Link to free PDF version.

How does local government affect daily life in North Carolina? How does it work? How is public participation important?

This book answers those questions for a general audience. Widely used in civic education courses, the book describes how North Carolina cities, towns, and counties are organized and what they do. The book encourages playing an active role in one's own community and becoming personally engaged in maintaining an effective government.

Each chapter includes definitions of key terms in the margins for quick reference, articles from local newspapers, and discussion questions. The newspaper articles relay current events and help students understand the relevance of key aspects of local government.