The National League of Cities (NLC) is an advocacy organization in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

that represents the country's 19,495 cities, towns, and villages along with 49 state municipal leagues. Created in 1924, it has evolved into a leading membership organization providing education, research, support, and advocacy to city leaders across America. Based in Washington, D.C., it is considered part of the ' Big Seven', a group of organizations that represent local and state government in the United States. The NLC provides training to municipal officials, holds conferences, lobbies and provides assistance to cities in educational issues. NLC was first founded as the American Municipal Association in

Lawrence, Kansas Lawrence is the county seat of Douglas County, Kansas, Douglas County, Kansas, United States, and the sixth-largest city in the state. It is in the northeastern sector of the state, astride Interstate 70, between the Kansas River, Kansas and Waka ...

by a group of ten state municipal leagues seeking greater coordination and representation in national affairs. In 1947, the organization opened its membership to individual cities with populations of 100,000 or more. That membership threshold was gradually moved downward, and in 1964, to signal the organization's growing emphasis on cities as members, the American Municipal Association changed its name to the current. By 1977, the population requirement was eliminated. Today, NLC represents over 1,900 member cities as a convening organization, support network, and representative in federal affairs. Leading priorities for the group include the economy, infrastructure, public safety, technology, education, and families.

History

The National League of Cities was founded in 1924 when 10 state municipal leagues banded together as the American Municipal Association. Over time, the organization's membership expanded to include individual cities of all sizes. Throughout its history, NLC has played a prominent role in shaping federal urban policy and defining city issues in America. It was at a 1970 convention that

William Ruckelshaus William Doyle Ruckelshaus (July 24, 1932 – November 27, 2019) was an American attorney and government official. Ruckelshaus served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1966 to 1968, and was the United States Assistant Attorney General ...

, Administrator of the newly created

Environmental Protection Agency A biophysical environment is a biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development, and evolution. A biophysical environment can vary in scale ...

, announced an order requiring

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the United States, U.S. U.S. state, state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along ...

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...

, and

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...

to clean up their inadequately treated sewage discharges into rivers, thereby helping send a message that the young agency meant business.

Activities

Federal advocacy

NLC lobbies Congress on multiple issues, including city

infrastructure Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function. Infrastructure is composed of public and priv ...

, particularly

transportation Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land ( rail and road), water, cable, pipelin ...

; supporting local energy efficiency and conservation efforts; strengthening and stabilizing the housing market; helping build stable families; supporting community safety; and reforming the country's

immigration Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Commuters, tourists, ...

system. NLC's core lobbying principles include avoiding

unfunded mandates In the United States, federal mandates are orders that induce "responsibility, action, procedure or anything else that is imposed by constitutional, administrative, executive, or judicial action" for state and local governments and/or the private se ...

, preserving local authority and protecting the intergovernmental partnership.

Conferences

NLC hosts the annual Congress of Cities and Exposition, at which municipal officials participate in workshops, general sessions, networking opportunities and leadership training seminars. NLC's other yearly conference is the Congressional City Conference, held each March in Washington, D.C. Thousands of municipal officials discuss NLC legislative priorities with

Members of Congress A Member of Congress (MOC) is a person who has been appointed or elected and inducted into an official body called a congress, typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature. The term member of parliament (MP) is an equivalen ...

and the Administration, share promising practices, discuss policy and participate in leadership training opportunities.

Programs

Institute for Youth, Education and Families

The Institute for Youth, Education, and Families is an entity within NLC which assists municipal officials in providing services on behalf of the

children A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...

youth Youth is the time of life when one is young. The word, youth, can also mean the time between childhood and adulthood ( maturity), but it can also refer to one's peak, in terms of health or the period of life known as being a young adult. Yo ...

and families in their communities. The YEF Institute offers resources in five core program areas, including

early childhood Early childhood is a stage in human development following infancy and preceding middle childhood. It generally includes toddlerhood and some time afterward. Play age is an unspecific designation approximately within the scope of early childhood. ...

success,

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...

and afterschool, benefits for working families, youth participation in local government and child and youth safety.

Center for City Solutions

NLC's Center for City Solutions offers information, research, training, and educational materials on issues cities face in the present and future. Its programs include an applied research group along with the Rose Center for Public Leadership, the Sustainable Cities Institute, the City Innovation Ecosystems initiative, and the NLC University divisions.

=Rose Center for Public Leadership

= The Rose Center for Public Leadership was first created in 2008 as part of the

Urban Land Institute The Urban Land Institute, or ULI, is a nonprofit research and education organization with regional offices in Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, and London. ULI advocates progressive development, conducting research, and education in topics such as s ...

by Daniel Rose, a New York real estate developer. In 2014, the ULI and the Rose family created a partnership with the NLC. Currently the NLC's Center for City Solutions runs the Rose Center.

Publications

The National League of Cities oversees a range of publications including the blog ''CitiesSpeak'', the newsletter ''The Weekly'' (formerly ''Nation's Cities Weekly''), and several social media channels. NLC also produces original research on topics such as technology, education, municipal finance, public safety, and mayors' priorities.

Leadership

The National League of Cities is overseen by a board of directors, which elects a president, vice president, and second vice president in annual elections. Each president serves a one-year term, typically choosing to focus on a single program or advocacy priority such as economic mobility or public safety. The current president of the NLC is

Mark Stodola Mark Stodola (born May 18, 1949) is an American politician and lawyer. First elected in 2006, he served as the Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, from January 2007 through December 2018. Stodola won re-election to a second, four-year term in Nove ...

, mayor of

Little Rock, Arkansas ( The "Little Rock") , government_type = Council-manager , leader_title = Mayor , leader_name = Frank Scott Jr. , leader_party = D , leader_title2 = Council , leader_name2 ...

, who leads an initiative on the future of work. National Association of Counties and National League of Cities doorway

Past presidents of the NLC have included: * Clarence E. Anthony, former Mayor of

South Bay, Florida South Bay is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is the westernmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area. The population was 4,876 at the 2010 census. As of 2018, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau ...

(president 1998-1999; named NLC executive director, 2013) *

Dennis Archer Dennis Wayne Archer (born January 1, 1942) is an American lawyer, jurist and former politician from Michigan. A Democrat, Archer served as Justice on the Michigan Supreme Court and as mayor of Detroit. He later served as president of the A ...

, former Mayor of

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

* Charles H. Lyons, former Selectman of

Arlington, MA Arlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The town is six miles (10 km) northwest of Boston, and its population was 46,308 at the 2020 census. History European colonists settled the Town of Arlington in 1635 as a village w ...

* Bob Bolen, former

mayor of Fort Worth, Texas This is a list of mayors who served the city of Fort Worth, Texas, USA. ''*Dates given by Fort Worth Mayor's office.'' References {{reflist Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th ...

. Became president of the National League of Cities in 1990. *

Henry Cisneros Henry Gabriel Cisneros (born June 11, 1947) is an American politician and businessman. He served as the mayor of San Antonio, Texas, from 1981 to 1989, the second Latino mayor of a major American city and the city's first since 1842 (when Juan ...

, former mayor of

San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_ ...

* Ted L. Ellis, mayor of

Bluffton, Indiana Bluffton is a city in Harrison and Lancaster townships, Wells County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 10,308 at the 2020 census and the estimated population is 10,390. The city is the county seat of Wells County. History Blufft ...

Roman Gribbs Roman Stanley Gribbs (December 29, 1925 – April 5, 2016) was an American politician who served as the Mayor of Detroit from 1970 to 1974. Later, Gribbs served as a judge on the Michigan Court of Appeals. Gribbs was the last white mayor of the ...

, former mayor of

William B. Hartsfield William Berry Hartsfield Sr. (March 1, 1890 – February 22, 1971), was an American politician who served as the 49th and 51st Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. His tenure extended from 1937 to 1941 and again from 1942 to 1962, making him the longest- ...

, former mayor of

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital city, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georgia, Fulton County, the mos ...

* James C. Hunt, former mayor of

Clarksburg, West Virginia Clarksburg is a city in and the county seat of Harrison County, West Virginia, United States, in the north-central region of the state. The population of the city was 16,039 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Clarksburg micro ...

* Cathy L. Reynolds, former city council president of

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

Richard Lugar Richard Green Lugar (April 4, 1932 – April 28, 2019) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Indiana from 1977 to 2013. He was a member of the Republican Party. Born in Indianapolis, Lugar graduated from Den ...

, former mayor of

Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mar ...

Bart Peterson Barton "Bart" R. Peterson (born June 15, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician who served as mayor of the U.S city of Indianapolis, Indiana. He is also a past president of the National League of Cities. A Democrat, he was first elected in 1 ...

, former mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana *

Anthony A. Williams Anthony Allen Williams (born July 28, 1951) is an American politician who was the fifth mayor of the District of Columbia, for two terms, from 1999 to 2007. His predecessor had served twice, as the second and fourth mayor. Williams had previously ...

, former mayor of

Washington, DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morg ...

Terry Goddard Samuel Pearson Goddard III (born January 29, 1947) is an American attorney and politician. He served as the Mayor of Phoenix from 1984 to 1990, on the Central Arizona Water Conservation District from 2001 to 2003 and as the 24th Attorney Genera ...

, former mayor of

Phoenix, AZ Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United Stat ...

* Tom Bradley, former mayor of

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

* Greg Lashutka, former mayor of

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, an ...

George Voinovich George Victor Voinovich (July 15, 1936June 12, 2016) was an American politician who served as a United States senator from Ohio from 1999 to 2011, the 65th governor of Ohio from 1991 to 1998 and the 54th mayor of Cleveland from 1980 to 1989, the ...

, former mayor of

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S ...

* Ferd Harrison, former mayor of

Scotland Neck, North Carolina Scotland Neck is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. According to the 2010 census, the town population was 2,059. It is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area. History The Hoffman-Bower ...

* James Mitchell, member of city council,

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most popu ...

* Tom Moody, former mayor of

* Phyllis Lamphere, former city council president of

Seattle Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region o ...

, first woman and non-mayor to serve as president

Members

* Alabama League of Municipalities, Montgomery, Alabama * Alaska Municipal League, Juneau, Alaska *

League of Arizona Cities and Towns League of Arizona Cities and Towns is a municipal league that provides an important link among the ninety incorporated cities and towns in Arizona. The League is the only organization that connects each and every municipality regardless of size or ...

, Phoenix, Arizona * Arkansas Municipal League, North Little Rock, Arkansas * League of California Cities, Sacramento, California * Colorado Municipal League, Denver, Colorad

* Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, New Haven, Connecticut * Delaware League of Local Governments, Dover, Delaware * Florida League of Cities, Tallahassee, Florida * Georgia Municipal Association, Atlanta, Georgi

* Association of Idaho Cities, Boise, Idaho * Illinois Municipal League, Springfield, Illinois * Accelerate Indiana Municipalities, Indianapolis, Indian

* Iowa League of Cities, Des Moines, Iowa * League of Kansas Municipalities, Topeka, Kansas * Kentucky League of Cities, Lexington, Kentucky * Louisiana Municipal Association, Baton Rouge, Louisian

* Maine Municipal Association, Augusta, Maine * Maryland Municipal League, Annapolis, Marylan

* Massachusetts Municipal Association, Boston, Massachusett

*

Michigan Municipal League The Michigan Municipal League is a nonprofit association of municipalities and municipal leaders in the State of Michigan. The group banded in 1899 under the motto “Cooperation solves any problem” to reflect the organizers’ combined purpo ...

, Ann Arbor, Michigan * League of Minnesota Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota * Mississippi Municipal League, Jackson, Mississippi * Missouri Municipal League, Jefferson City, Missouri * Montana League of Cities and Towns * League of Nebraska Municipalities, Lincoln, Nebraska * Nevada League of Cities and Municipalities, Carson City, Nevada * New Hampshire Municipal Association, Concord, New Hampshire *

New Jersey State League of Municipalities The New Jersey State League of Municipalities is a voluntary association created by a New Jersey statute in 1915 to serve municipalities and local officials in the U.S. state of New Jersey. All 565 of New Jersey's municipalities are members of the ...

, Trenton, New Jersey * New Mexico Municipal League, Santa Fe, New Mexico * New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials, Albany, New York * North Carolina League of Municipalities, Raleigh, North Carolina * North Dakota League of Cities, Bismarck, North Dakota * Ohio Municipal League, Columbus, Ohi

* Oklahoma Municipal League, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * League of Oregon Cities, Salem, Oregon * Pennsylvania Municipal League, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania * Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, Providence, Rhode Islan

* Municipal Association of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina * South Dakota Municipal League, Ft. Pierre, South Dakota *

Tennessee Municipal League The Tennessee Municipal League (TML) is an association of the incorporated cities and towns of Tennessee, organized for mutual assistance and improvement. The organization's functions include: *lobbying In politics, lobbying, persuasion o ...

, Nashville, Tennessee * Texas Municipal League, Austin, Texas *

Utah League of Cities and Towns The Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT) was founded in 1907 for the purpose of advocating municipal interests in the state of Utah. ULCT is a non-partisan Nonpartisanism is a lack of affiliation with, and a lack of bias towards, a political ...

, Salt Lake City, Utah * Vermont League of Cities and Towns, Montpelier, Vermont * Virginia Municipal League, Richmond, Virginia * Association of Washington Cities, Olympia, Washingto

* West Virginia Municipal League, Charleston, West Virginia * League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Madison, Wisconsin * Wyoming Association of Municipalities, Cheyenne, Wyoming

References

External links

National League of Cities

Leadership and past presidents

Institute for Youth, Education, and FamiliesNLC TVRose Center for Public Leadership
in partnership with the Urban Land Institute {{Authority control Civic and political organizations of the United States Local government organizations Lobbying organizations based in Washington, D.C. Cities in the United States 1926 establishments in the United States

History

Activities

Federal advocacy

Conferences

Programs

Institute for Youth, Education and Families

Center for City Solutions

=Rose Center for Public Leadership

Publications

Leadership

Members

See also

Further reading

References

External links