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Ohio State Government. Unit 4, Lesson 2. Ohio ’ s Constitution. Elected officials in Ohio promise to support the state ’ s constitution Ohio has 2 constitutions First approved in 1803 Second approved in 1851 Today, Ohio ’ s state government runs according to the 1851 constitution.
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Ohio State Government Unit 4, Lesson 2
Ohio’s Constitution • Elected officials in Ohio promise to support the state’s constitution • Ohio has 2 constitutions • First approved in 1803 • Second approved in 1851 • Today, Ohio’s state government runs according to the 1851 constitution
Ohio’s Constitution • OH Constitution has been amended over the years • Some amendments protect the hours, pay, and working conditions of Ohio’s workers • Others guarantee civil rights to citizens of the state
Ohio’s Constitution • Ohio’s 1851 constitution required that every 20 years voters must be asked if they want to change their state constitution. • Meetings to make changes in the constitution were held in 1873 and 1912. • In 2011, Ohio’s will be asked again.
Ohio’s Bill of Rights • First article of the OH Constitution • Lists the rights and freedoms promised to Ohio citizens • Guarantees the freedoms of religion and speech, freedom of assembly (gather in groups), trial by jury • Jury group of citizens who hear and decide a case in court
State Government • OH Constitution divides the state government into legislative, executive, and judicial branches • Leaders of state government meet in Columbus
Ohio’s Legislative Branch • Ohio’s legislative branch is called the General Assembly • Makes state laws • Two parts – senate and house of representatives • Ohio Senate = 33 senators • Ohio House = 99 members • Members of each house can present bills, or plans for new laws • Each house works on bill by itself • Bills that are passed by one house are sent to the other for approval
Ohio’s Executive Branch • Sees that state laws are carried out • Governor is leader of executive branch • Ohio’s voters elect the governor to serve a four-year term • Creates a yearly budget (written plan for how to spend state’s money) • Budget sent to General Assembly for approval • Reviews bills suggested by G.A. • Approved becomes a law • Veto (reject) bill • Legislature can still pass a vetoed bill if 3/5 of G.A. vote to make it a law • Runs many state departments and agencies
Ohio’s Judicial Branch • Decides if laws agree with the state constitution • Made up of all the state courts • All justices in the state are elected
Ohio’s Judicial Branch • Ohio Supreme Court is the state’s highest court • 1 chief justice • 6 elected justices who serve six-year terms • 1922 = Florence Ellinwood Allen first woman elected to OH Supreme Court
Ohio’s Judicial Branch • Ohio has a system of lower courts • District court of appeals • County and city courts • Courts of common pleas • Mayors’ courts
Ohio’s Government and Economy • OH state government words to bring businesses to the state • Collects taxes from citizens to provide services
Encouraging Businesses • Department of Development encourages people in OH to start new businesses • Helps businesses from other states and countries move to the state • These efforts bring jobs to OH • Department provides info about the state’s people, resources, and laws • Helps businesses train new workers • Can also show businesses how to use energy sources wisely
Taxes and Services • OH collects taxes from citizens • OH General Assembly decides how to spend the taxes • State taxes pay for costs of running the state gov. • Pay for building and repairing state roads, highways, and ports • Keeping state parks safe and clean
Taxes and Services • State tax money is also spent on public schools and state universities • Almost 4,000 public elementary, middle, and high schools • Around 1,845,000 students attend these schools • More than 60 public universities and colleges • The Ohio State University in Columbus is the 3rd largest university in the USA
Taxes and Services • Many officials and offices in OH work together to collect and spend state money • State treasurer and state auditor • Treasurer manages the state’s money • Jennette B. Bradley was the first African American woman elected to this office in the USA • Auditor makes sure that state money is spent correctly • Betty Montgomery was the first woman to hold this office in OH
Ohio State Seal • Used on all official state papers • Features the Scioto River flowing across its center • Separates a farm’s field from Mount Logan • 13 rays of sun shine over the mountain • Represent the 13 original American states • At the front a bundle of 17 arrows stands for OH as the 17th state to join the union