Chester C. Maxey's important study of political integration in metropolitan communities is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in the mid-20th century. Drawing on case studies from across the United States, Maxey explores the challenges and opportunities of creating effective government structures in large, diverse urban areas. His insights into the problems of fragmentation, jurisdictional conflict, and unequal representation remain valuable for policymakers and citizens alike. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.