In Maryland there are 23 counties, 157 municipal governments (cities and towns that have been incorporated with a charter), and 85 special districts. County governments are organized under two general forms: Commission and Home-Rule. Depending upon which form of government a county has chosen, the source of local legislation can be a code, a charter or a code of public local laws. Most counties have charter governments, in which voters elect a county executive and council members. The other counties, which tend to be rural, are governed by boards of county commissioners. County government is highly developed in Maryland, and there are numerous appointed county officials with responsibilities ranging from civil defense to liquor licensing.
The city of Baltimore is the only one in Maryland not contained within a county. It provides the same services as a county, and shares in state aid according to the same allocation formulas. The city (not to be confused with Baltimore County, which surrounds the city of Baltimore but has its county seat at Towson) is governed by an elected mayor and city council. As an incorporated city, Baltimore City has both a city charter and a home-rule charter, and city legislation can found in the Charter, the Code of Public Local Laws and the City CodeOther cities and towns are each governed by a mayor, with or without a council, depending on the local charter.
Counties may be organized and governed by:
A chart from the Maryland Association of Counties explains Code Home Rule vs. Commissioner vs. Charter
"If the county commissioners or county council of a county publishes a code or compilation that contains all or part of the public local laws of the county, the county commissioners or county council shall provide without charge:
(1) one printed copy to the State Archives;
(2) one printed copy to the State Law Library; and
3) five printed copies to the Department of Legislative Services."
Md. LOCAL GOVERNMENT Code Ann. § 9-102 (2014)
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COURTS
The court system in Maryland consists of four levels. There are two appellate courts: The Supreme Court and the Appellate Court. And there are two trial level courts: the Circuit Court and the District Court of Maryland.
The Supreme Court is Maryland's highest court. It is comprised of a chief judge and six associate judges. Each is appointed to the court by the governor, but must be confirmed by the voters within two years of appointment. The Supreme Court has the discretion to choose which cases to hear on appeal.The Appellate Court is the intermediate appellate court for the State. It consists of a chief judge and 12 associate judges, selected in the same manner as judges of the Supreme Court. Each case must be heard by a panel of at least three judges of the high court. All state judges serve 10-year terms. All litigants have a right to appeal before the Appellate Court.
Maryland has two levels of trial courts: the District Courts and the Circuit Courts. The Circuit Courts are courts of general jurisdiction, deciding all cases except for those specifically assigned to specialized courts such as the Orphan’s Court or the Tax Court. Circuit Court decisions can be appealed to the Appellate Court. The District Courts handle more minor controversies where the matter does not require a jury. Appeals of decisions by the District Courts may be taken before the Circuit Courts.