State and Local Government Agencies’ Services and

Funding

Article I of the Constitution declares the rights of the people; within these rights are many of the limitations imposed upon public officials and state agencies. For example, section 12 outlines the people’s “right of assembly and petition,” and section 16 prohibits the General Assembly from “punishing acts committed before the existence of such laws.”

Article II grants and limits legislative power, Article III grants and limits the governor’s power, and Article IV grants and limits judicial power. Article VI covers eligibility to hold office, Article VII directs the “General Assembly to provide for local government,” including the election of a sheriff, and Article IX identifies members of the State Board of Education.

How does the NC Constitution grant and limit the authority of public officials and government agencies?

What services are usually provided by counties?

Community Colleges: Like the public schools, community colleges receive both state and local money to perform their daily operations.

Cooperative Extension: This organization is based at NC State University and A &T State University and in all 100 counties. Its intent is to provide NC with access to agricultural resources and expertise.

Court Facilities: In every North Carolina County Seat, there is a county courthouse. The County Clerk of Court manages the courthouse, but this courthouse and its clerk are part of the state-wide court system.

Jails: The state requires every county build and maintain a jail, which is overseen by the sheriff.

Soil and Water Conservation: Local governments work to maintain water sources, to provide clean drinking water, to distribute water into your home or school, and to dispose of solid wastes to maintain the purity of local soil.

Youth Detention Facilities: Ten facilities throughout the state are responsible for the temporary, safe, and secure supervision of juveniles awaiting court dates or placement.

What services are usually provided by municipalities?

Buses/Public Transportation: Public bus routes are run and sidewalks built for citizens’ convenience.

Police Protection: Most NC municipalities run their own police departments, providing service and protection to citizens.

Public Housing: Many municipalities have Local Public Housing Authorities. These groups work to provide resources for high-quality mixed-income communities and to provide safe and sanitary housing.

Public Utilities: Municipalities provide and regulate services, including water and sewer, electricity, natural gas, telephone, and cable television.

What services are most often provided by both counties and municipalities?

Ambulance Services: A local government’s emergency medical service generally provides county-wide ambulance service and paramedics.

Art Galleries and Museums: Just as North Carolina has state-supported museums like the Museum of Natural Science, local governments also support local galleries and museums.

Emergency Management: These services cover everything from questions about reporting crimes to questions about natural disasters. This group is the one that determines how to get people out of the municipality in the event of an emergency, such as a hurricane.

Libraries: Public libraries are a service provided to all members of a county; our libraries not only provide books and periodicals, but also fax machines and internet access.

Parks and Recreation: Local governments “build and maintain parks” and “operate recreation programs”