State and Local Government

NC Constitution (BB pg. 74)

Preamble Declaration of Rights (Article I) Articles (14)

Three NC Constitutions

Amending the Constitution

1. Majority vote of a “convention of the people” – CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

2. Proposal passed by 3/5ths vote in both houses of the General Assembly and ratified by a majority vote from the people – LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE

NC Executive Branch Governor (4 terms, serve 2 consecutive terms at a time) Lieutenant Governor

Executive and legislative power President of state Senate Member of the Council of State

Cabinet Appointed positions

Council of State Executive advisory committee: create policy, oversee

spending and conduct business 4 year term Elected position

Legislative Branch

General Assembly House of Representatives (120) Senate (50)

Create laws or statutes All laws are subject to the due

process clause in the US Constitution’s 14th amendment and Bill of Rights = Incorporation

Judicial Branch (BB pg. 79) NC Supreme Court (1 chief justice and 6

associate justices: elected to 8 year terms) State v. Mann Leandro v. NC (Blue Book pg. 80)

NC Court of Appeals (15 judges-elected to 8 year terms)

Superior Courts Trial court that hears felony criminal matters and civil

cases involving more than $10,000

District Courts Trial court that hears juvenile matters, misdemeanors

and civil matters less than $10,000

State Agencies

Boards, commissions, departments and offices in the executive branch

Carry out laws Heads of agencies elected or

appointed by the governor

State Agencies

NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Largest Health, safety and well-being Budget is 20% of state budget Secretary is appointed by the governor

State Agencies

NC Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Division of parks and recreation

Maintain an preserve all of NC’s state parks and recreation areas

State Agencies

Department of Transportation (DOT) Plan, construct, maintain and operate NC

transportation system Appointed official

Local Government

COUNTY 100 Governed by boards of County

Commissioners Elected by county residents May serve 2 or 4 year terms Administer statewide programs Make rules to meet the needs of citizens (Ex.

zoning requests)

Local Government

COUNTY Registrar of Deeds/ Register of Deeds

Elected by citizens of the county 4 year term

Manage public records/legal documents: deeds, deeds of trust, powers of attorney, maps of property

Issue marriage licenses, birth and death certificates

Local Government

CITY (Municipality) 1. Council-manager Plan

Elected city council makes policies, adopts ordinances and approves the budget

Mayor is a member and presiding officer of the council

2. Mayor-council Plan Mayor represents city and is not a member of

the city council

Local Government CITY (municipality) Metropolis

set of adjacent municipalities that function together as one (Ex. Charlotte)

City Council Make laws for the city

Aldermen Represent city districts and work with the mayor to run the city government

Special Districts Specialized services within the district, paid for by the taxes of its residents School district BOE

Local Government

School Board Council of local school district members Influence policies about education in the

district

Local Government Ordinance

Regulation enacted by city government Usually quality of life stuff (noise control,

trespassing and human rights)

Local acts (ordinances and municipal codes) are limited to a particular county

or city Referendum (direct popular vote on an

issue) Common at state and local levels

Local Government

TOWN/Townships Subdivision of a county

Law Enforcement

Sheriff (Sheriff’s deputies) County’s highest elected law-enforcement

officer Oversee jail Provide courthouse security Transport prisoners

Chief of Police Commanding officer of city’s police

department Appointed position

INB Output L 31 A

Council of State v. Cabinet Limits on governor and lieutenant governor (pg. 78)

L 31 B Diagram for the Legislative Branch Diagram of the Judicial Branch

Types of jurisdiction (pg. 79) L 34

County Illustration L 34

“CITY” Poem L 34

Job ads: sheriff and police chief