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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:
o Commute: Reduce a sentence.
o Parole: Early release from prison.
o 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.
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County Government
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).
County Officials
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.
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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.
o Short term: Decisions effecting the next few years.
o 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.