About

As the largest
university-based local
government training,
advisory, and research
organization in the United
States, the School of
Government serves more
than 12,000 public officials
each year.

Browse by Role

The School provides
content and resources for a
wide array of local
government and judicial
officials in North Carolina.

Select your role to explore
all related content.

Browse by Topic

The School provides content
and resources on a wide array
of topics in local government
and judicial administration in
North Carolina.

Select a topic to explore all
related content.

Courses

The School of Government
offers up to 200 courses,
workshops, webinars, and
professional conferences
each year.

Publications

The School of Government
publishes essential books,
manuals, reports, articles,
bulletins, and other print and
online content related to state
and local government.

Blogs

Faculty write for a number
of School of Government
blogs providing timely
updates on emerging issues.

Resources

The School of Government
offers information and
services related to a wide
range of topics relevant to
government and judicial
officials—in-person and on a
variety of platforms.

Blog Posts

Timely updates on emerging issues

Centers and Services

Specialized training/research hubs and consulting services

Frequently Asked Questions

Aggregated answers to common questions on a variety of topics

Knapp Library

Print and online materials and research expertise

Legal Summaries

Brief descriptions of legal cases, bills, or legislative activity

Listservs

Information exchanges for peers and faculty experts

Microsites

In-depth or aggregated content for local government and judicial officials

Tools and Apps

Online and mobile tools for employees on-the-go

Master of Public
Administration Program

The UNC MPA program prepares public service leaders. The program is offered in two formats: on-campus and online.

For more information, visit mpa.unc.edu

Giving

The School of Government depends on private and public support for fulfilling its mission. Your gift will make a lasting impact on the quality of government and civic participation in North Carolina.

Knapp Library

The Joseph Palmer Knapp Library houses a large collection of material on state and local government, public administration, and management to support the School's instructional and research programs and the educational mission of the Master of Public Administration program. Reference and research services are available to all residents of North Carolina, and additional assistance is available to state and local government personnel, both elected and appointed.

Essentials of Municipal Government

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Essentials of Municipal Government

2023 Election Cycle

The School of Government’s Center for Public Leadership and Governance and our partner organization, the North Carolina League of Municipalities, are honored to offer our biennial school for newly elected municipal officials, Essentials of Municipal Government. This course will help those newly elected to office successfully transition from campaigning to governing.

On the campaign trail, you make speeches and shake hands; you make commitments and promise good things for your citizens. Once elected, you take an oath of office to uphold the laws and the Constitution of our state and our nation; the scope of your responsibilities can seem daunting. In this two-day course, you will learn the following:

The fundamentals of municipal government law, authority, and practice
The core functions of municipal government and the importance of your town charter
The role of the elected body and your role as one of its members
The legal boundaries of ethics and transparency
The exemplary habits of a high-performing governing board, which include building positive relationships with staff and external partners who influence life in your communities

Essentials of Municipal Government also provides an excellent opportunity for incumbents to learn about newer elements of laws affecting municipal governance. It also fulfills the mandatory Ethics training requirement. All participants will gain a deeper appreciation of the value of governing at the municipal level and the importance of developing the skills and behaviors that lead to effective local government leadership. Participants especially appreciate getting to know other elected officials from across their regions and learning from each other’s experiences.

This engaging course includes role-plays, small group discussions, peer-to-peer insights, and practical tips and tools for navigating the municipal governing environment. Dates and location for the upcoming program cycle are: