noun
1.
a. : the government of a specific local area (as a city, county, or town) constituting a subdivision of a nation, state, or other major political unit
no tradition of autonomy in local government — J.A.Corry
every state is divided into local government areas — F.A.Ogg & P.O.Ray
b. or local self-government : self-government in local affairs by a political subdivision is distinguished from administration of the area by the central government
a law passed by the appropriate legislature may abolish local government — J.A.Corry
customary to think of Britain as the home of local self-government — C.J.Friedrich
— compare home rule 2
2. : the body of persons exercising the functions of government in a local territorial unit and constituting the unit as an active agency
in the performance of such powers the local government is acting as the state's agent — J.E.Pate
3. : a branch of political science dealing with the government of local areas
college-level courses in local government