State and Local Government

State and Local Government state constitutions 23.1

Answer using the graphic 68

Essential Question: Explain the importance and functions of state constitutions. COPY constitutional commission group of experts appointed to study a state constitution and recommend changes constitutional convention gathering of citizens elected to consider changing or replacing a constitution

Essential Question: Explain the importance and functions of state constitutions. initiative method by which citizens propose a constitutional amendment or a law Referendum a special election

Essential Question: Explain the importance and functions of state constitutions. page 637 List below the four reasons that individual state constitutions are also important: creates the structure of state governments, provides for separation of powers establish the different types of local governments within the states along with their powers and duties regulate the ways state and local governments can raise and spend money establish independent state agencies boards, and commissions

Essential Question: Explain the importance and functions of state constitutions. All have a bill of rights. All are lengthy documents All go into great detail. • include varied protections not mentioned in the U.S. Constitution. • vary in length. • Specific details in state constitutions differ, such as declarations of state holidays. • vary in ways of proposing and ratifying amendments.

State and Local Government The Three Branches of State Government 23.2

Essential Question: Discuss the organization and functions of the three branches of state governments. bicameral two-house legislative body civil case one usually involving a dispute between two or more private individuals or organizations

Essential Question: Discuss the organization and functions of the three branches of state governments. criminal case one in which the state brings charges against a citizen for violating the law item veto the power to turn down a particular item in a bill without vetoing the entire bill

Essential Question: Discuss the organization and functions of the three branches of state governments. lieutenant governor presiding officer of the upper house in some state legislatures plurality the largest number of votes in an election

Essential Question: Discuss the organization and functions of the three branches of state governments. page 641 • districts based on roughly equal population sized areas • one person – one vote rule • annual sessions • one-two months • defined by state constitutions • Senator –25, Rep –21 • resident of district • most are attorneys • most like the US Congress • number of members vary by state • Speaker of the House – leads House • Lieutenant Governor – leads Senate • many states - originates in legislature • some states – originates with Governor • Senate – 4 years • House – 2 years

Essential Question: Discuss the organization and functions of the three branches of state governments. • carry out the law • supervise the executive branch • party nomination • plurality or majority • at least 30 • American Citizen • state resident for at least 5 years • propose legislation • guide public opinion • appointments • pardons, shorten sentences, waive fines, release prisoners on parole • most 4 years • VT and NH – 2 years • lieutenant governors, attorney generals, secretary of state, state treasurer • proposing/signing legislation • visiting foreign countries

Essential Question: Discuss the organization and functions of the three branches of state governments. • popular election • election by legislature • appointment • Missouri Plan • interpret and apply state and local laws, • deal with civil and criminal cases • minor courts (justice court, small claims, traffic court) • general trial courts (county, circuit, superior and district courts) • appeals courts (supreme, appellate courts) • impeachment • disciplinary boards • recall

State and Local Government state government policy 23-3

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. conservation the care and protection of natural resources including the land, lakes, rivers, and forests; gold, natural gas, and other energy sources; and wildlife corporate charter a document that gives a corporation legal status

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. extradition the legal procedure through which a person accused of a crime who has fled to another state is returned to the state where the crime took place house arrest sentence which requires an offender to stay at home except for certain functions the court permits

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. mandatory sentencing system of fixed, required terms of imprisonment for certain types of crimes parole means by which a prisoner is allowed to serve the rest of a sentence in the community under the supervision of a parole officer

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. public utility an organization that supplies such necessities as electricity, gas, or telephone service

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. shock incarceration prison program involving shorter sentences in a highly structured environment where offenders participate in work, community service, education, and counseling

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. shock probation program designed to show young offenders how terrible prison life is through brief incarceration followed by supervised release unemployment compensation payments to workers who lose their jobs

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. victim compensation a program in many states whereby the state government provides financial aid to victims of certain crimes • worker’s compensation • payments for people unable to work as a result of job-related injury or ill health

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. page 648 • safety and sanitary conditions of factories • child labor rules • worker’s compensation • unemployment compensation • right to work laws • interest rates, insurance rates, licensing exams, consumer protections • attracting new business • governor promoting in foreign countries • advertising • industrial development bonds • from unfair and deceptive trade practices ( false advertising) • landlord-tenant relationships • health care industries • consumer sales and service • consumer education in schools

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. • Clean Air Act (1963), water control Act (1965), Air Quality Control Act (1967) National Environmental Policy Act (1969) • environmental impact statements, permits • air and water pollution • federal regulations • federally sponsored programs • grants • state and local government funds • state laws • preserves

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. • each state has own set of laws and punishments • mandatory sentencing for some crimes • victim compensation • fragmented • some crimes are specific to certain areas creating a need for tougher laws and punishments • handled by state courts • probation, parole • intensive supervised probation • most are highway patrol units • may not possess broad police capabilities

Essential Question: Analyze ways in which state governments write and enforce public policy. • state licenses doctors, pharmacies, dentist • state supported clinics, hospitals and institutions • personal health, health resources, environmental health, labs, aid to local health departments • states contribute approximately 45% of financing • vast differences between states (funding, spending per pupil, student performance • state and local districts • human services • Aid to families with dependent children, add to the blind, old age assistance • Medicaid • administer and finance general assistance programs • use federal funds

State and Local Government Financing State Government 23-4

Essential Question: Identify and evaluate various sources of state revenue. 23.4 block grant grant of money to a state or local government for a general purpose bond a contractual promise by a borrower to repay a certain sum plus interest by a specified date

Essential Question: Identify and evaluate various sources of state revenue. excise tax tax on the manufacture, transportation, sale, or consumption of certain items such as gasoline, liquor, or cigarettes federal grant a sum of money given to a state for a specific purpose

Essential Question: Identify and evaluate various sources of state revenue. intergovernmental revenue revenue distributed by one level of government to another mandate a formal order given by a higher authority

Essential Question: Identify and evaluate various sources of state revenue. progressive tax tax based on a taxpayer's ability to pay proportional tax tax that is assessed at the same rate for everyone

Essential Question: Identify and evaluate various sources of state revenue. regressive tax tax in which people with lower incomes pay a larger portion of their income

Essential Question: Identify and evaluate various sources of state revenue. • Limited by US Constitution – can’t tax goods from out of state or country, tax federal property, use taxing to deprive people of equal protection of the law • state constitutions may limit taxing property for educational, charitable or religious purpose; sales tax or income tax • sales tax - general is imposed on broad range of items, selective is imposed on certain items like gas, cigarettes (also called excise tax) • state income tax – progressive or proportional, based on wages earned • license fees, motor vehicle registration, severance taxes, state property tax, estate taxes • borrowing – for long term expenditures, sell bonds • lotteries - like the Georgia Lottery for education • intergovernmental revenue – federal grants, may stipulate how funds are to be used, categorical formula grants, block grants • federal mandates

State and Local Government Structure of Local Government 24-1

Essential Question: Describe and compare various forms of local government. 24.1 county the largest political subdivision of a state county board the governing board of most counties

Essential Question: Describe and compare various forms of local government. incorporation a process of setting up a legal community under state law municipality an urban unit of government chartered by a state

Essential Question: Describe and compare various forms of local government. referendum a special election special district a unit of local government that deals with a specific function, such as education, water supply, or transportation

Essential Question: Describe and compare various forms of local government. township a unit of local government found in some states, usually a subdivision of a county

Essential Question: Describe and compare various forms of local government. page 663

Essential Question: Describe and compare various forms of local government. page 663 Found in every state except CT and RI, In LA and MI called parishes; Alaska boroughs County boards (may have other names) decide on budget, taxes and zoning codes; may have executive and legislative powers

Essential Question: Describe and compare various forms of local government. page 663 Found in fewer than half the states; mostly in New England; functions vary; may provide services like road building Strong communities; became models of citizen participation; town meeting is centerpiece of town government

Essential Question: Describe and compare various forms of local government. page 663 Most common type of local government; deal with a wide variety of services May be called a town, borough, city or urban district, granted by state charters giving them specific powers; incorporation is required which takes a referendum

Essential Question: Describe and compare various forms of local government. Elected mayor has executive powers; elected council has legislative powers, most are unicameral; Executive and legislative powers are combined in an elected commission; each commissioner heads a specific department; mayor carries out ceremonial functions. Legislative and executive powers are separated. Council sets policies and appoints a manager, who acts as the executive and is usually a trained public administrator. Mayor-council: Commission: Council-manager:

State and Local Government Serving Localities 24-2

Essential Question: Explain how local governments provide a range of services to residents of the community. assessment the complicated process involved in calculating the value of property to be taxed market value the amount of money an owner may expect to receive if property is sold

Essential Question: Explain how local governments provide a range of services to residents of the community. mass transit systems such as subways that are used to transport a large number of people metropolitan area a large city and its surrounding suburbs

State and Local Government