<P> Today North Carolina calls itself home to 16 regional councils of government . Regional councils in North Carolina are committed to working together . In 2010 the seventeen regional councils existing at that time signed an inter-regional cooperative agreement that established a policy to enhance their value by sharing member resources and capacity to deliver services to the state of North Carolina . This agreement also endorses regional councils, to carry out activities in regions outside their boundaries with consent when those services are to benefit the region and the state . Regional boundaries correspond to county borders, with each council being made up of both county and municipal governments . Although the number of regional councils in North Carolina has decreased over the years, the number of citizens served by the councils continues to rise . As of 2007, it is reported that the number of local governments served by regional councils in North Carolina has increased by 16% since 1994 . Throughout this same time period the number of citizens served by regional councils has increased by 35% or approximately 2.3 million . This equates to 92% of local governments and 97% of all North Carolina citizens being represented by regional councils as of July 1, 2007 . </P> <P> Pennsylvania has 67 counties . With the exception of Philadelphia and Allegheny County, counties are governed by three to seven county commissioners who are elected every four years; the district attorney, county treasurer, sheriff, and certain classes of judge ("judges of election") are also elected separately . Philadelphia has been a consolidated city - county since 1854 and has had a consolidated city - county government since 1952 . Allegheny County has had a council / chief executive government since 2001, while still retaining its townships, boroughs and cities . </P> <P> Each county is divided into municipal corporations, which can be one of four types: cities, boroughs, townships, and incorporated towns . The Commonwealth does not contain any unincorporated land that is not served by a local government . However, the US Postal Service has given names to places within townships that are not incorporated separately . For instance King of Prussia is a census - designated place, having no local government of its own . It is rather contained within Upper Merion Township, governed by Upper Merion's supervisors, and considered to be a part of the township . </P> <P> Townships are divided into two classes, depending on their population size and density . Townships of the "First Class" have a board made up of five to fifteen commissioners who are elected either at - large or for a particular ward to four - year terms, while those of the "Second Class" have a board of three to five supervisors who are elected at - large to six - year terms . Some townships have adopted a home rule charter which allows them to choose their form of government . One example is Upper Darby Township, in Delaware County, which has chosen to have a "mayor - council" system similar to that of a borough . </P>

What is the difference between city and county government