View photos from the all-day conference here.

Local government matters. While Washington commands more media attention, local government affects people's lives the most on a daily basis. In California, more than two-thirds of all public money is spent by nearly 5000 local government entities, such as counties, cities, school and special districts.

In recent years, municipal governments have suffered under declines in press coverage, civic engagement, and voting turnout. Nearly all local governments have faced pressing fiscal challenges, which have forced several to declare bankruptcy. Some have been rocked by political scandals.

The news isn't all bad. While the state and federal governments face gridlock, local governments in California have taken the lead in problem solving and policy innovation.

The Political Science Department is pleased to present the second annual conference on local government. The conference is made possible due to a generous grant from Fieldstead and Company.

(Photo: Council members meet in an improvised city hall following the fire that destroyed their chambers in Vancouver, British Columbia, 1886.)