PSPA 630-Local & Metropolitan Government

Discussion of the operational and administrative aspects of local and metropolitan government in the United States, including design and structure, municipal law, finance, administrative organization, local political systems, and intergovernmental relations.

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MPA Competencies

• Explain and explore the history of towns, cities and municipalities, and the development of forms of local government including council-manager government and other legal platforms for local governance.

• Understand the legal relationships between state and local governments with an emphasis on state-local relations in Illinois.

• Describe and analyze the relationship between politics and administration in the local government setting and apply relevant theoretical frameworks to assess current problems in local government.

• Describe, analyze, and offer recommendations on local government administration, service delivery and collaboration.

• Assess trends in metropolitan policy and governance through the lens of Chicago’s metropolitan region.

• Describe and analyze mechanisms for democratic interactions, anchorage and civic engagement in local government.