Who Does What? A Quick Reference for Local Government
You don’t need a civics degree to make change. You just need to know who to call, and what they can actually do.
This guide covers the five levels of government that affect your daily life.
Use it to figure out where to show up, who to pressure, and what to demand.
Level 1: City Council (or Town Council)
What they do: Make laws for your city (ordinances). Approve the city budget. Set property tax rates (partially). Hire and fire the city manager (if your city has one). Approve zoning and land use decisions.
What they control: Police (some cities), parks, libraries, garbage collection, water (sometimes), local roads, noise ordinances, business licenses, housing codes.
What they DON’T control: Schools (that’s school board), county jails (that’s county commission), state voting laws (that’s state legislature), federal benefits (that’s federal).
When to call them: Potholes, broken streetlights, noisy neighbors, zoning changes, police misconduct, park funding, garbage pickup.
How to find yours: Google “[Your city] city council members” or look up a ward map to find who represents your neighborhood.
Show up at: City council meetings (usually weekly or monthly).
Level 2: Mayor
What they do: Runs the city’s day-to-day operations (in “strong mayor” systems). Or presides over council and votes to break ties (in “weak mayor” systems). Proposes budgets. Vetoes ordinances (sometimes). Represents the city publicly.
What they control: City departments (police, fire, public works) depending on the city charter.
When to call them: Big-picture issues, budget priorities, major police misconduct cases, city-wide policy changes.
Note: Some cities have a city manager instead of a strong mayor. The city manager is hired by the council and does the day-to-day work. If you have a city manager, that’s who runs operations.
Level 3: School Board
What they do: Hires and fires the school superintendent. Approves the school budget. Sets curriculum (within state guidelines). Decides school start times, boundaries, and closures.
What they control: Schools, teachers, principals, school police (some districts), lunch programs, special education, gifted programs, discipline policies.
What they DON’T control: State testing requirements (that’s state legislature), teacher certification (state), school funding formula (state).
When to call them: School closures, curriculum changes, discipline disparities (e.g., Black students suspended more often), lack of Black teachers, school police misconduct, lunch debt.
How to find yours: Google “[Your school district] school board”
Show up at: School board meetings (usually monthly).
Level 4: County Commission (or Board of Supervisors)
What they do: Run the county government. Approve county budget. Set county property tax rates. Oversee jails, sheriffs, public health, elections (sometimes), and services for unincorporated areas (land not inside any city).
What they control: Sheriff and jail, district attorney (funding), courts (funding), public health departments, voting machines and polling places (sometimes), roads outside city limits, affordable housing programs (sometimes).
What they DON’T control: City police (that’s city council), schools (school board), state laws (state legislature).
When to call them: Sheriff misconduct, jail conditions, public health issues (e.g., water crisis), voting access, affordable housing funding, mental health services.
How to find yours: Google “[Your county] county commission”
Show up at: County commission meetings (usually weekly or monthly).
Level 5: State Legislature
What they do: Make state laws. Approve state budget. Set state taxes. Draw voting maps (in most states). Oversee state agencies (police, prisons, highways, health).
What they control: Voting laws (voter ID, early voting, mail voting), criminal laws and sentencing, education funding formula, Medicaid, state police, prisons, highway funding.
What they DON’T control: Federal laws (that’s Congress), city zoning (city council), school curriculum details (school board, within state guidelines).
When to call them: Voter suppression laws, education funding, criminal justice reform, Medicaid expansion, state police misconduct, gerrymandering.
How to find yours: Google “[Your state] state legislature” or “Who is my state representative?”
Show up at: State capitol during legislative session (less accessible than local meetings, but you can call and email).
Quick Reference Table
| Issue | Who to Call | Meeting to Attend |
| Potholes, streetlights, garbage | City Council | City Council |
| Police misconduct (city police) | City Council | City Council |
| Police misconduct (sheriff) | County Commission | County Commission |
| Schools, curriculum, discipline | School Board | School Board |
| Jails, district attorney, public health | County Commission | County Commission |
| Voting laws, state police, prisons | State Legislature | State Capitol (call/email) |
| Zoning, housing codes, noise | City Council | City Council |
| Affordable housing funding | County Commission | County Commission |
Who Has the Most Power Over Your Daily Life?
Ranked from most immediate to least immediate:
| Rank | Body | Why |
| 1. | City Council | They decide on policing, garbage, parks, zoning – things you touch every day |
| 2. | School Board | They decide on your children’s education, discipline, and safety |
| 3. | County Commission | They decide on sheriffs, jails, public health, and voting machines |
| 4. | State Legislature | They decide on voting laws, criminal codes, and education funding |
| 5. | Congress / President | They decide on federal issues (but far from your daily life) |
The closer to home, the more power they have over your actual life. Don’t ignore federal politics, but don’t neglect local government – that’s where change happens fastest.
How to Find Your Elected Officials
| Level | Search Term |
| City Council | “[Your city] city council members” |
| Mayor | “[Your city] mayor” |
| School Board | “[Your school district] school board members” |
| County Commission | “[Your county] county commission” |
| State Representative | “Who is my state representative?” + your address |
| State Senator | “Who is my state senator?” + your address |
Pro tip: Many cities have a “ward map” or “district map” that shows which council member represents your neighborhood. Find the map, find your street, find your person.
What to Say When You Call or Email
Template for calling an elected official’s office:
“Hello, my name is [Name]. I live at [address or neighborhood]. I am calling to ask [Name of official] to [support/oppose] [specific issue]. Can you please pass along my message? Thank you.”
Template for attending a meeting and speaking (short version):
“My name is [Name]. I live at [address or neighborhood]. I am here to ask the council to [specific action]. This matters because [short reason]. Thank you.”
That’s it. You don’t need a speech. You just need to show up and say your name.
One Page Summary: Who Does What
| Body | Controls | Meeting | Power Level |
| City Council | Police (city), parks, zoning, garbage | Weekly/monthly | Very high (daily life) |
| Mayor | City operations (varies) | Weekly/monthly | High |
| School Board | Schools, teachers, discipline, curriculum | Monthly | Very high (children) |
| County Commission | Sheriff, jail, DA, public health, voting machines | Weekly/monthly | High |
| State Legislature | Voting laws, criminal codes, education funding | Sessions | Medium (but important) |
Final Tip: Start Local
You cannot change Congress overnight. You cannot flip the state legislature in one election.
But you can attend a city council meeting next week.
Start there. Learn the names. Learn the faces. Show up again and again.
That is how we win.
Download Other Resources
- Bank Fee Escape Checklist
- The Demands (Full List)
- How to Attend a City Council Meeting
- 12-Month Calendar – Four Pillars
- Why an Economic Boycott?
- Black People as a Protected Class (Demand #12 Deep Dive)
Disclaimer
This document is for educational and informational purposes only. Government structures vary by city, county, and state. Check your local government’s website for specific rules and responsibilities. By using this information, you assume all risks and agree that neither the author nor the publisher is liable for any losses or damages.
You are free to: Share, print, and distribute this guide non-commercially.
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