LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Why Do We Have Local
Government?
Collects Taxes
Provides Services
Local
Government
Makes Laws
Gives People a Voice
Seniors
Facilities
Public
Transportation
Fire
Protection
Streets &
Roads
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
PROVIDES SERVICES
Libraries
Animal
Control
Parks &
Recreation
Waste
Disposal
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES
Complete pages 72, 369
in booklet
LOCAL GOVERNMENT COLLECTS TAXES
Revenues (Income)
Expenditures (Expenses)
• ***Property taxes ***
• ***Roads***
• Funds from other levels of
government
• Parks and Recreation
• User fees and sale of
goods
• Agricultural services
• Rental of equipment
• Water and waste management
• All other
• All other
• Administration
• Protective services
Right to have local
services provided
Responsibility to
pay taxes that
make these
services possible
LOCAL GOVERNMENT MAKES LAWS
• Bylaws- laws passed by local government
1. Specify people behavior
2. Help keep people safe
3. Help the community run smoothly
Bylaws can only be enforced in the area where they
have been passed.
Every community has its own bylaws.
People are responsible to know and obey the bylaws.
RULES
Pay a
Fine
BYLAWS
motion- an idea or
proposal discussed and
voted on at a meeting
• New bylaws or changes are usually introduced by a
councillor
• Councillor makes a motion that the new bylaw be
passed
• A motion to make or change a bylaw has to be
considered 3 times before it is voted on by members of
the council. (page 105)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT GIVES PEOPLE A VOICE
• People that live in a community are best able to
understand the issues that affect them.
• Local government provides us with many opportunities
to participate (running for office, voting, taking part in
town meetings, making presentations to government)
Read page 108
Are curfew bylaws a good
idea?
VOCABULARY WORDS
• bylaw
• motion
• council
• councillor
Do page 29 in booklet
ELK POINT TOWN COUNCIL
http://www.elkpoint.ca/town-council.html
Town Bylaws
http://www.elkpoint.ca/town-by-laws.html
Complete
pages 38, 39 in
booklet
How Are Local Governments
Organized?
Alberta is divided into municipal
areas that have their own local
governments.
MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY MAP FOR ALBERTA
County of St. Paul
No.19
http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/mc_boundary_maps.cfm
Complete page 370 in booklet
As a class read pages 44
and 46 in booklet.
Complete page 47 with your
elbow partner.
PAGE 48 IN BOOKLET
Taste Buds
Restaurant
4818 - 50 Street
(780) 724-4822
Complete Local Government Page in
Booklet (refer to page 110 in text)
VOCABULARY WORDS
• municipal area
• municipal district
• forums
• advisory committee
DELIVERING SERVICES TO THE
COMMUNITY- PAGE 112
Most important is Chief Administrative Officer
(CAO)- appointed by the council to:
• Make sure that council decisions are
carried out
• Keep the council informed about how the
municipality is operating
All the departments of the
government report to CAO
• Civil servants- people who are hired to run
or work in the government departments
Refer to page 113
HOW ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ELECTED?
• Every 3 years elections take place in which
people vote for representatives to local
government.
• Read page 114
• In booklet read pages 212 – 215
Complete pages 364-366 in
booklet
(refer back to Canadian Charter
of Rights and Freedoms)
What Can You
Do to Participate
in Local
Government?
Read pages 115,
118, 119
VOCABULARY
• Departments
• Civil Servants
• Ballot
• Nominate
• Petition
SCHOOL BOARDS
• Complete “School Boards” handout
WHY DO WE HAVE SCHOOL BOARDS?
PAGE 121
• School boards are another type of local government.
• They make sure that education is provided to people.
• The school board hires a superintendent who makes
sure that decisions about education are carried out.
• A person who serves on a school board is called a
trustee.
Make decisions
about servicing
and programs
Make rules and
policies for schools
Listen to what people
think is important for
their children’s
education
Decide how the
budget is spent
Make decisions about
school buildings and
student transportation
Listen to people’s
complaints and
make fair judgments
Make sure the
provincial curriculum is
taught
• School Board trustees are elected every 3 years
at the same time as other members of local
government.
• There are about 60 school boards in Alberta and
approximately 450 trustees.
Central Office Staff
http://stpauleducation.ab.ca/index.php?option=com_breezingforms&view=form&Itemid=12
Board of Trustees
http://stpauleducation.ab.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=6
District Profile/Jurisdiction
http://stpauleducation.ab.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=24
DEFINITIONS
• superintendent
• trustee
• budget
CLASS ELECTION
•
•
•
•
•
Five Qualities of a Great Leader handout
Class Elections handout
Election Speech/ Presentation Assessment
Voting Ballots
Decide what the mayor and councillors will
be in charge of for the remainder of the
school year.
EXAMPLES OF ITEMS FOR ELECTION
Election Campaign Brochure
Political Campaign Poster
STUDENT COUNCIL SPEECH IDEAS
• http://www.schoolelection.com/
• http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_some_examples_
of_Middle_school_campaign_speeches
Randy Proskiw - Candidate, ATA Vice-President
Election Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H3OUS4QkN8
NOW IT’S TIME TO CAST YOUR VOTE!!!
• Review- Local Government Jeopardy
• Local Government Exam