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UNIT 7

MAIN IDEA PACKET (MIP): State and Local Government

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT CHAPTERS: 24 & 25

CHAPTER

GOVERNING THE STATES

Chapter 24 Section 1: State Constitutions THE BIG IDEA: A State constitution is the supreme law of that State; it sets out how the State is governed.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: State Constitutions

Answer the following questions after reading Ch 24 Section 1 and the chart above.

Chart Opinion: What part of the State Constitution do you think is the most important?

Look at Page 687: List the 3 ways to propose changes to a State Constitution.

What is the difference between fundamental law and statutory law?

A State Constitution

is the state's supreme law.

provides for popular

sovereignty & limited

government.

outlines civil rights.

defines structures of State and local

governments. divides powers among the

branches of State Government.

sets out ways in which it may be

revised or amended.

most likely needs to be reformed.

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Chapter 24 Section 2: State Legislatures THE BIG IDEA: State legislatures, the lawmaking bodies of the States, are popularly elected and organized like

Congress.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: State Legislatures

Answer the following questions after reading Ch 24 Section 2 and the chart above.

Chart Skill: How are state legislators chosen?

Complete this statement: Police power refers to the power to protect and promote...

What are constituent powers?

Read Direct Legislation on page 693: What is The Initiative? (both kinds)

Read Direct Legislation on page 693: Describe the 3 kinds of referendums.

FUN FACTS: 1) There are 7,342 people serving as State legislators but only 20 of them are NOT Republicans or Democrats. 2) Nebraska is the only state that doesn’t have a bicameral State legislature. Classic Nebraska! 3) Average Compensation for member serving in State legislator (counting allowances) is less than 30,000 dollars. Most keep other professions on the side. (Nevada legislators make that in two years, they only have session every other year) 4) Nevada has initiatives and referendums.

Each State legislature

is the lawmaking branch of its State government.

may pass any law that does not conflict with the State constitution or with federal law.

has the police power.

has constituent power.

is chosen by popular vote.

is organized like Congress.

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Chapter 24 Section 3: The Governor and State Administration THE BIG IDEA: The governor, the chief executive of a State, is popularly elected, as are many other important State executive officers.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: The Office of Governor

Answer the following questions after reading Ch 24 Section 3 and the chart above.

Page 697: List and describe the four executive Powers that most Governors posses.

List and describe the three legislative powers most Governors posses.

What is power of clemency referring to? Briefly describe four examples.

Below is a list of executive officers in which the Governor usually has to share control with. Write one sentence describing what each officer is responsibilities include.

1) Lieutenant Governor: 2) Secretary of State:

3) State Treasurer: 4) Attorney General:

FUN FACT:

1) 43 States give the governor the line item veto. (Not Nevada) 2) Nevada has all of those executive officers popularly elected. 3) Brian Sandoval (R) took office in 2010 to be the first Hispanic Governor of Nevada. 4) Nevada (1 of 18) can recall: remove the governor, where voters use petition/ special election.

The Governor

is popularly elected chief executive of a

State.

may be removed by impeachement or,

in 18 States, by recall.

has legislative and judicial powers,

such as the use of the item veto and

the powers of clemency.

in nearly every State, shares

powers with other elected officials.

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Chapter 24 Section 4: In the Courtroom THE BIG IDEA: State courts apply the forms of law that make up the code of conduct by which our society is

governed.

Answer the following questions after reading Chapter 24 Section 4

Write a summary sentence describing these types of laws: 1) Constitutional Law:

2) Statutory Law: 3) Administrative Law: 4) Common Law:

5) Equity: How does Common Law differ from Equity?

Contrast criminal law and civil law.

Why do more than half of the states use information instead of a grand jury to indict a

person for minor charges?

What does a petit jury (or trial jury) do?

What is a bench trial?

Use page 712 to help you answer the following question. Write at least 3 sentences.

Would you rather be convicted for a felony or a misdemeanor?

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Chapter 24 Section 5: The Courts and their Judges THE BIG IDEA: Judges for State courts, who may be selected in several ways, hear cases ranging from the minor to

the most serious.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: State and Local Courts

Answer the following questions after reading Chapter 24 Section 5

What do Justices of the Peace and Magistrates do?

Which State Courts have appellate jurisdiction?

What are the three ways judges are usually selected at the State level? 1) 2)

3) What is the purpose of juvenile courts?

Use page 704 to help you answer the following question. Write at least 3 sentences.

How do you think Judges should be selected? What do you think of the Missouri Plan?

State Supreme Court

Intermediate Appellate Courts

General Trial Courts

Municipal Courts

Juvenille Courts

Magistrates' Courts Justice Courts

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CHAPTER

LOCAL GOVERNMENT & FINANCE

Chapter 25 Section 1: Counties, Towns, and Townships THE BIG IDEA: Forms of local government include counties, towns, townships, and special districts.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Forms of Local Government FORM FUNCTION GOVERNING BODY

COUNTY

Administers State and county laws and

maintains such things as jails, roads, schools, and tax collection.

Country board

TOWN Delivers services provided by city and county governments elsewhere.

Board of Selectmen/selectwomen

TOWNSHIP Usually provides rural functions such as road maintenance and law enforcement.

3-5 member board

SPECIAL DISTRICT

Performs governmental functions at the

local level, such as administering schools and providing water, police protection, and

bridge and park maintenance.

An elected board

Answer the following questions using the chart above and reading chapter 25 section 1.

Chart Skill: What is the governing body for a special district?

Read Functions of Counties on page 720. List 20 functions.

List 3 county officials commonly found in a county government?

What is the major unit of government in most States?

Chart Skill: What does a board of selectmen/selectwomen manage?

FUN FACTS: There are 87,525 units of government across the nation. Of them 87,474 of them are local. ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE CREATED BY THE STATE!

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Chapter 25 Section 2: Cities and Metropolitan Areas THE BIG IDEA:

Once primarily rural, the United States’ population has become much more urban.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Aspects of City Government

Answer the following questions using the chart above and reading chapter 25 section 2.

Chart Skill: What is incorporation?

Chart Skill: What type of city planning is common in America’s cities?

Chart Skill: What lays out cities’ basic law?

Describe types of government at the city level:

1) mayor-council government:

2) commission government:

3) council-manager government:

How do a strong-mayor and a weak-mayor government differ?

AMERICAN CITIES

Zoning: a common form

of city planning.

1/2 of Americans live

in suburbs, which strains metropolitan

areas.

States establish cities through incorporation.

Charters lay out cities' basic law.

Each has one of three types of government:

1) mayor-council (strong or weak)

2) commission

3) council-manager

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Chapter 25 Section 3: Providing Important Services THE BIG IDEA: State and local governments provide numerous expensive services for their citizens.

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: Services Provided by State and Local Governments

Answer the following questions using the chart above and reading chapter 25 section 3.

Look at page 733, What are the two ways States provides services to their citizens?

What is an entitlement?

Use the chart on page 734 to answer the questions. Write at least 3 sentences. What are the four services that State and Local Governments spend money on? Do you agree with the proportion of money each of these categories receive?

Use pages 734 to 736 to answer this question. Write at least 2 sentences.

Do you agree with States spending money on Public Welfare?

STATE & LOCAL

SERVICES

Education

Public Welfare

Highway & Roads

Public Safety

Numerous Other

Services

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Chapter 25 Section 4: Financing State and Local Government THE BIG IDEA: State and local governments use taxes to collect the revenue that pays for services.

POLITICAL CARTOON:

What is the cartoonist saying about property taxes?

GRAPHIC SUMMARY: State & Local Taxes

TYPE OF TAX WHAT IT TAXES

Sales Tax Various commodities

Income Tax Individual and corporate earnings Property Tax Real or personal property

Inheritance Tax An heir’s share of an estate

Estate Tax A full estate

Use page 743. Write 3 sentences.

What are the nontax sources of income for States? What do you think of them?