Town meeting is a form of local government in which most or all of the members of a community are eligible to legislate policy and budgets for local government. It is a town- or city-level meeting in which … See more

Town records of early New England are scarce, leading to debate about the origin of town meeting. The most common interpretation is that … See more

Connecticut town meetings are bound to a published agenda. For example, in Connecticut, a Town Meeting may discuss, but not alter, an article placed before them, nor may they place new items on the agenda. If a Town Meeting rejects a budget, a … See more

History
The town meeting "was the original and protean vessel of local authority." The early meetings were informal, with all men in town likely … See more

Town meeting is a form of local government practiced in the U.S. region of New England since colonial times and in some western states since at least the late 19th century. … See more

Since the turn of the nineteenth century, political scientists have characterized New England's town meetings as notable examples of direct and deliberative democracy. In his 1831 visit to New England, the political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville visited … See more

In Maine, the town meeting system originated during the period when Maine was a district of Massachusetts. Most cities and towns operate under the town meeting form of government or a modified version of it. Maine annual town meetings traditionally are held … See more