In this classic work of political science, George Laurence Gomme provides a detailed account of the principles of effective local governance. Drawing on the best practices of cities and communities throughout history, Gomme offers a compelling vision of how local government can be harnessed to promote social justice and economic prosperity. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the theory and practice of democratic governance. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.