Chapter 11Chapter 11

Governing AlabamaGoverning Alabama

Lesson 1Lesson 1

What Is Government ?What Is Government ?

We have a democratic form of We have a democratic form of government. A government. A democracydemocracy is a is a government that is run by the people.government that is run by the people.

The United States is also a republic. A The United States is also a republic. A republicrepublic is a government in which the is a government in which the citizens elect representatives.citizens elect representatives.

We elect leaders to three levels of We elect leaders to three levels of government: government: national, state, and localnational, state, and local. .

National GovernmentNational Government

Meets in Washington, D.C.Meets in Washington, D.C. It includes the President, Supreme Court, and It includes the President, Supreme Court, and

Congress. Congress. Alabamians elect 9 members of Congress. Alabamians elect 9 members of Congress. Other people are Other people are appointedappointed, or chosen, to serve , or chosen, to serve

in the national government.in the national government. President Roosevelt appointed Hugo Black of President Roosevelt appointed Hugo Black of

Clay County to the Supreme Court.Clay County to the Supreme Court. Condeleeza Rice of Birmingham was appointed Condeleeza Rice of Birmingham was appointed

by President Bush to be the national security by President Bush to be the national security advisor.advisor.

National GovernmentNational Government

Executive Branch

President Obama

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

““The Executive Branch: Our Federal Government” video segmentThe Executive Branch: Our Federal Government” video segment

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National GovernmentNational Government

Legislative Branch

House of Representatives

Legislative Branch

Senate

“Government Organization and Leadership” Video

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Alabama’s GovernmentAlabama’s Government

Alabama’s government has three Alabama’s government has three branches: executive, legislative, and branches: executive, legislative, and judicialjudicial

Each branch has different and separate Each branch has different and separate powers.powers.

No one branch can become too powerful No one branch can become too powerful or make unfair decisions.or make unfair decisions.

Alabama’s Executive BranchAlabama’s Executive Branch The executive branch carries out Alabama’s The executive branch carries out Alabama’s

laws and is headed by the governor. laws and is headed by the governor. Other people in the executive branch include Other people in the executive branch include

the lieutenant governor, the commissioner of the lieutenant governor, the commissioner of agriculture and industries, the secretary of agriculture and industries, the secretary of state, and the treasurer. state, and the treasurer.

All of these people are elected by Alabamians All of these people are elected by Alabamians and serve four year terms.and serve four year terms.

Lurleen WallaceLurleen Wallace, wife of George Wallace, , wife of George Wallace, became the first female governor of Alabama.became the first female governor of Alabama.

Alabama’s Executive BranchAlabama’s Executive Branch

Governor Bob Riley Lt. Governor Jim Folsom Jr.

Secretary of State Beth Chapman

Alabama’s Legislative BranchAlabama’s Legislative Branch The legislative branch makes state laws, raises The legislative branch makes state laws, raises

money, and decides how the money will be money, and decides how the money will be spent.spent.

The House of Representatives and Senate are The House of Representatives and Senate are the two groups the make up the state legislature. the two groups the make up the state legislature.

Alabama has 35 state senators, and 105 state Alabama has 35 state senators, and 105 state representatives.representatives.

Each member of the House of Representatives Each member of the House of Representatives represents about 40,000 people.represents about 40,000 people.

The legislators have 4 year terms. There are no The legislators have 4 year terms. There are no limits to the number of terms.limits to the number of terms.

Alabama’s Legislative BranchAlabama’s Legislative Branch

Helena’s State SenatorHelena’s State Senator Helena’s House of Helena’s House of

Representatives Representatives MembersMembers

Hank Erwin, Jr. Mary Sue McClurkin Cam Ward

Alabama’s Judicial BranchAlabama’s Judicial Branch

The judicial branch is Alabama’s court system. The judicial branch is Alabama’s court system. Alabama elects justices and judges.Alabama elects justices and judges. You have to be 18 and licensed to practice law in You have to be 18 and licensed to practice law in

Alabama to be a judge.Alabama to be a judge. Alabama has three levels of courts. Circuit courts Alabama has three levels of courts. Circuit courts

decide if people have broken the law. The Court of decide if people have broken the law. The Court of Appeals listens to cases in which one side thinks Appeals listens to cases in which one side thinks an error has been made.an error has been made.

The Alabama Supreme Court decides whether laws The Alabama Supreme Court decides whether laws agree with the state constitution.agree with the state constitution.

Alabama’s Judicial SystemAlabama’s Judicial SystemThere are many judges in Alabama in all of There are many judges in Alabama in all of

the courts.the courts.

There are 9 Supreme Court Judges. There are 9 Supreme Court Judges.

Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb

“The Supreme Court” video segment

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Famous JudgesFamous Judges District Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. ruled District Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. ruled

that many laws in Alabama were unfair to that many laws in Alabama were unfair to African Americans.African Americans.

Oscar W. Adams was the first African Oscar W. Adams was the first African American to serve on the state Supreme American to serve on the state Supreme Court.Court.

Hugo Black supported the Bill of Rights in Hugo Black supported the Bill of Rights in his rulings. his rulings.

Hugo Black

Lesson 2Lesson 2

County GovernmentCounty Government Local government is the government of a city, Local government is the government of a city,

town, or country. town, or country. Each county in Alabama has its own Each county in Alabama has its own

government.government. A commission, or group of people appointed or A commission, or group of people appointed or

elected, runs each county’s government. These elected, runs each county’s government. These people are called commissioners.people are called commissioners.

Other elected members of county government Other elected members of county government include the sheriff, the tax collector, and board of include the sheriff, the tax collector, and board of education members. education members.

City GovernmentCity Government Alabama’s towns and cities have their own Alabama’s towns and cities have their own

governments.governments. In most towns, a mayor is elected to lead the In most towns, a mayor is elected to lead the

city.city. In a few cities, such as Auburn and Dothan, a In a few cities, such as Auburn and Dothan, a

city manager is appointed to lead the city city manager is appointed to lead the city government.government.

The mayor works with the city council. The city The mayor works with the city council. The city council members helps make decisions about council members helps make decisions about the city.the city. Sonny Penhale

Mayor of Helena

State and Local ServicesState and Local Services Taxes help to pay for many services. People pay Taxes help to pay for many services. People pay

state and federal taxes. There is even a tax on state and federal taxes. There is even a tax on things that you buy. The money helps to pay for things that you buy. The money helps to pay for schools, universities, police, prisons, roads, and schools, universities, police, prisons, roads, and parks. parks.

City governments help the state government carry City governments help the state government carry our its job at the local level. City governments our its job at the local level. City governments provide the police department, fire department, provide the police department, fire department, parks, libraries, and transportation such as buses.parks, libraries, and transportation such as buses.

““Taxes: How They Help the Government” video segmentTaxes: How They Help the Government” video segment

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What Taxes Help Pay ForWhat Taxes Help Pay For

Rights and ResponsibilitiesRights and Responsibilities

Our Constitution gives us the rights of Our Constitution gives us the rights of freedom of speech, the press, and religion.freedom of speech, the press, and religion.

Citizens have many responsibilities, or Citizens have many responsibilities, or duties, to keep these rights. Voting, duties, to keep these rights. Voting, obeying the laws, and serving on juries are obeying the laws, and serving on juries are important responsibilities.important responsibilities.““America at Its Best: What It Means to Be an American CitizenAmerica at Its Best: What It Means to Be an American Citizen” video” video

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Lesson 3Lesson 3

Managing Our ResourcesManaging Our Resources It is the government’s job to help keep our air It is the government’s job to help keep our air

clean.clean. Since the Clean Air Act was passed in 1070, Since the Clean Air Act was passed in 1070,

Alabamians have worked together to keep our Alabamians have worked together to keep our air clean.air clean.

Birmingham once had problems with air Birmingham once had problems with air pollution. Pollution is something that dirties the pollution. Pollution is something that dirties the air, soil, or water.air, soil, or water.

Alabama’s state parks are protected by the Alabama’s state parks are protected by the government.government.

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Growth in AlabamaGrowth in Alabama Alabama’s population, or the total number of Alabama’s population, or the total number of

people living in a place, is increasing. Many people living in a place, is increasing. Many people are moving from rural areas to urban areas.people are moving from rural areas to urban areas.

There are not as many people working in forestry, There are not as many people working in forestry, farming, and fishing. Manufacturing jobs and farming, and fishing. Manufacturing jobs and technology jobs are seeing more people.technology jobs are seeing more people.

Our natural resources such as land, air, and water Our natural resources such as land, air, and water are affected as cities grow. Many cities have are affected as cities grow. Many cities have pollution because of factories. Some farms have pollution because of factories. Some farms have poor soil because of bad farming practices. With poor soil because of bad farming practices. With more people living here, Alabama has more more people living here, Alabama has more garbage. This causes concerns with water garbage. This causes concerns with water pollution.pollution.

Transportation ChangesTransportation Changes Alabama’s government has prepared for the Alabama’s government has prepared for the

population growth.population growth. Many airports have been built.Many airports have been built. There is nearly 100,000 miles of highways in There is nearly 100,000 miles of highways in

Alabama.Alabama. Alabama’s Port of Mobile imports and exports Alabama’s Port of Mobile imports and exports

many products. Many people are hired to work many products. Many people are hired to work at the port.at the port.

Many Alabamians have jobs building and Many Alabamians have jobs building and maintaining our transportation system.maintaining our transportation system.

Communication ChangesCommunication Changes The internet allows us to communicate faster The internet allows us to communicate faster

than ever before. We can receive information on than ever before. We can receive information on our computers about world events as they our computers about world events as they happen.happen.

Cell phones and satellites have improved Cell phones and satellites have improved communication. Satellites receive signals from communication. Satellites receive signals from cell towers, and satellite dishes receive signals cell towers, and satellite dishes receive signals from satellites.from satellites.

““The Internet” video segmentThe Internet” video segment

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““Cell Phone” video segmentCell Phone” video segment

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