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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

COUNTIES

[photo, Prince George's County Courthouse, Duvall Wing, Upper Marlboro, Maryland] For much of Maryland, local government typically is county government. Twenty-three counties and Baltimore City make up the twenty-four main local jurisdictions found in Maryland. Baltimore City, although a municipality, has been considered on a par with county jurisdictions since the adoption of the Maryland Constitution of 1851.

Prince George's County Courthouse, Duvall Wing, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, October 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt. The Duvall Wing reopened May 14, 2007.

Allegany County

Carroll County

Harford County

St. Mary's County

Anne Arundel County

Cecil County

Howard County

Somerset County

Baltimore City

Charles County

Kent County

Talbot County

Baltimore County

Dorchester County

Montgomery County

Washington County

Calvert County

Frederick County

Prince George's County

Wicomico County

Caroline County

Garrett County

Queen Anne's County

Worcester County

Thirteen of Maryland's counties are governed by boards of county commissioners. These include Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Washington and Worcester counties. Among these, six have adopted a code "home rule" form of government: Allegany, Caroline, Charles, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Worcester. "Home rule" empowers the county with broad legislative authority, and limits the General Assembly's local legislative powers.

Ten Maryland counties have ratified charter forms of government: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, Talbot, and Wicomico. All of these are governed by county councils; and all (except Dorchester & Talbot) are led by county executives.

Maryland Municipalities (by county)
Maryland Municipalities (by name)
Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Interstate Agencies (Maryland memberships)
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland at a Glance

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