Illinois has more units of local government (most with property-taxing power) than any other state. In 2002 there were 102 counties, 1,291 municipalities, 1,431 townships, 934 public school districts, and 3,145 special districts.
County government in Illinois dates from 1778, when Virginia, claiming authority over the territory, established the earliest counties. Today the major county offices are elective: county board chairman, county clerk (chief administrative officer), clerk of the circuit court, sheriff, state's attorney, treasurer, coroner, and superintendent of schools. Cook County, which encompasses all of Chicago and many of its suburbs, controls hospital and welfare programs in Chicago, thus spreading the cost over both the city's own tax base and that of the more affluent suburbs. The New England township system was made optional by the state's 1848 constitution, and eventually 85 counties, including Cook County, adopted the idea. Townships, which elect administrators and local judges, also handle tax collection.
Chicago is governed by an elected mayor, clerk, treasurer, and city council composed of 50 aldermen. The mayor's power has been closely tied with the city's Democratic Party organization. Independent candidates get elected to the city council from time to time, but the Democratic machine generally staffs the city with its members.
Larger municipalities are administered by an elected mayor and council members; most smaller communities are administered by nonpartisan city managers though some have elected mayors.