The term "unitary authority" refers to a local government system in which a single authority is responsible for delivering all local government services within a specified geographic area. Synonyms for unitary authorities include "municipal council," "district council," and "county council." Other similar terms include "local authority," "metropolitan authority," and "urban government." Unitary authorities are often contrasted with "two-tier" local government systems, which delegate certain responsibilities to smaller authorities within a larger area. These smaller authorities may be called "parish councils," "borough councils," or "town councils," depending on the region and the type of services they provide. Regardless of the name, the overall goal of unitary authorities and other local government structures is to provide efficient and effective administration and delivery of public services to local communities.