Local, County, and Municipal Law: County Government

County governments in the United States function as local administrative arms within the states, separate in most cases from cities. All states except Connecticut and Rhode Island have functioning county governments. Legally, county governments derive their powers from state constitutions and from specific enactments of the legislature. County governments typically record land transfers and mortgages, licenses marriages, help collect taxes, assess property values, and other such functions--although certain constitutional officers (sheriffs, property valuation administrators, county clerks) may also be legally responsible for these acts.