State and Local Government

What YOU NEED to Know!

Legislative Branch

NC General Assembly is similar to Congress

Lawmaking abilityMade up of a House of Representatives and a

SenateRepresentation is based upon districts

Executive Branch

Governor is similar to the PresidentJob is to enforce lawsCan exercise veto power

Governor has power President does not have called Line Item Veto (Gov. can cross out/veto a part of a law but does not have to veto the entire thing)

Have an appointed cabinet to help advise them

Governor also has a group of elected department heads to advise him

Council of State• Elected by citizens in the general election

State and Local Laws

A State Law is a StatuteEnforced by state law enforcement such as SBI or

Highway PatrolAlso enforced by county sheriffs and city police

A Local Law is an OrdinanceEnforced by county sheriff and/or city policeSheriffs are the primary law enforcement for a

countyCity police are the primary law enforcement for cities

The Sheriff

Sheriff is an elected executive branch position (enforces laws)

In charge of County JailsIn charge of SchoolsChief law enforcement officer for a county

Annexation

Taking county land and incorporating it into an existing city

To make city bigger (area and population)Increase tax base for city

Citizens often oppose because it raises their taxes (they now have to pay city taxes, too)

People can move if they are too opposed

Zoning

Rules for land useCity Council either acts as the Zoning Board or

appoints a Zoning BoardTypes of Zoning

Residential: only housesCommercial: only businesses (Stores/Restaurants)Industrial: factories and warehouses

You do not want a factory in the middle of your neighborhood

Zoning ensures that does not happen

Leandro v. State of North Carolina

Counties and Schools do not receive equal funding

A group of parents and schools sued the state saying that it was not fair (students could not get an equal education with less money)

State Supreme Court ruled that a citizen is entitled to an adequate, but not equal education

Adequate education is measured by EOC scores Students must score at least a Level III to be

receiving an “adequate education”

State of NC v. Mann

Man beat and shot his slave (he lived) and was charged with assault and fined $5

NC State Supreme Court ruled that Mann could not be punished for beating his own “property”

NC Declaration of Rights states that “no man shall be deprived of his property”

Determined that NC Constitution is Supreme Law of NC and he could not be convicted of assaulting property

State of NC v. Mann

Man beat and shot his slave (he lived) and was charged with assault and fined $5

NC State Supreme Court ruled that Mann could not be punished for beating his own “property”

NC Declaration of Rights states that “no man shall be deprived of his property”

Determined that NC Constitution is Supreme Law of NC and he could not be convicted of assaulting property