Local Government chapter 14 By: Yave & Wiley

Local  Close to home, nearby; having to do with a city, county, town, village, or other small government.  Your local government handles these things and many more.

Country Board  Small group of people elected to make laws for and run the government of the county.  There the county board meets to find ways to solve any problems in the county.

Assessor  A local official who decides how much tax people must pay on their land, houses, buildings, and other things they own  Assessor decides how much tax people will pay in land, buildings, or other property they own.

District Attorney  A lawyer who works for the government and brings accused persons to trial  The district attorney represents the county in court cases.

prosecute  To take legal action against someone in court  The district attorney prosecutes people who have violated state or county laws. The county clerk keeps track of all births, deaths, and marriages in the county.

City Council  Small group of people elected to make laws and run a city’s government  In most cities, the citizens elect a city council. Five to nine people are elected to the council. Each one represents a section of the city.

Mayor  A person elected as chief executive of a city  Another person elected mayor. The mayor leads the city council meetings and is the chief executive of the city.

City Manager  A person who works for a city government as the top administrator  However, under this plan, a city manager is hired by the council to carry out the executive jobs.  City managers have special training to run a city just like a business.  The manager appoints the heads of departments who are directly responsible to him or her.

City Commission  Small group of people elected to make laws for a city and run city government; each person on it is also the head of a local department  A city commission is made up of members, or commissioners, elected by the people of the city.

Community Services office  Office that helps people find out what services they can get from county, city, or town government  Most local government have a community services office that can help these people.  They know what the government can do to help. Here are some services many local governments pay for.

Community Group  A group run by private organizations to help people in need

What Local Government Does?  Each town has a government that meets its local needs.  A Local Government will never stop a war between countries.  Cities and countries have their own written laws. They have three different kind branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial

County government  The country board meets to find way to solve any problems in the country, the board that have a power to set a taxes and decide how money should be spent.

City Government  Different cities set their three way government way  City Council mayor plan  City council city manager plan  Commission plan

Local Departments  Every local government has a police or sheriff’s department and a fire department. These department protect the safety of the people in the city or country.  A health department may run local hospitals. It makes sure that state and country health laws are followed. Each restaurant has to meet the rules set by the local health department. All food, cooking, and serving areas must be clean and safe.  Many countries have a street or road department. This department maintains streets and street lights. In addition, it keeps roads and roadways in good working order.  A parks department runs the local public parks and playgrounds. It may also run public beaches, swimming pools, lakes, and other kinds of recreational areas.

Local Government Services  These local departments can take care of most of the needs of a city or country’s people.  Low cost health care= most counties have a public where they get health for free or cost low  Help for senior citizens= meals that people have nothing to eat and they give out a food for low price  Schooling for adult= there is a class that student didn’t finish high school and they have class that people didn’t finish or that people don’t speak English well.

Community Groups  Most towns have many private community groups to help people in need. These national organizations have offices in almost every city or county in the country. There are school groups, church groups, and many more groups that work together to help themselves and others. These groups help make each community a better place to live