Governance

These webpages contain resources for Washington local governments relating to the subject of "Governance", including information pertaining to candidates and newly elected officials, effective communication and citizen involvement, legal issues, legislative organization, public meetings and process, government organization, forms of government, policy making and strategic planning, youth involvement and other related special topics.

Candidates and Newly Elected Officials

• Candidate Information Resources for Local Government Elective Offices
• Municipal Elections
• Newly Elected City Officials Information
• Newly Elected County Officials Information

Citizen Participation and Engagement

• Effective Communication and Public Participation
• Creating Inclusive Communities
• Local Government Education for Youth
• Social Media
• Youth Participation in Local Government 

Legal Issues

• The Appearance of Fairness Doctrine
• Conflicts of Interest
• Open Public Meetings Act
• Public Records Act

Legislative Organization, Meetings and Process

• Boards and Commissions
• Council Meeting Agendas
• Council/Board of Commissioners Rules of Procedure
• Council Committees
• Ethics - Sample Codes
• Council/Commission Meetings and Public Hearings
• Parliamentary Procedures

Offices and Officers

• Council Election by Wards or Districts
• County Elected and Appointed Officials
• Municipal Elections
• Removal from Office by Recall (), MRSC
• Roles and Responsibilities

Forms of Government and Organization

• Annexation
• Council Election by Wards or Districts
• County Classification and Creation
• County Forms of Government
• City Forms of Government
• Incorporation
• Special Purpose Districts

Classification of Washington Cities

• City Classification Overview
• First Class Cities by Form of Government
• Second Class Cities by Form of Government
• Towns by Form of Government
• Optional Municipal Code Cities by Form of Government
• Washington Cities by Classification and Form of Government
• A Comparison of the Powers of a Town and a Noncharter Code City
• A Comparison of the Powers of a Second Class City and a Noncharter Code City

Policy Making and Strategic Planning

• Community and Organizational Leadership
• Council Committees
• Creating a Community Mission Statement
• Creating a Community Vision
• Is it Policy or Administration?
• Policy Making
• Strategic Planning

Special Topics

• Best Practices in Local Government
• Cities and Counties That Have Powers of Initiative and Referendum
• Council Election by Wards or Districts
• Creating Inclusive Communities
• Impact of Demographic Change on Local Government
• Initiative and Referendum Guide (), MRSC Report no.26, 01/2006
• Intergovernmental Cooperation
• Local Government Ballot Measures for November 2011 General Election
• National and State Opinion Polls about Government Performance
• Performance Measurement

Need more information?

Feel free to Ask MRSC. Washington cities, counties, and our contract partners can call or email MRSC for more information and advice - free of charge.