Council of Governments
Encyclopedia
Councils of governments are regional bodies that exist throughout the United States
. They are also sometimes called regional councils, regional commissions, regional planning commissions, planning district commissions, and development districts. A typical council is defined to serve an area of several counties, and they address issues such as regional
and municipal planning, economic
and community development
, cartography
and GIS
, hazard mitigation and emergency planning, aging services, water use
, pollution control, transit administration, and transportation planning
.
Council membership is drawn from the county, city, and other government bodies within its area.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They are also sometimes called regional councils, regional commissions, regional planning commissions, planning district commissions, and development districts. A typical council is defined to serve an area of several counties, and they address issues such as regional
Regional planning
Regional planning deals with the efficient placement of land use activities, infrastructure, and settlement growth across a larger area of land than an individual city or town. The related field of urban planning deals with the specific issues of city planning...
and municipal planning, economic
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
and community development
Community development
Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....
, cartography
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
and GIS
Geographic Information System
A geographic information system, geographical information science, or geospatial information studies is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographically referenced data...
, hazard mitigation and emergency planning, aging services, water use
Water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
, pollution control, transit administration, and transportation planning
Transportation planning
Transportation planning is a field involved with the evaluation, assessment, design and siting of transportation facilities .-Models and Sustainability :...
.
Council membership is drawn from the county, city, and other government bodies within its area.
State versions
- North Carolina Councils of GovernmentsNorth Carolina Councils of GovernmentsThe North Carolina Councils of Government are voluntary associations of county and municipal governments, established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1972....
- Texas Association of Regional CouncilsTexas Association of Regional CouncilsThe Texas Association of Regional Councils is a state organization of Texas' 24 regional councils of governments.Regional councils of governments are voluntary associations of local governments formed under state law...
- Virginia Planning District CommissionsVirginia Planning District CommissionsVirginia's Planning District Commissions were formed in 1968 by the Virginia General Assembly. The enabling legislation for Planning District Commissions is known as the Regional Cooperation Act Planning Districts are comparable to Council of Governments that exist in other states.Virginia was...
Regional versions
County-wide version
- Maricopa Association of GovernmentsMaricopa Association of GovernmentsThe Maricopa Association of Governments is an association of governments that represents the bulk of the metropolitan area of Phoenix, Arizona. It was formed as a result of the guidelines of the 1973 Federal Transportation Act...
- Pima Association of Governments
Further reading
- Nelson Wikstrom; "Councils of Governments"; 1977, Burnham, Munger & Root, ISBN 0-88229-322-2.
- W. G. Roeseler; "Public intervention and pseudo government in urban areas : a critique of the public involvement process and the councils of government"; 1977, EMR Publications, ISBN 0-930308-03-4.