As of October 2003, some 105 judges, including the Chief Judge, who is designated by the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court, serve on the Court. As the District Court's administrative head, its Chief Judge appoints administrative judges for each of the twelve districts, subject to the approval of the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court. Administered centrally, the District Court of Maryland is funded totally by the State. The District Court of Maryland is divided into twelve geographical districts as follows: District 1 (26 judges): Baltimore City District 2 (5 judges): Dorchester (1 judge), Somerset (1 judge), Wicomico (2 judges) & Worcester (1 judge) counties District 3 (6 judges): Caroline (1 judge), Cecil (2 judges), Kent (1 judge), Queen Anne's (1 judge) & Talbot (1 judge) counties District 4 (4 judges): Calvert (1 judge), Charles (2 judges) & St. Mary's (1 judge) counties District 5 (13 judges): Prince George's County District 6 (11 judges): Montgomery County District 7 (8 judges): Anne Arundel County District 8 (13 judges): Baltimore County District 9 (4 judges): Harford County District 10 (7 judges): Carroll (2 judges) & Howard (5 judges) counties District 11 (5 judges): Frederick (3 judges) & Washington (2 judges) counties District 12 (3 judges): Allegany (2 judges) & Garrett (1 judge) counties Local government At the local level, Maryland is notable among U.S. states for having a relatively small number of local governments. There are three forms of county government available to the state's counties. Note that the independent city of Baltimore is typically considered to be on par with the counties; it is reckoned as a county-equivalent for census purposes. Including Baltimore, there are 157 incorporated cities in Maryland. Commissioner counties In 1827, the General Assembly authorized elected boards of county commissioners for each county Under the state constitution, the General Assembly retains full authority to legislate for a commissioner county. County commissioners have no authority to act in local matters without the express prior consent of the General Assembly. In the areas where they do have authority to legislate, that authority is narrowly construed; it is limited to areas authorized by the General Assembly, enabling legislation, or public local laws. The Constitution adopted in 1867 kept the power to pass public local laws vested in the General Assembly, which gave a lot of control over county government to county delegations in the General Assembly. As a result of