What are the laws related to the organization and operation of local governments?

In Washington, local governments are organized and operated as per various statutes, constitutional provisions, and common law. The core source governing local government is the Washington State Constitution. It gives broad authority to the Legislature to establish and govern local governments, and cities and towns in particular. However, the Constitution also grants limited home rule powers to counties, cities, and towns. This means that local governments are allowed to exercise certain powers that are not authorized by the state. The local governments are also required to comply with other state laws. These include the Local Government Act, which establishes the legal framework for the operation of cities, towns, and counties. There are also various other statutes that regulate the powers and duties of these local governments, such as the Building Regulations Act, the Open Public Meetings Act, the Subdivision and Shoreline Management Act, and the City Planning and Land Use Management Act. Additionally, local governments must also abide by common law, which includes a variety of rules and precedents established through court decisions. These rules generally regulate the powers of local governments and their obligations to citizens. Overall, local governments in Washington are governed by a variety of statutes, constitutional provisions, and common law. These laws provide the structure and framework for how local governments are organized and operated. They ensure that local governments are held to certain standards and requirements set by the state.

What are the laws related to the organization and operation of local governments?

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