On the other hand the American system has its defects. So many areas of local government have been created in some of the states that the people are over-governed. The multiplication of local offices has led to wastefulness. Local home rule, moreover, has in some cases been a synonym for local misrule. The result is that we have required, during recent years, an increase in the amount of control exercised over the government of the local communities by state and county authorities. Townships, towns, and villages are areas of government established to meet local needs, but they are also the channels through which the state authorities carry on a portion of their work. This latter phase of local self-government should not be overlooked. General References EVERETT KIMBALL, _State and Local Government_, pp. 309-344; CHARLES A. BEARD, _American Government and Politics_, pp. 638-705; _Ibid._, _Readings in American Government and Politics_, pp. 556-566; JAMES BRYCE, _American Commonwealth_, Vol. I, pp. 596-616; W. B. MUNRO, _Government of the United States_, pp. 535-571; H. G. JAMES, _Local Government in the United States_, especially pp. 254-299; JOHN A. FAIRLIE, _Local Government in Counties, Towns and Villages_, especially pp. 57-140; American Academy of Political and Social Science, _County Government_, pp. 81-111; _Cyclopedia of American Government_ (see under _County, Towns_ and _Townships, Borough_). Group Problems =1. Should the county-manager plan be adopted?= With what county functions do you now come into contact? How important to you and to your home is the work of the county officials in the matter of road-building, the maintenance of prisons, the care of the poor, the registration of deeds, and the supervision of schools? Are any of these things now mismanaged and, if so, in what way can the situation be improved? The present multiplication of county authorities. Duties of each. How these duties are performed. The cause of waste or inefficiency. What the county-manager system aims to do. Comparison of the city-manager and the county-manager plans. =References=: H. G. JAMES, _Local Government in the United States_, pp. 425-451; JOHN A. FAIRLIE, _Local Government in Counties, Towns and Villages_, pp. 75-94; H. G. GILBERTSON, _The County_, pp. 151-180; “_County Government_” in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. XLVII (May, 1913); National Short Ballot Organization, _Documents on County Government_; C. C. MAXEY, _County Government_, pp. 45-62. =2. How town government can be improved.= =References=: H. G. JAMES, _Local Government in the United States_, pp. 254-283; C. S. BIRD, _Town Planning for Small Communities_, pp. 311-340; _Cyclopedia of American Government_ (see under _Towns_ and _Townships_); Annual Reports of Town Officers.