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.
The School of Government publishes essential books, manuals, reports, articles, bulletins, and other print and online content related to state and local government.
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.
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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.
A municipality (city, town, or village) may use the forms below when its governing body wishes to modify the municipality’s form of government in one of the ways authorized by G.S. 160A-101 or when the governing body has received a petition from citizens who wish to do so. A few of these forms were originally drafted by lawyers at the North Carolina League of Municipalities; the remainder were prepared at the School of Government using the League's forms as templates.
In addition to the forms for use by a municipal governing body, the page also includes forms that may be used by citizens who seek to initiate modifications in their municipality’s forms of government or to force a referendum on modifications proposed and adopted by the governing body.
A note about terminology usage: The forms use the term “governing board” in some places and the term “governing body” in others. The distinction arises in those cities with a separately elected mayor. The term “governing board” refers to the council, board of commissioners, or board of aldermen and does not include the mayor. The term “governing body” refers to the governing board plus the mayor. (The general law, G.S. Chapter 160A, uses "council" to refer to the governing board and "council and mayor" when it means governing body.)
