State and Local Government –

NORTH CAROLINA Questions 1.How many constitutions has North Carolina had? 2.What year did the state need a new constitution? 3.How long are the terms for the governors in North Carolina? 4.Like the president, governors have the power to…? 5.What year did the General Assembly pass legislation for a proposed constitutional constitutional amendment giving the governor the veto?

North Carolina questions cnt. 6. What must a person pass in order to run for governor. 7. What is the minimum age requirement? 8. What are the qualifications to be a governor of North Carolina? 9. In the past 35 years, what office was held by four presidents before elected as president? 10. What is North Carolina’s legislature name? 11. In the Senate, how many senators are there? How long do they serve?

NORTH CAROLINA Questions – Answers 1.How many constitutions has North Carolina had? 3 2.What year did the state need a new constitution? How long are the terms for the governors in North Carolina? -four years -four years 4. Like the president, governors have the power to…? -veto, pardon, appoint -veto, pardon, appoint 5. What year did the General Assembly pass legislation for a proposed constitutional constitutional amendment giving the governor the veto?

North Carolina answers cnt. 6. What must a person pass in order to run for governor. -a residency requirement 7. What is the minimum age requirement? What are the qualifications to be a governor of North Carolina? -30 years old, a citizen of the U.S. for five years, a resident of NC for two years, and a qualified voter. 9. In the past 35 years, what office was held by four presidents before elected as president? - Governor; Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and George W. Bush 10. What is North Carolina’s legislature name? -The General Assembly 11. In the Senate, how many senators are there? How long do they serve? -There are fifty state senators who each serve two-year terms

North Carolina questions cnt. 12. How many members are in the House of Representatives? How long do they serve? 13. In North Carolina, what are the qualifications to be a candidate for the state senate? 14. How many counties does North Carolina have? 15. What does the sheriff do? What does the district attorney do?

North Carolina questions cnt. 12. How many members are in the House of Representatives? How long do they serve? -120 members, serving two-year terms -120 members, serving two-year terms 13. In North Carolina, what are the qualifications to be a candidate for the state senate? -must be at least 25, have lived in the state for two years, and in the district for which they’re running for at least one year. A person must be age 21 or older and have lived in the district for which they are running for one year preceding the election. -must be at least 25, have lived in the state for two years, and in the district for which they’re running for at least one year. A person must be age 21 or older and have lived in the district for which they are running for one year preceding the election. 14. How many counties does North Carolina have? What does the sheriff do? What does the district attorney do? - sheriff-supervises the county police force. - sheriff-supervises the county police force. - district attorney- protects the interests of the state in civil lawsuits as well as criminal prosecutions. - district attorney- protects the interests of the state in civil lawsuits as well as criminal prosecutions.

Review Notes 1.Federalism – division of power between the national government and the state governments th Amendment – Reserved Powers to the States. 3.Delegated, Concurrent, Reserved Powers. 4.State constitutions are based on the US Constitution. 5.NC Constitution- Preamble – God; Article 1 – Declaration of Rights (Bill of Rights, Constitution, Declaration of Independence)

Review Notes. 1.B ranches of state government: Legislative: pass laws, Executive – carry out laws and supervise the operation of government, Judicial – try court cases, punish lawbreakers, interpret laws. 2.G overnor: carry out state laws, create policies, approve or veto laws, appoint officials, Lieutenant Gov.: takes over if Gov. cannot perform duties, presides over Senate, helps carry out policy, Secretary of State: keep state records, certify ballots and petitions, make sure elections legal.

Review Notes. Attorney general: handles legal matters within the state, determines law enforcement policy, monitors violations of state business practices. 3. Checks and balances: govs. – veto power, leg – can override veto, impeach gov, approve executive appointments. Courts – can declare state laws unconstitutional. 4. Council of State – elected, advise Governor. 5. Cabinet – Appointed, advise Governor - Deal with areas like education, public welfare, health services, highways, operating the gov. - Deal with areas like education, public welfare, health services, highways, operating the gov.

Review Notes. 1.C ounty – division of a state with its own governmental functions. 2.F urnish state services to county residents: law enforcement, courts, social services, education, roads, parks, assessment of property for taxes, keep voting records and hold elections. 3.H ome rule: authority given to local governments to enact and carry out programs without direct guidance by the state. 4.D istrict Attorney: protect interest of the government in civil lawsuits and criminal prosecutions.

Review Notes. County: Division of a State.  Take care of roads; handle property records and some law enforcement; may administer public school system; run some courts.  Board of Commissioners: Pass laws, keep records, collect taxes, determine value of property.  Property taxes, license fees, sales taxes.

Review Notes: Register of Deeds: keep birth/death records, property deeds, marriage certificates. Clerk of Court: maintain records of the court, make the docket (court calendar), schedule hearings.

Review Notes. 1.City, Town, Village 2. Charter: constitution, outline of responsibilities and limits of the city gov. Incorporated community: one that has received authority from the state to set up a government. 3. Mayor-council (STRONG or WEAK MAYOR SYSTEM): elected executive and legislature. In some systems, the office of mayor is strong, in others, the council exercises the greatest power.

Council-Manager: the lawmaking body hires a professional person (the manager) to operate the government on a day-to-day basis. A mayor may be elected to handle ceremonial duties. 4. Zoning shapes the character of neighborhood, affects property values, location of businesses, schools, homes, services.

Review Notes. 1.Special districts – official areas formed for special tasks: School, fire, soil/water. 2.Run schools, fire protection, clean water, monitor environmental health. 3.Provide services that affect many communities that could not be handled efficiently or financially by individual communities.

Review Notes. 1.Initiative – proposal by a group of citizens for a law, constitutional amendment, or regulation at the state and local level. Referendum: process whereby voters can approve or reject certain laws passed by a state legislature. Referendum: process whereby voters can approve or reject certain laws passed by a state legislature. 2. Procedures: Initiative – question must be phrased in appropriate legal language; a certain number of signatures of voters must be collected before petitions can be sent to legislature or placed on ballot; majority vote required for passage.

Review Notes. Referendum: place legal description of law or action by legislature on ballot; majority vote required for passage. 3. Recall: citizen-initiated movement to remove a public official from office. Officials can be removed from office before their term is up if they do not perform as voters want them to. Voters do not have to wait until election time to get rid of unpopular, ineffective, or “crooked” officials. I.e.. Grey Davis – Arnold Schwarzenegger - California.

Referendum: Liquor by the Drink 1.Group proposed change in law, got voters to sign a petition to put proposal on ballot, held meetings to inform citizens. 2.For: Attract chain restaurants, increase tax revenue, attract more tourists. 3.Against: Increase in DWI, fear growth of alcoholism, poor example for youth.

Referendum 3. Voters directly involved in proposing and deciding the issue. 4. Feel more directly connected to the issue and more willing to work to pass or defeat the question.