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Governance & Civic Engagement

Planning for Stronger Local Democracy

This tool kit, made possible with support from the Rockefeller Brothers Foundation, is designed to assist officials in strengthening local democracy by cultivating transparency and inclusivity with citizens and key allies with shared responsibilities and mutual accountability for addressing and solving problems.

Comprehensive Civic Engagement in Eau Claire, WI

Eau Claire, Wisconsin’s Clear Vision project identified six long-term community performance areas and 125 action strategies, all linked by a concept of civic engagement that trains citizens in problem-solving skills and developed public leadership and collaboration among community governments, organizations, and institutions.

Beyond Civility: From Public Engagement to Problem Solving

The national discussion on civility demonstrates that many believe the current overheated rhetoric is not working as a means to solve the nation’s problems. This action guide assists city leaders in creating a framework democratic governance that encourages governing in a participatory, deliberative, inclusive and collaborative way.

Regional Problem-Solving:

A Fresh Look at What it Takes

Kathryn A. Foster
University at Buffalo Regional Institute
State University of New York

William R. Barnes
National League of Cities

Are you thinking that solving a particular problem will require coordinated action by several jurisdictions or even the whole region? This essay may help you assess the prospects for effective action: does your area have the governance capacity to come up with a way to address the issue you want to work at?

Democratic Governance & Civic Engagement

A growing disconnect between citizens and government – complicated by the challenges of financial strains, demographic changes, diminishing social capital, and increasing demands from citizens – has renewed the need for local leaders to revisit issues of democracy and governance. NLC is contributing to a national effort to strengthen democracy and governance at the local level by involving residents in government and public life and by focusing on developing an inclusive, collaborative, and effective relationship built on trust between citizens and government. Through these relationships, communities can work together to arrive at solutions to pressing problems.

Regional Governance

Problems and opportunities often do not respect municipal boundaries. So, local leaders find themselves crossing those boundaries in order to make their city a better place. NLC provides ideas and information to assist city leaders in working with one or several or many other jurisdictions in the area to achieve a goal.

Municipal Government

Cities 101 is a public resource developed by the National League of Cities to introduce and explain municipal government in the United States. There are many ways cities are created, and there exists considerable variation in their power and authority, but these pages attempt to distill the most salient information.

Public finance is fundamental to the activities of cities and towns. It’s how cities pay for the services that they provide and their ability to finance their work is driven by their underlying economic conditions. NLC has been tracking city fiscal conditions for 25 years.

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