County Roles & Responsibilities

This question is the first step in learning about county governments and our collective impact on our communities and the lives of residents. Counties are one of America’s oldest forms of government, are key partners in our nation's system of federalism and provide critical services.

Counties are governed by locally elected officials, including more than 19,350 county elected executives and board members responsible for counties’ budgets, policies and oversight. In general, states authorize and set the roles and responsibilities of county governments. Explore how counties differ across the nation and how that affects the delivery of critical services to our residents.

All counties share the vision of achieving health, safe and vibrant counties across America.  We are responsible for maintaining roads and bridges, caring for our physical and mental health, administering elections, ensuring public safety, strengthening environmental stewardship, and so much more.

Counties are uniquely positioned to implement and administer vital intergovernmental systems, facilitate cooperation of all levels of government, and deliver results and impact for our residents and businesses at the community level.

Find tools to highlight the ways counties touch our everyday lives and act as key intergovernmental partners.