Unit 5Chapters 11-12

State and Local Government

Chapter 11State Government

Public Policy

• Making Public Policy• What is Public Policy?• Must make choices and trade-offs• Comes from different sources

• People• Lawmakers• Party leaders• Media

• Planning Commission• Tries to plan for the future of a community

The Federal System

• Originally states worked separately• Brought together by the _________?

• Federalism• State and federal government share some

powers• Ex: taxes and borrowing money

Protections

• States cannot be taken over by other states

• States govern themselves• They each have a

constitution

Reserved Powers

• What are these?

• Give some examples.

• Reminder

Federal Supremacy

• If state and federal laws conflict, federal law is followed

States Rights vs. Nationalists

• Which should be stronger; federal or state government?

• Why?

Section 2 State Legislative Branch

• All states have bicameral legislatures except Nebraska• unicameral

• State constitution lists terms and qualifications for state senator and representatives

• Some legislatures are part time, some are year round

How They Work

• Much like US Congress• Leaders in each house• Bills go through the same process

Legislative Apportionment

• Every 10 years there is a census• The boundaries for state districts are re

written based on the census• Before 1964

• Senate districts were base on land (rural and urban districts)

• Representatives always based on population• Cities and rural districts each got one senator

even though their population was very different

Who Represents Me?

• Find your state delegates

NC General Assembly

• NC House of Representatives• 120 Seats

• NC Senate• 50 Senators • Lieutenant Governor is the top figure

Problems Facing the States

• Citizens expect more from a government• Public transit, schools, etc.

• Budgets are tighter• Because of expectations

• Federal Government is not giving as much money to states• Because of their own budget concerns

Section 3 State Executive Branch

• Governor is the head of the executive branch in the state

• Governor's Website• State constitution gives requirements and

terms of office• Voters elect directly but run separately • Lt. Governor presides over the state

senate• Lt. Governor Website

Duties

• Head of executive branch of state• Chief legislator

• Can suggest laws• Veto bills

• Judicial• Pardons criminals• Commute sentences

• Commander in Chief of National Guard

Executive Departments

• Advisors who head departments of state governments are called the Council of State.

• NC Council of State• The Council of State is elected.

• Attorney General• Attorney for the state, represents the state in lawsuits,

gives legal advice

• Treasurer• Collects taxes

• State Auditor• Reviews records of other departments

• Others include Board of Health, Public Works and Welfare Board

Section 4- State Judicial Branch

• Most legal matters are handled at the state level

Lower Level State Courts

• Justice Courts• Justices of the peace• Small rural towns

• Magistrate Courts• Larger towns• Handle traffic violations• Disturbing the peace• Small civil cases(Small Claims Court)• In NC, lower courts are called NC District

Courts. They handle misdemeanors.

Continued…

• Municipal Courts• Larger cities• Divided into traffic, juvenile and small

claims courts

Higher State Courts

• General Trial Courts• Handle felonies• Determine whether someone is guilty or

not guilty of a serious crime• Usually has a jury and lawyers.• They also handle large lawsuits.• In NC, these courts are called NC Superior

Courts.

Higher Courts continued…

• Appellate Courts• Defendants Constitutional rights violated• No jury

• A panel of judges review record of lower court

• Majority vote decides the outcome• Can go to the State Supreme Court

• The top court in the state

Judge Selection

• Some are elected – most in NC • Some are appointed• Most terms are from 6 to 12 years

Chapter 12

Counties in NC

Cities, Towns and Villages in NC

• Any state recognized government is called a municipality

• A charter sent to the state establishes a municipality

City Government

• The most common form of local government

• Cities vary greatly in size and services• People of a community can apply for a

city charter

Charters

• Grants power to local governments• Is much like a constitution, only at the city

level• Cities granted home rule write their

charter and choose how their government is run

3 Types of City Government

• 1. Mayor• Council Government

• The oldest and most widely used• Separate legislature (council) and executive

(mayor) branch• Voting districts are called wards

Mayor continued…

• Powers of mayor vary from city to city•Strong mayor = a lot of power•Weak mayor = limited executive power

• In this case the city council would choose the head of departments

• Makes city government less efficient

Types of City Government continued…

• 2. Council• Manager

• Voters elect city council (legislature).• City manager selected by city council. He is

the executive.

Types of City Government

• 3. Commission• No separation of legislative and executive

powers (commissioners have both powers).• Separate departments commissioners make

executive decisions

Types of City Government

• Metropolitan Area• Formed when major cities and suburbs

have mutual interests that need to be dealt withMust consult, coordinate and discuss issues:1. Growth2. Transportation3. Public education4. Land usage5. Etc.

New England-style “Towns”

• Governed by town meetings, which are a direct democracy. There may be an elected executive, but there is no council.

• Based on the tradition of Mayflower Compact.

Section 2 Local Government Services and Revenue

• Education in NC• Largest expenditure in North Carolina, 1

out of every 3 dollars spent in NC is on education

• The Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh estimated statewide spending per pupil at $8,552 this year, while the state Department of Correction lists a yearly cost per inmate of $27,911 for 2008.

Health and Welfare

• Most healthcare and welfare programs are funded jointly by the federal government and states.

• In NC local governments are primarily responsible for building and operating hospitals

Public Safety

• In NC public safety such as police and fire is predominately a local government issue

Special Districts

• Deal with single issues or provide single services

• Sometimes set up for financial reasons• Needing a fire engine

• Some deal with regional issues • water sources, cleanliness

County Board

• Have legislative powers to pass ordinances • Local laws- Ordinances

• Can impose sales or property taxes• Makes decisions on how to fund

county-wide services.• County Seat- city where the

courthouse is located.

Special Districts continued…

• Board or commission has the power to collect taxes for services

• Some employ user fees • Most common form is a school district

• Has an elected school board

Local Gov’t Issues

• 1. Zoning- determines land usage. Determined by a planning board/dept.

• 2. Annexation- a municipality takes in adjacent land area into the city limit. Why? To increase its tax base. In NC, the controversial issue is involuntary annexation (residents do not get to decide).

• Extraterritorial Jurisdiction- area outside of city limits is under the authority of the municipal gov’t.

Funding State and Local Gov’t

• The largest source of funding for state and local gov’t is intergovernmental revenue ($ passed down from the federal gov’t).

• State revenues: Income tax, Sales tax, Excise taxes (alcohol, tobacco, gas, etc.)

• Local revenues: 1. Property taxes

Chapter 14

Making Public Policies

• Short-term plans• Policy of community over the next couple

of years

• Long term plans• Guide for 10, 20 or 50 years

• Guesses what the communities needs will be• Addresses the need for infastructure

Priorities vs. Resources

• Priorities• What a community thinks is important

• Resources• The money, people, materials needed to

get things done

Master Plan

• States goals and how to meet them over time• If the plan is accepted it becomes public

policy• City or town council approve of funds• Mayor (executive) enforces the plan

Vocabulary Quiz on Unit 5Chapters 12-14

Education and Social Issues (2)

• Education is a power that belongs to _________?• 55 million students are enrolled in public

schools• 7 million students are enrolled in private

schools• Local responsibility under state guidelines

• Give two different ways schools are maintained.

No Child Left Behind- 2001

• Schools who expect to receive federal funds must comply with certain standards in order to continue receiving those funds.• Certain percentage of passing students• 100% graduation rate• Maintaining high standards • Receive more or less money depending on

the ability to comply with these regulations

No Child Left Behind- 2001

• Advantages-• Schools who are doing well are rewarded

monetarily• This increases resources including the

attraction of better teachers, equipment upgrades, and other supplies (building upgrades, etc.)

No Child Left Behind- 2001

• Students are not considered based upon ability or availability of resources to begin with.

• Schools are not committed to individual students, only the student body as a whole.

• Many students who do well, do not get individual recognition or encouragement.

How Schools are Funded

• Many schools are funded by property taxes.• Advantages?• Disadvantages?

• Challenges in Education• Low test scores• High drop out rates• Violence

Public Education in NC

• Charter Schools• Receive funds from the state, however,

they don’t have to hold to the same standards (funded by state, acts like a private school).

• Vouchers• Parents use money from the public school

system to send kids to private schools, not used but some people want it.

NC Court Cases related to Education

1. Leandro v. NC- parents of students from poor school district sued the state claiming that there child did not get equal education. Parents did not win.

• NC Const. requires that all students be provided an education.

Solutions

• Privatization• Private companies contract with the school

district to run schools

• Mass Testing• Standardized tests developed to increase

accountability

Social Issues

• Crime• Approximately 1 million inmates currently

are in prison• Highest number is found within cities due to

factors like poverty and high dropout rates• The main job of the police is o keep the peace

• They do this by using public policy as a way to get to know residents and get them involved in saftey

Social Issues

• Welfare-1996• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families

passed by Congress• There are state set rules for welfare eligibility• 5 year lifetime limit on receiving welfare• Job training is offered for welfare recipients

Environmental Issues (3)

• Federal Government did not pass the Clean Air Act and establish the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) until 1970

• Environmental issues were not a priority of the Federal Government

Where Does Our Garbage Go?

• Landfills• They are filling up• They are damaging

underground reservoirs and streams

• NIMBY! attitude

• .

                         

 

                                         

     

Where Does Our Garbage Go?

• Incineration• Produces toxic

smoke• Causes air pollution• Pollution-control

devices for smoke stacks are very expensive

Where Does Our Garbage Go?

• Recycling• Not everything is recyclable• http://www.earth911.org/master.asp

   

 

Where Does Our Garbage Go?

• Conservation• Manufacturers are encouraged to use less

packaging

Hazardous Waste

• Includes radioactive waste from nuclear plants• Pesticide runoff, motor oil, batteries• Used to dump these things in the ocean,

now most landfills are filled

Protecting Air and Water

• Air Pollution• Try o reduce emissions by employing

• Smokestack scrubbers, efficient auto engines, lead free gas

• State of the Union Address?

• Water Pollution• Comes mainly from factories

• Waste disposal is regulated by the EPA

Homework!!

• Read, Read, Read!

• Review Day Monday

• Test on Chapters 1-16 Tuesday!!!