Local Government
Local government provides services such as schools, rubbish collection and libraries, run by elected councils.
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Local government provides services such as schools, rubbish collection and libraries, run by elected councils.
- Councillors are elected locally
- Funded by council tax and grants
- Responsible for planning
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Local Government?
Within Economics & Civics, which covers money, markets, business, government, law and citizenship: how societies are organised and run, this topic explains Local Government. Economics and civics topics explain how money, markets, laws and government affect people, so each topic here pairs a clear definition with a model.
Check that you can explain Local Government in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Local Government helps you read the news critically and weigh up policies, choices and arguments about society.
Local Government in detail
Local government is the level of government that provides services in a particular area, run by elected councils. In the UK, councils are responsible for services such as schools, refuse collection, libraries, housing, social care, planning, roads and parks. Councillors are elected, and some areas have directly elected mayors.
Funding comes from council tax, business rates and grants from central government. Local government allows decisions to reflect local needs and gives citizens a voice, but resources may be limited and quality can vary between areas. People can take part by voting, attending meetings and contacting their councillors.
How the interactive helps you understand Local Government
Click a step, or use the Previous and Next buttons, to move through the sequence one stage at a time. Auto-play moves on for you.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Local Government.
Real-life uses and examples
- Give a balanced answer about Local Government by considering more than one point of view.
- Relate Local Government to a news story about prices, jobs, elections or government spending.
- Use Local Government to weigh up the pros and costs of a policy or decision.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing a short-term effect with a long-term one.
- Giving an opinion without evidence or a clear economic or civic reason.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Local Government
What is Local Government?
Local government provides services such as schools, rubbish collection and libraries, run by elected councils.
What are the most important points about Local Government?
The main points are: Councillors are elected locally; Funded by council tax and grants; Responsible for planning.
Why is Local Government useful?
Understanding Local Government helps you read the news critically and weigh up policies, choices and arguments about society.
How can I practise Local Government?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Local Government?
Related topics in Economics & Civics include The Media and Democracy, Community and Identity, Freedom of Speech.