 The city and village officials were initially focused on resolving issues with the Michigan legislature.At that time, all cities were chartered directly by the legislature.In the words of Harold D. Smith, the first director of the League, “they were at the mercy of a body composed of members who had little or no experience in municipal affairs.” Their initial efforts were focused on securing home rule for cities and villages, or as Smith put it, “bringing impressively to the attention of a rural legislature the problems of growing cities in the state.”

Those activities were later reinforced by the creation of a League advocacy office in Lansing, the seat of state government in Michigan, where League staff act as registered lobbyists for cities and villages.