Civics Unit 8Civics Unit 8

Local Gov’t in NC (ch. Local Gov’t in NC (ch. 14.1-2)14.1-2)

I. MunicipalitiesI. MunicipalitiesA.A. Creating municipalitiesCreating municipalities

1.1. MunicipalitiesMunicipalities- units of local gov’t (cities, - units of local gov’t (cities, townships)townships)

2.2. Each city, town, village Each city, town, village incorporatedincorporated (given geographical area of rule) by the (given geographical area of rule) by the statestatea.a. Have a Have a chartercharter- basic rules of gov’t- basic rules of gov’t

b.b. Can be adjusted by the General AssemblyCan be adjusted by the General Assembly

3.3. Cities expand Cities expand borders through borders through annexationannexation- adding - adding unincorporated unincorporated areas to city limitsareas to city limits

4.4. ZoningZoning- divide a - divide a city into zones city into zones (residential, (residential, commercial, commercial, industrial)industrial)

5.5. Metropolitan Metropolitan areasareas- cities and the - cities and the areas around them areas around them (ex: Charlotte, (ex: Charlotte, Matthews, Concord, Matthews, Concord, etc)etc)

B.B. Government structureGovernment structure1.1. City council- local legislature who pass City council- local legislature who pass

ordinancesordinances- local laws- local laws

2.2. Mayor- elected chief executiveMayor- elected chief executive

3.3. Council-ManagerCouncil-Manager form of city gov’t form of city gov’ta.a. Strong city council, mayor is chairmanStrong city council, mayor is chairman

b.b. City manager hired by council for day-to-day City manager hired by council for day-to-day gov’t operationsgov’t operations

4.4. Mayor-CouncilMayor-Council form of city gov’t form of city gov’ta.a. Mayor is strong, not a member of council, runs Mayor is strong, not a member of council, runs

gov’tgov’t

b.b. City council makes lawsCity council makes laws

c.c. Model for large cities (uncommon in NC)Model for large cities (uncommon in NC)

When you are done…

Go to p. 418-9 and complete #1-9

II. CountiesII. CountiesA.A. Gov’t StructureGov’t Structure

1.1. Largest subdivision in NC (100 counties in Largest subdivision in NC (100 counties in NC)NC)

2.2. County seatCounty seat- city that has county gov’t- city that has county gov’t

3.3. County commissionersCounty commissioners- governing legislature- governing legislaturea.a. Elected by votersElected by voters

b.b. Pass ordinancesPass ordinances

c.c. Hire county manager to do day-to-day businessHire county manager to do day-to-day business

4.4. School boardSchool boarda.a. Elected independent board to determine educational Elected independent board to determine educational

policypolicy

b.b. SuperintendentSuperintendent- executive of school system, hired by - executive of school system, hired by the school boardthe school board

B.B. Other county elected officialsOther county elected officials1.1. independent boards manage many county independent boards manage many county

servicesservices

2.2. SheriffSheriff- runs jail, county law enforcement- runs jail, county law enforcement

3.3. Register of deedsRegister of deeds- registers and organizes - registers and organizes documentsdocuments

4.4. TreasurerTreasurer- keeps and manages county funds- keeps and manages county funds

5.5. District attorneyDistrict attorney- prosecutes criminal cases- prosecutes criminal cases

6.6. AssessorAssessor- sets property values, taxes- sets property values, taxes

3-2-1Write:3 positions in local government

2 types of city government

1 question you have about how local government works

I. Changes to NC Changes to NC ConstitutionConstitution

A.A. Amendment ProcessAmendment Process1.1. Proposal by General Assembly or Proposal by General Assembly or

conventionconvention

2.2. All amendments are approved by the All amendments are approved by the votersvoters

B.B. Citizens in LawmakingCitizens in Lawmaking1.1. initiativeinitiative- people propose legislation- people propose legislation

a.a. people sign petitions and submit to GApeople sign petitions and submit to GA

b.b. indirect (GA approves), direct (goes on the indirect (GA approves), direct (goes on the ballot)ballot)

2.2. ReferendumReferendum- legislation referred to voters- legislation referred to votersa.a. Amendments are approved through mandatory Amendments are approved through mandatory

referendumreferendum

b.b. GA may allow optional referendums because of GA may allow optional referendums because of popular demand or do not want responsibilitypopular demand or do not want responsibility

Open to p. 357-8

• At the bottom of your notes, make a list of changes made the NC Constitution

• Write a date a short summary of what changes were made

• EX: 1776- created independent NC gov’t after the 1776- created independent NC gov’t after the DeclarationDeclaration

C.C. Changes to the NC ConstitutionChanges to the NC Constitution1.1. 1776- created independent NC gov’t after the 1776- created independent NC gov’t after the

DeclarationDeclaration

2.2. 1835- people elect governor and choose 1835- people elect governor and choose amendments, non-whites not allowed to voteamendments, non-whites not allowed to vote

3.3. 1868- US gov’t required changes to readmit 1868- US gov’t required changes to readmit NCNC

4.4. 1971- simplified and clarified language1971- simplified and clarified language

5.5. Later changes- governor allowed two terms, Later changes- governor allowed two terms, power to vetopower to veto

Civics Unit 8Civics Unit 8““Branches of North Branches of North

Carolina GovernmentCarolina Government ” ” (ch. 13.1-2)(ch. 13.1-2)

I. LegislativeI. LegislativeA.A. Powers of the Powers of the General AssemblyGeneral Assembly

1.1. Make lawsMake lawsa.a. General StatutesGeneral Statutes- laws that apply statewide- laws that apply statewide

b.b. laws for specific counties or citieslaws for specific counties or cities

2.2. Impeachment- governor, judges, members of Impeachment- governor, judges, members of Council of StateCouncil of State

3.3. Pass a budget- by law, must be balancedPass a budget- by law, must be balanced

B.B. Organization of General AssemblyOrganization of General Assembly1.1. MembersMembers

a.a. NC Senate 50 membersNC Senate 50 members

b.b. NC House of Representatives- 120 membersNC House of Representatives- 120 members

2.2. ElectionsElectionsa.a. no term limitsno term limits

b.b. G.A. redraws district lines each censusG.A. redraws district lines each census

c.c. each district has equal populationeach district has equal population

3.3. QualificationsQualificationsa.a. House- 21 years old, lived in district one yearHouse- 21 years old, lived in district one year

b.b. Senate- 25 years old, lived in NC two yearsSenate- 25 years old, lived in NC two years

4.4. LeadershipLeadershipa.a. Speaker of HouseSpeaker of House

b.b. President of Senate is Lieutenant Governor, President of Senate is Lieutenant Governor, president pro tempore is leaderpresident pro tempore is leader

II. Executive (Governor)II. Executive (Governor)A.A. Chief of State- symbolic leader of NCChief of State- symbolic leader of NC

B.B. Chief Executive- responsible for making Chief Executive- responsible for making sure policies are carried out (with Council sure policies are carried out (with Council of State) of State)

C.C. Qualifications- 30 years old, US citizen 5 Qualifications- 30 years old, US citizen 5 years, lived in NC two yearsyears, lived in NC two years

D.D. DutiesDuties1.1. appoints key officialsappoints key officials

2.2. proposes state budgetproposes state budget

3.3. supervises executive branch supervises executive branch

4.4. veto powerveto powera.a. includes includes line item vetoline item veto- may veto one or more - may veto one or more

items on bill without rejecting whole billitems on bill without rejecting whole bill

b.b. GA can override with 3/5 voteGA can override with 3/5 vote

5.5. judicial powersjudicial powersa.a.pardon-pardon- release from legal release from legal

consequence of crimeconsequence of crime

b.b.commutecommute- reduce sentence- reduce sentence

c.c. reprievereprieve- postpone execution- postpone execution

d.d.paroleparole- release early from prison- release early from prison

E.E. Lt. GovernorLt. Governor1.1. elected for 4 years separately from elected for 4 years separately from

governorgovernor

2.2. succeeds governor if becomes vacantsucceeds governor if becomes vacant

3.3. president of Senatepresident of Senate

F.F. Council of StateCouncil of State- elected heads of - elected heads of gov’t agenciesgov’t agencies1.1. Are under the governor but work Are under the governor but work

independently independently

2.2. ex: Attorney General- lawyer for the stateex: Attorney General- lawyer for the state

III. Judicial (NC Supreme III. Judicial (NC Supreme Court)Court)

A.A. Elected by voters, 7 membersElected by voters, 7 members

B.B. highest state court, interprets state highest state court, interprets state constitutionconstitution

C.C. major function of reviewing decisions major function of reviewing decisions of lower courts in appealsof lower courts in appeals

D.D. final say in matters of state law final say in matters of state law

What does your local gov’t do for you?

• Look on page 408 and answer the 2 questions Identifying and Analyzing.

• Who has the responsibility for electing county commissioners?

• On page 411 what can the Governor propose to balance the budget?

• IF you were governor and you had a budget shortfall what would be your first choice?

Civics 3.08-9Civics 3.08-9“Revenues, Taxes, and

Expenditures” (ch. 14.3)

I. Non-tax Revenue Sources A. Federal Grants-in-Aid- federal money

goes to state and local governments (usually for specific projects)

B. Intergovernmental Revenue- money from one level of gov’t to another (federal-state, state-county or city)

C. Municipal Bonds- loans issued by state and local gov’ts to build highways, libraries, parks, schools, etc1. may raise taxes to pay back2. voters vote on bonds

D. Other sources1. Fees- developers to use local service, use

of utilities2. Fines- punishment for violations3. Licenses- grant permission (hunt,

marriage, etc)4. Permits- grant permission (construction

project)5. Tolls- roads, bridges6. Lotteries- most states allow

Review1. What terms are used for the creation

and the expansion of municipalities?2. What is the Council-Manager form of

city govt?3. What is the difference between

initiatives and referendums?4. Name three differences between the

NC gov’t and the US gov’t.5. What is the line-item veto?

II. TaxesA. Sales Tax

1. easy to collect, dependable 2. regressive- people pay same amount

B. State Income Tax- income of individuals and corporations1. progressive- more income, higher

percentage

C. Property Tax- biggest source of local money1. real property- land, buildings, etc2. personal property- cars, boats, jewelry

D. Excise TaxesE. Estate Tax

III. ExpendituresA. NC is legally

required to balance the budget

B. Education- (58% budget)1. local taxes provide

much funding2. states set curricula,

graduation req., pay for teachers

B. Public Safety- law enforcement and corrections system

C. Highways and Roads- speed limits, licenses, inspections

D. Other- Gov’t buildings, hospitals, libraries, parks