Rationale 

The purpose of this module is to develop a general orientation and understanding of local government
as a field of study.
Local governments have the responsibility to provide essential public services, such as education, transportation, health and safety, environmental and utilities (housing etc). Public administrators play an important role in the delivery of these services and the management of local government. The purposes of this course are on the one hand to provide students with a general understanding of local government and administration with regards to history, structure, political and administrative operation, finance and relationships with central government. On the other hand, it aims to develop students’ critical skills in analysing the various roles played by local government, and the numerous problems that it confronts in performing these.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course students will be expected to:

(i)    Describe the nature, structure and processes of local government
(ii)   Analyse the major debates, themes and issues pertaining to the contemporary system of local government.
(iii)  Identify the divisions of the government and their functions.
(iv)  Analyse and suggest solutions to problems confronted by local government.
(v)   Describe the types and structures of different governments. 
(vi)  Define the role, powers and duties of various political bodies of the government. 
(vii) Identify the main political parties in respective country. 
(viii) Describe an electoral system.
(ix)  List the factors that affect the successful implementation of public administration reforms.