State Government
-Each state has its own constitution.
-All states have three branches of government.
-Voters ratify amendments in all states except for Delaware.
-All states have bicameral legislatures except for Nebraska.
-Each state must accept the validity of all other state laws and contracts (Full faith and Credit).
-Extradition: Governor orders a suspect to be returned to the state where the crime was committed.
Executive Branch
-Led by a governor.
-In most states a person must be 30 years old, US citizen, and a resident of the state for five years.
-Serve a four year term.
-Recall: An election where voters can remove state officials.
-Lieutenant Governor: Takes over for the governor and is head of the state senate.
Powers of the governor
-Chief Executive, Chief Legislator, Judicial Leader, Commander in Chief, Party leader, Ceremonial leader.
-As judicial leader a governor can:
- Commute: Reduce a sentence.
- Parole: Early release from prison.
- Can offer pardons and reprieves.
Executive Officials
-Most officials are elected by voters.
-There are many different departments led by a secretary.
Legislative Branch
-State is divided into districts.
-Reynolds vs. Sims (1964): All election districts must be equal in population. “Each person one vote”.
-Apportionment: Distribution of seats according to population.
-Legislators must be US citizens, live in the district, and meet an age requirement. Fairly low pay.
-Legislative process is the same as the national level.
Judicial Branch
-Misdemeanors: Minor crimes handled by lower courts.
-Felonies: Serious crimes handled by higher courts.
-Trial courts: Use juries. Judge decides punishment.
-Appellate courts: Panel of judges. Appellate jurisdiction.
-State Supreme Court: Highest level.
-Plea Bargain: Defendant pleads guilty for a reduced sentence.
CountyGovernment
-Local governments are established by state governments.
-Charter: Plan that explains the power of a local government.
-All counties provide services for their citizens.
-County board has legislative powers.
-Ordinance: Law passed by a county board.
-Provide law enforcement, set up hospitals, improve transportation, and set up public libraries.
-Collect revenue through property tax and sales tax.
-Have executive power to enforce laws (Inspectors).
CountyOfficials
-Sheriff: Law enforcement. Keeps peace and manages the jail.
-District attorney: Investigates crime and prosecutes in court.
-Coroner: Establishes the cause of death.
-County clerk: Keeps official records.
-Assessor: Determines the value of property for tax purposes.
Town governments
-Some counties are divided into towns.
-In the northeast, town government is more important than county.
-Town govt. began in New England as a form of direct democracy.
-Other northern states divided into smaller units called townships.
-In the Midwest, townships were established during expansion by Congress.
Village government
-Smallest unit of local government.
-A group must get permission from the state.
-Villages have a board and an executive elected by the voters.
Special Districts
-Provides a solution for a single issue or provide a service.
-An elected board runs the district.
-User fees: Rates paid for services.
City government
-Must get a charter from the state government.
-Home rule: Allows cities to write their own charters.
-Crime, medical problems, drug abuse, and homelessness are problems.
-Ward: Voting district in a city.
Mayor-Council government
-Separate legislative (city council) and executive (mayor) branches.
-There are strong and weak mayor plans.
Council-Manager
-Voters elect a city council.
-City manager runs the city. Appointed by the city council.
Commission government
-Began in Galveston, Texas in 1901 after a natural disaster.
-Separate departments led by a commissioner. The commission has executive and legislative powers.
Community problems
-Public Policy: Decision that effect people. They can come from lawmakers, citizens, interest groups, and the media.
-Must plan for the future. Involves educated guessing.
- Short term: Decisions effecting the next few years.
- Long term: Decisions effecting the next fifty years.
-Must have priorities and evaluate resources.
-Communities develop a master plan of goals.
Zoning
-A zoning board decides what land will be used for.
-Different zones for residential, business, and public land.
-Provides a map for the community.
Financing
-Taxes: Sales, property and income.
-User fees: Fares paid for the use of services.
-Bond: Borrow the money and pay it back later.
Education and Housing
-Education is the most expensive service provided by state and local governments.
-Magnet school: Students focus on a particular field of study.
-Vouchers: Help parents send children to private schools.
-Urban renewal: Re-building old neighborhoods.
-The government provides low income housing.
Shortages and pollution
-Many places have shortages on power and water.
-Conservation: Using less of our resources.
-Disposing of garbage is a problem (landfills).
-Recycling: Using old materials to produce new ones.