1
Chapter
Nineteen:
State and
Local
Government
Learning Objectives
2
 Describe in general terms the differences
between the U.S. Constitution and state
constitutions, and the reasons for these
differences.
 Describe the structure of the typical state
executive branch, including the weak executive,
and describe the obstacles to reforming the
system.
 Explain the veto and line-item veto power of
state executives and contrast the exercise of
this power with the U.S. president’s veto power.
Learning Objectives
3
 Explain the importance of legislative
apportionment, court decisions on
gerrymandering and racial gerrymandering, and
the principle of one person, one vote.
 Evaluate the proposals for reform related to
legislative apportionment.
 Describe and explain the significance of the
tools of direct democracy, including the
initiative, referendum, and recall.
Learning Objectives
4
 Explain the various units of local governments,
including municipalities, counties, towns,
townships, and special districts.
 Explain the various plans for municipal
governments, including the commission plan,
the council-manager plan, the mayoradministrator plan, and the mayor-council plan.
Learning Objectives
5
 Describe how state and local governments
raise revenue through general sales tax and
property tax, and evaluate why state and local
governments are so vulnerable to economic
cycles.
 Explain what services are provided with this
revenue, including education and public
welfare.
U.S. Constitution and the State Governments
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 The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the
land.
 States have the authority to lay taxes, spend,
and regulate intrastate commerce.
 State constitutions tend to be much longer than
the U.S. Constitution.
 Constitutional Convention and Constitutional
Initiative
The State Executive Branch
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 Weak Executive
 Reforming the System
 Governor’s Veto Power
The State Legislature
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 Legislative Apportionment:
 Minority
Representation
 Political Gerrymandering
Term Limits for State Legislators
The State Legislature
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 Ethics and Campaign Finance Reforms in the
States
 Direct Democracy: Initiative, Referendum, and
Recall
The State Legislature
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The State Legislature
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The State Legislature
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The State Legislature
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The State Legislature
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The State Judiciary
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 Trial Courts
 Appellate Courts
 Judicial Elections and Appointments
The State Judiciary
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How Local Government Operates
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 Legal Existence of Local Government
 Local Governmental Units:
 Municipalities
 Counties
 Towns
and Townships
 Special Districts and School Districts
How Local Government Operates
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How Local Government Operates
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 Consolidation of Governments
 The
purpose of many COGs is the pursuit of
federal grants.
 COGs can only recommend actions. They do not
have the power to make binding decisions on all
of the governmental units who have joined the
organization.
How Local Government Operates
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 How Municipalities Are Governed
 Commission
Plan
 Council-Manager Plan
 Mayor-Administrator Plan
 Mayor-Council Plan
How Local Government Operates
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 Machine Versus Reform in City
Politics
 Machine
politics was an
important political structure in the
19th and early 20th centuries.
 These political organizations
helped new immigrants by
providing jobs and services in
return for their votes to keep
them in power.
How Local Government Operates
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 Governing Metropolitan Areas
 Various
policy problems, such as crime, traffic
congestion and pollution, are not contained
within municipal political boundaries.
How Local Government Operates
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Governing Metropolitan Areas (Continued)
Possible solutions include :
 Annexation by a city of surrounding suburbs.
 Consolidation of city and county governments.
 Set up a system of metropolitan government.
 Create special districts.
Paying for State and Local Government
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 State and Local Government Expenditures
 State and Local Government Revenues
 Struggle to Balance State Budgets
 Borrowing
too much
 Poor productivity
 Health care costs
Paying for State and Local Government
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Paying for State and Local Government
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Paying for State and Local Government
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Web Links
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 National Conference of State Legislatures:
bipartisan organization that serves the
legislators and staffs and provides research,
technical assistance and opportunities for
policymakers to exchange ideas: www.ncsl.org.
 FindLaw: searchable database of state law
codes (statutes) and state court cases:
www.findlaw.com/casecode/state.html.
What If…All States Offered School Vouchers?
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 All public education systems in the United
States are funded and controlled by local and
state governments.
 School choice is open only to those families
willing to spend thousands to send their
children to private or parochial schools.
 School vouchers could give parents choices to
send their children to any public or private
school.
What If…All States Offered School Vouchers?
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 Voucher system would create competition for
students among public and private schools.
 Critics fear that some public schools could not
attract students and survive.
 Other critics argue that it violates the
separation of church and state if state monies
are spent at religious schools.
You Can Make a Difference: Learning About Local
Politics and Government in Your Community
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 Local government impacts areas of education,
health, employment, and crime, which affects
you, your family, and your friends.
You Can Make a Difference: Learning About Local
Politics and Government in Your Community
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Students can:
 Attend a neighborhood association meeting.
 Attend a city council meeting.
 Attend a school board meeting.
 Volunteer for a local or state campaign.
 Run for office.
 Attend proceedings at local courts.