Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Chapter Eighteen

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning Learning Outcomes 1. Discuss the relationship of state laws and constitutions to the U.S. Constitution and federal law. 2. Explain why counties, cities, and other units of local government are limited in their power and their autonomy. 3. Discuss the issues raised by corruption and patronage in local and state governments. 2

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning Learning Outcomes 4. Describe the most important sources of revenue for states and local governments and their biggest expenditures, and contrast them with those of the federal government. 3

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning The U.S. Constitution and the State Governments  U.S. Constitution is supreme law of the land  Reserves some powers for states  Powers to tax, spend and regulate intrastate commerce  General police power  Prohibits certain activities for states  States often challenge federal authority  Immigration law 4

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning The U.S. Constitution and the State Governments  Why are state constitutions so long?  Reflects loss of confidence in state legislatures  Difficulties of state constitution makers  Stricter interpretations  The constitutional convention and the constitutional initiative  Two ways to effect constitutional change 5

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning The State Executive Branch  State governments have executive, legislative and judicial branches  Weak executive  Reforming the system  Governor’s veto power  Item veto in most states Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 6

The State Legislature  Main tasks are legislation, regulation, allocation of funds and determining program priorities  Three types  Fully professional  Hybrid  Volunteer or part-time 7

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning How an Idea Becomes a Law 8

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning Characteristics of State Legislatures 9

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning Characteristics of State Legislatures 10

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning The State Legislature  Legislative apportionment  Must be equal as possible in population  Minority representation  Political gerrymandering  Term limits for state legislators  Fifteen states limit  Professional legislators OR citizen legislators? 11

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning The State Legislature  Ethics and campaign finance reform in the states  Responsibility of state legislatures and governor  Differs significantly from state to state  Struggle to enact and enforce 12

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning The State Legislature  Direct democracy exercised in many states  Initiative: proposed by citizens  Referendum: proposed by legislature and approved by voters  Recall: allows voters to remove elected officials before term expires 13

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning The State Judiciary  Individual state court systems  Trial courts  Appellate courts (includes state supreme courts)  Judicial elections and appointments  Election or appointment determined by state  American Bar Association has called for public financing of judicial campaigns 14

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning A Sample State Court System 15

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning How Local Government Operates  Legal existence of local government  Created/abolished only by state  Dillon’s rule  Cooley’s rule  Municipal home rule  Home rule city  General law city 16

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning How Local Government Operates  Local governmental units  Municipalities (about 19,000)  Counties (set up by states)  Towns and townships  Special districts and school districts  May be called authorities, boards, corporations or districts  Most numerous local government units: 35,

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning Local Governments in the United States 18

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning How Local Government Operates  Consolidation of governments  Purpose often pursuit of federal grants  Trend toward consolidation  Most successful are functional consolidations  COGs only recommend actions, but do have considerable influence 19

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning How Local Government Operates  How municipalities are governed  Commission Plan  Council-Manager Plan  Mayor-Administrator Plan  Mayor-Council Plan Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 20

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning How Local Government Operates  Machine versus reform in city politics  Important political structure in 19th and early 20th centuries  Helped new immigrants by providing jobs, services in return for votes  “Patronage party” (party in power)  Supported by dominant ethnic groups  Began decline in 1960s 21

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning How Local Government Operates  Governing metropolitan areas  Some problems develop from shrinking employment (tax) base  Other policy problems (crime, traffic congestion, pollution) not contained within municipal political boundaries  Possible solutions: annexation, government consolidation, metropolitan government system, special districts 22

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning Paying for State and Local Government State Expenditures (in percentages) Local Expenditures (in percentages) Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning 23

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning Paying for State and Local Government  State and local government revenues  Federal grants  General sales tax  Property tax (mostly local level)  Publicly operated services and businesses  Competition between states 24

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning Paying for State and Local Government  Struggle to balance state budgets  Decline in revenues  Borrowing too much  Poor productivity  Health care costs  Policy pioneers 25

Copyright © 2014 Cengage Learning State and Local Government Revenues 26