectively and that splitting it up would result in “better decision making and real solutions closer to home.” At least, that is the
Read moreHow would you measure the state of local democracy across the U.S.? Are local governments in some states more representative and democratic than in others? How does the United States
Read moreThe tax structure of metropolitan counties in the United States is increasingly complex. First, local governments are expected to provide tax relief to attract and maintain businesses and not over-burden
Read moreThree famous Virginians— James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and George Mason—were leading voices in the drafting of the United States Constitution which made federalism and self-governance cornerstones of American democracy. Although
Read moreAlthough Americans are more sharply divided along political lines than ever, most Americans agree on the bedrock principles of the American federal system, including the distribution of powers and responsibilities
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