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PUA 6304, Local Government 1 Cou rse Learning Outcomes for Unit I Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 1. Discuss the role and function of state and local governments as well as the increasing role of NPOs . 2. Examine the changes impacting state and local governments. Reading Assignment State and Local Government : Chapter 1: New Directions for State and Local Governments Leading Across Boundaries: Creating Collaborative Agencies in a Networked World : Chapter 1: The Promise, and Challenge, of Leading in a Networked World Unit Lesson An Overview of Local and State Government It is important to understand the func tions of local and state governments. As we will see in the course these levels of government are the “closest “to the citizens that they serve. As such , they directly impact our lives in many ways. Indeed, it is difficult to think of an aspect of your lif e that does not involve the government, a government program, or a policy. You will realize it is quite difficult because the government affects so many aspects of life. From paying taxes, to using roads, to voting, all citizens interact with the governmen t in a number of ways. As an example of a local function , consider the location of stop signs in our communities. Depending on where you live a stop sign may be seen as enhancing the safety of your neighborhood. Alternatively, if you are just transiting th rough a neighborhood , a stop sign might be seen as simply slowing you down on your way through that area. Local governments are responsible for things like stop signs and balancing our individual and public needs and wants within a democratic and responsive system of government. This unit examines the U.S. government system (federal, state and local) with an emphasis on the state and local levels. Specifically, we introduce the history, evolution , and current issues within these (state and local) levels of government. As we will see , these levels have developed in a very autonomous manner , but they are increasingly interdependent .In that regard, the unit introduces the concept of not -for -profit , or nonprofit (NPO) organizations as a “partner” that we see working with state and local governments. We increasingly see that many aspects of what were previously “government” functions are now more formally the responsibility of state and local government working in concert with NPOs . One example of the complexity of our system is evident in education. In this sector we see federal state and local involvement , as well as NPOs . UNIT I STUDY GUIDE Local and State Governments and Not -For - Profits: Building Our Communities PUA 6304, Local Government 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title Our local high school works to maintain state standards of academic achievement. These standards were developed at the state level from a framework devised by the U.S. Federal Government. Each state in the country has developed unique standards to work within the guidelines set by the federal government. In addition to maintaining state standards within a federal and state framework, your local schools rely on state as well as federal funding programs. Finally, we do see NPOs increasingly involved in education policy development and the delivery of education services through agencies such as charter schools. Government, Policies and Regulations Overall, the U.S. Government is organized in a hierarchical manner beginning with local municipal governments and ending with the federal government. This course examines the state and local levels of government and the increasing role of NPO s in serving our citizens and our communities. What can we look to as examples of “best practice” in this area? W hat do we see as main concerns and opportunities with respect to this area? W hich regulations and policies do we see advancing the interdepende nce amongst state and local governments and NPOs ? As we see , education is a good example of some of the trends that link these entities. Another helpful example is related to disaster management and recovery. There are many natural (and man - made) disaste rs that are front and center in the news media on a regular basis. Often we see that disaster planning and disaster management is an inter -agency responsibility. Think about the role of the state and local governments in responding to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Sandy. In addition, where do agencies like the Red Cross fit in to our disaster relief initiatives? Key questions that we need to address in examining these increasingly intertwined relations are related to the efficiency, equity , and effectiven ess of the services being delivered to the public. Are we able to ascertain that these working relationships really work on behalf of our communities? Are monies wisely spent? Please note, the course will introduce and discuss the increasing importance of collaboration and partnerships that we see provid ing community services. These partnerships include governments at all levels and not -for -profit organizations. NPOs are tax exempt community organizations usually organized to provide specific services or assistance to their community. For the most part these NPOs utilize volunteers to provide these services. Overall, NPOs are taking on a more important role in partner ing with governments at all levels to provide projects or services to communities. This course will explore these topics through a series of structured readings, discussions, short papers , and a course project. In particular, we will use current articles to assist us in developing a focus on inter - dependencies that are increasingly evident between state and local governments and NPOs . Suggested Reading Click here to access a PDF of the State and Local Government Chapter 1 Presentation . Click here to access a PDF on peer -review publication resources and nonprofit organization resources. National Civic League Their mission is to strengthen democracy by increasing the capacity of groups and individuals to participate fully in and build healthy and prosperous communities . http://www.ncl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96&Itemid=178 PUA 6304, Local Government 3 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title National League of Cities The National Leagu e of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents. http://www.nlc.org/ National Association of Counties NACo is the only national association that represents county governments in the United States. NACo provides essential services to the nation's 3,069 counties and advan ces issues with a unified voice before the federal government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research and provides value -added services to save counties and taxpayers money. http://www.naco.org/Pages/default.aspx International City/county Management Association ICMA, the International City/County Management Association, develops and advances professional local government management to create susta inable communities that improve lives worldwide. ICMA provides member support; publications; data and information; peer and results -oriented assistance; and training and professional development to nearly 9,000 city, town, and county experts and other indi viduals and organizations throughout the world. The management decisions made by ICMA's members affect millions of individuals living in thousands of communities, from small villages and towns to large metropolitan areas. http://icma.org/en/icma/home The National Governor's Association The National Governors Association (NGA) — the bipartisan organization of the nation's governors — promotes visionary state leadership, shares best practices and speaks with a colle ctive voice on national policy. http://www.nga.org/cms/home.html