Chapter Nineteen: State and Local Government 1. Learning Objectives Describe in general terms the differences between the U.S. Constitution and state.

Chapter Nineteen:

State and Local Government

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Learning Objectives

Describe in general terms the differences between the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions, and the reasons for these differences.

Describe the structure of the typical state executive branch, including the weak executive, and describe the obstacles to reforming the system.

Explain the veto and line-item veto power of state executives and contrast the exercise of this power with the U.S. president’s veto power.

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Learning Objectives

Explain the importance of legislative apportionment, court decisions on gerrymandering and racial gerrymandering, and the principle of one person, one vote.

Evaluate the proposals for reform related to legislative apportionment.

Describe and explain the significance of the tools of direct democracy, including the initiative, referendum, and recall.

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Learning Objectives

Explain the various units of local governments, including municipalities, counties, towns, townships, and special districts.

Explain the various plans for municipal governments, including the commission plan, the council-manager plan, the mayor-administrator plan, and the mayor-council plan.

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Learning Objectives

Describe how state and local governments raise revenue through general sales tax and property tax, and evaluate why state and local governments are so vulnerable to economic cycles.

Explain what services are provided with this revenue, including education and public welfare.

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U.S. Constitution and the State Governments

The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

States have the authority to lay taxes, spend, and regulate intrastate commerce.

State constitutions tend to be much longer than the U.S. Constitution.

Constitutional Convention and Constitutional Initiative

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The State Executive Branch

Weak ExecutiveReforming the SystemGovernor’s Veto Power

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The State Legislature

Legislative Apportionment:

Minority Representation Political Gerrymandering

Term Limits for State Legislators

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The State Legislature

Ethics and Campaign Finance Reforms in the States

Direct Democracy: Initiative, Referendum, and Recall

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The State Legislature10





The State Judiciary

Trial Courts

Appellate Courts

Judicial Elections and Appointments

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The State Judiciary16

How Local Government Operates

Legal Existence of Local Government

Local Governmental Units: Municipalities Counties Towns and Townships Special Districts and School Districts

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How Local Government Operates 18


Consolidation of Governments

The purpose of many COGs is the pursuit of federal grants.

COGs can only recommend actions. They do not have the power to make binding decisions on all of the governmental units who have joined the organization.

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How Municipalities Are Governed Commission Plan Council-Manager Plan Mayor-Administrator Plan Mayor-Council Plan

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Machine Versus Reform in City Politics Machine politics was an important political

structure in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

These political organizations helped new immigrants by providing jobs and services in return for their votes to keep them in power.

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Governing Metropolitan Areas Various policy problems, such as crime, traffic

congestion and pollution, are not contained within municipal political boundaries.

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Governing Metropolitan Areas (Continued)

Possible solutions include :Annexation by a city of surrounding suburbs.Consolidation of city and county governments.Set up a system of metropolitan government. Create special districts.

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Paying for State and Local Government

State and Local Government Expenditures

State and Local Government Revenues

Struggle to Balance State Budgets Borrowing too much Poor productivity Health care costs

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Paying for State and Local Government25



Web Links

National Conference of State Legislatures: bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs and provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas: www.ncsl.org.

FindLaw: searchable database of state law codes (statutes) and state court cases: www.findlaw.com/casecode/state.html.

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What If…All States Offered School Vouchers?

All public education systems in the United States are funded and controlled by local and state governments.

School choice is open only to those families willing to spend thousands to send their children to private or parochial schools.

School vouchers could give parents choices to send their children to any public or private school.

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What If…All States Offered School Vouchers?

Voucher system would create competition for students among public and private schools.

Critics fear that some public schools could not attract students and survive.

Other critics argue that it violates the separation of church and state if state monies are spent at religious schools.

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You Can Make a Difference: Learning About Local Politics and Government in Your Community

Local government impacts areas of education, health, employment, and crime, which affects you, your family, and your friends.

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You Can Make a Difference: Learning About Local Politics and Government in Your Community

Students can:Attend a neighborhood association meeting.Attend a city council meeting.Attend a school board meeting.Volunteer for a local or state campaign.Run for office.Attend proceedings at local courts.

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Chapter Nineteen: State and Local Government 1. Learning Objectives Describe in general terms the differences between the U.S. Constitution and state.

Documents

state governments

state constitutions

state legislators

state legislature ethics

typical state executive

local government o

mayor administrator

learning objectives