Glossary of terms

Plain‑English definitions of common local government, legal, and financial terms used in Montana public service.

• What are Federal and State  Discrimination Laws?
• What are Essential Functions?
• What are Due Process Requirements?
• What is Disincorporation?
• What are Open Meetings Law?
• What are Ordinances?
• What is the Authority to Adopt Ordinances and Resolution?
• What is Conflict of Interest?
• What is the Council (Commission)?
• What are General Government Powers?
• What are Municipal Police Powers?
• What is Commission-Presiding Officer Form?
• What is Town Meeting Government?
• What is Commission- Presiding Officer?
• What is Commission-Manager?
• What are Special Improvement District (SID) Bonds?
• What are Public Accounting Principles?
• What is Local Government Basis of Accounting?
• What are Government Funds?
• What are Self Governing Powers?
• What are General Powers?
• What is Charter Government?
• What are the Characteristics of a Municipality?
• What is the Town Meeting Form?
• What is Commission- Manager Form?
• What is Alteration by Citizen Petition (Popular Initiative)?
• What are Governing Powers?
• What is the Definition of Officers?
• What are Local Courts of Limited Jurisdiction?
• What are Municipal Courts?
• What is a Job Description?
• What are the Types of Background Checks?
• What are Unfair Labour practices?
• What is Union Representation?
• What is The Montana Wrongful Discharge from Employment Act?
• What is Constructive discharge?
• What is the Grievance Process?
• What is travel Time?
• What is MCA 50-71-114. Rulemaking – variances
• What is MCA 50-71-116. Duties of public sector employers and public sector employees?
• What is MCA 39-71-1505 Rulemaking authority?
• What is a municipal budget?
• What is an annual budget?
• Key Concepts in Municipal Budgeting: Appropriations, Fund Types, and Fiscal Planning
• What is Governmental Fund Accounting?
• What is the Purpose of Debt?
• What is Neighborhood Politics?
• What are Community Surveys?
• What is  Federal Pre-emption?
• Who are the Decision Makers in Local Land Policy?
• What are Conditional Use Permits and Nonconforming Uses?
• What is Interim Zoning?
• What are Minor Subdivisions?
• What are  Phased Subdivisions?
• What is Commission Executive?
• What is a Self- Governing Charter?
• What is the Definition of a Municipality?
• How are Forms of Local Government Defined?
• What is the Commission Form?
• What is Commission- Executive (Council-Mayor) Form?
• What is Charter Form?
• What is Alteration by Local Government Review?
• What are Self- Government Powers?
• What are City and Municipal Courts?
• What are City Courts?
• What are Court Revenues?
• What is the Chief Executive?
• What is the Municipal Clerk?
• What is the City Attorney?
• What are the Department Heads?
• What are Boards and Commissions?
• What are Limits of Jurisdiction?
• What are Standards of Conduct for Public Officials?
• What are Common Municipal Definitions?
• What are Resolutions?
• What is Public Decision Making?
• What is Public Participation Law?
• What are Rules of Order?
• What is Posting the Agenda?
• What are Public Hearing Requirements?
• What are Ex Parte Communication by Council Members?
• What are minutes?
• What are Public Hearing Minutes?
• What are Electronic Communications?
• What is Veteran and Disability Preference?
• What are Performance Evaluations?
• What is a Probationary Period?
• What is Progressive Discipline?
• What is Workplace violence? 
• What is Discrimination in the Workplace?
• What is Harassment?
• What are Minimum Wages and Hours?
• What is Compensatory (Comp) time?
• What are Exempt Staff?
• What are Payroll Deductions?
• What are Child Labor Laws?
• What are Other Benefits?
• What are Personnel Files?
• What is MCA 50-71-115. Applicability of Standards – exceptions
• What is MCA 50-71-11 Public sector employer records and reports
• What is ARM 24.30.102. Occupational Safety and Health Code for Public Sector Employment?
• What are Alternative Budgeting Strategies?
• What are General Obligation Bonds?
• What are Revenue Bonds?
• What are Bond ratings?
• What are Proprietary Funds?
• What are Fiduciary Funds?
• What is Liability for False Claims?
• What is an Auditor's Opinion?
• What is the Importance of Financial Analysis?
• What is Structural Balance?
• What is Revenue Structure?
• What is Tax Structure?
• What is Expenditure Structure?
• What is the definition of Municipal Property?
• What are Interlocal Agreements to Acquire and Use Goods and Services?
• What are Focus Groups? 
• What is Police Power?
• What are General and Self Governing Powers?
• What are Montana Land Use Statutes?
• What are the Types of Zoning?
• What is Local Authority and the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act?
• What is the Definition of Subdivision and Division of Land?
• What are  Subdivision Exemptions?
• What are Major Subdivisions?