State and Local State and Local GovernmentGovernment

NC State ConstitutionNC State Constitution

Three NC Constitutions in our state history

Constitution of 1776- created the government for the new state when independence was declared - it was substantially amended in 1835

Constitution of 1868- brought the state back into the Union after the Civil War with suffrage for all males over 21 - later amended in 1873 to discriminate against African Americans in many ways- no vote

Constitution of 1971- it reorganized the entire state government- it expanded the Council of State, and increased the Governor's budgetary authority. It required the General Assembly to reduce the more than 300 state administrative departments to 25 principal departments. It also allowed local gov’ts to collect property taxes to fund law enforcement & fire depts

NC Executive Branch Governor (4 terms, serve only 2 consecutive terms) Pat McCrory

Lieutenant Governor Dan Forrest

Executive and legislative power

President of state Senate

Member of the Council of State

CabinetAppointed positions

Governor’s Cabinet

Council of StateCouncil of State

Executive advisory committee: create policy, oversee spending and conduct state’s business

Made up of the Governor & Lt. Governor as well as 8 other elected positions each is

elected to a 4 year term Each in charge of some gov’t agency

Secretary of State- Elaine Marshall responsible for making sure businesses follow the rules.

State Treasurer- Janet Cowell has sole authority to manage the state's $70 billion pension fund for state employees

Superintendent of Public Instruction- June Atkinson oversees the curriculum & funding of the state’s public schools

Attorney General- Roy Cooper heads the state's Dep’t of Justice, which oversees the State Bureau of Investigation and is responsible for defending the state in court

State Auditor- Beth Wood serves as the state's chief financial watchdog- makes sure state agencies get good values on contracts & spends $ as intended

Agriculture Commissioner- Steve Troxler handles everything from farm product marketing to the NC Forest Service, State Fair & inspectors that ensure store scanners ring up purchases accurately

Labor Commissioner- Cherie Berry responsible for enforcing workplace safety rules, inspecting elevators and carnival rides at all county fairs & at the State Fair

Insurance Commissioner- Wayne Goodwin enforces insurance rules & regulations, investigates fraud cases, serves as state-wide fire marshal & licenses bail bondsmen

State Agencies

Boards, commissions, departments and offices in the executive branch

They assist in carrying out laws

Legislative BranchLegislative 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

Local GovernmentsLocal Governments Counties & Municipalities (cities & towns)

COUNTY 100 in NC Governed by boards of County Commissioners

Elected by county residents May serve 2 or 4 year terms Administer statewide programs Make rules to meet citizens needs (Ex. zoning requests)

Sheriff- responsible for enforcement of laws in county

Local Government

COUNTY 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

Municipality (city or town)

1. Council-manager Plan Elected city council makes policies, adopts

ordinances and approves the budget Mayor is a member & presiding officer of the council City manager hired to actually run operations

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 (Board of Education) Council of local school district members Elected by voters to usually 4 yr terms Influence policies about education in the district They appoint a superintendent to run school system

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

Local 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- by city council