state and local government. nc state constitution nc state constitution three nc constitutions in...
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State and Local State and Local GovernmentGovernment
NC State ConstitutionNC State Constitution
Three NC Constitutions in our state history
Constitution of 1776- created the government for the new state when independence was declared - it was substantially amended in 1835
Constitution of 1868- brought the state back into the Union after the Civil War with suffrage for all males over 21 - later amended in 1873 to discriminate against African Americans in many ways- no vote
Constitution of 1971- it reorganized the entire state government- it expanded the Council of State, and increased the Governor's budgetary authority. It required the General Assembly to reduce the more than 300 state administrative departments to 25 principal departments. It also allowed local gov’ts to collect property taxes to fund law enforcement & fire depts
NC Executive Branch Governor (4 terms, serve only 2 consecutive terms) Pat McCrory
Lieutenant Governor Dan Forrest
Executive and legislative power
President of state Senate
Member of the Council of State
CabinetAppointed positions
Governor’s Cabinet
Council of StateCouncil of State
Executive advisory committee: create policy, oversee spending and conduct state’s business
Made up of the Governor & Lt. Governor as well as 8 other elected positions each is
elected to a 4 year term Each in charge of some gov’t agency
Secretary of State- Elaine Marshall responsible for making sure businesses follow the rules.
State Treasurer- Janet Cowell has sole authority to manage the state's $70 billion pension fund for state employees
Superintendent of Public Instruction- June Atkinson oversees the curriculum & funding of the state’s public schools
Attorney General- Roy Cooper heads the state's Dep’t of Justice, which oversees the State Bureau of Investigation and is responsible for defending the state in court
State Auditor- Beth Wood serves as the state's chief financial watchdog- makes sure state agencies get good values on contracts & spends $ as intended
Agriculture Commissioner- Steve Troxler handles everything from farm product marketing to the NC Forest Service, State Fair & inspectors that ensure store scanners ring up purchases accurately
Labor Commissioner- Cherie Berry responsible for enforcing workplace safety rules, inspecting elevators and carnival rides at all county fairs & at the State Fair
Insurance Commissioner- Wayne Goodwin enforces insurance rules & regulations, investigates fraud cases, serves as state-wide fire marshal & licenses bail bondsmen
State Agencies
Boards, commissions, departments and offices in the executive branch
They assist in carrying out laws
Legislative BranchLegislative Branch
General Assembly House of Representatives (120) Senate (50)
Create laws or statutes All laws are subject to the due
process clause in the US Constitution’s 14th amendment and Bill of Rights
Local GovernmentsLocal Governments Counties & Municipalities (cities & towns)
COUNTY 100 in NC Governed by boards of County Commissioners
Elected by county residents May serve 2 or 4 year terms Administer statewide programs Make rules to meet citizens needs (Ex. zoning requests)
Sheriff- responsible for enforcement of laws in county
Local Government
COUNTY Register of Deeds
Elected by citizens of the county 4 year term
Manage public records/legal documents: deeds, deeds of trust, powers of attorney, maps of property
Issue marriage licenses, birth and death certificates
Local Government
Municipality (city or town)
1. Council-manager Plan Elected city council makes policies, adopts
ordinances and approves the budget Mayor is a member & presiding officer of the council City manager hired to actually run operations
2. Mayor-council Plan Mayor represents city and is not a member of the
city council
Local Government CITY (municipality) Metropolis
set of adjacent municipalities that function together as one (Ex. Charlotte)
City Council Make laws for the city
Aldermen Represent city districts and work with the mayor to run the city government
Special Districts Specialized services within the district, paid for by the taxes of its residents School district BOE
Local Government
School Board (Board of Education) Council of local school district members Elected by voters to usually 4 yr terms Influence policies about education in the district They appoint a superintendent to run school system
Local Government Ordinance
Regulation enacted by city government Usually quality of life stuff (noise control,
trespassing and human rights)
Local acts (ordinances and municipal codes) are limited to a particular county
or city Referendum (direct popular vote on an
issue) Common at state and local levels
Local Government
TOWN/Townships Subdivision of a county
Local Law Enforcement
Sheriff (Sheriff’s deputies) County’s highest elected law-enforcement
officer Oversee jail Provide courthouse security Transport prisoners
Chief of Police Commanding officer of city’s police
department Appointed position- by city council