1. Equality Before the Law
Chapter 5
Page

2. Local Government The purpose of government is to:
1. Protect the citizens
2. Provide an organized, safe, and fair society
To do that, our government is a federalism-
Government is divided at levels
Federal-
State-
Local-
All based on democratic system-

4. Local Gov’t cont. Smallest unit Divided into
Municipalities, school districts, townships, counties, and agency districts
Municipalities- towns and villages
536 municipalities
Classified according to their populations (chart on page 110)
Governed in 3 ways
1. mayor/council-
2. commissioner
3. council-manager
Provide city with- police, fire department, street repair, street construction, water service, sewer service, libraries, parks and recreation

5. Local Government cont. School districts Counties and townships
As of school districts
Use to be as high as 7,264
Why are there less?
Counties and townships
Nebraska has 93 counties
Board of commissioners governs counties
Some counties are further divided into townships
County positions
Assessor, attorney, clerk, sheriff, treasurer
Jobs- to maintain roads, record keeping, supervise elections, collect taxes

6. Local Government cont. Special Districts Created for a limited purpose
Airports, hospitals, irrigation, rural cemeteries
Unique to Nebraska
Public Power Districts- most states have private owned power companies, Nebraska are owned by the state
4 largest are- Loup River, Central Nebraska, Nebraska Public Power, and Omaha Public Power
Most money to finance local government comes from real estate taxes

7. State Government Voting Nebraska only state to have unicameral system
Must be a citizen of US
18 years old
A resident of Nebraska
Registered to vote
Not convicted of a felony or treason
Nebraska only state to have unicameral system
State capitol holds
The legislature
The supreme court
Government offices

8. State Government Statehood March 1st, 1867
Set up constitution- set of laws and rights, usually in written form, for a government
Has been changed and amended-
180+ amendments passed
Constitution set up 3 branches
1 2 3
Legislative Branch-
Executive Branch-
Judicial Branch-

9. State Government Legislative Article III set it up
49 senators in state legislator
Senators are non-partisan-
4 year terms with half up every two years
Criteria to be Senator
US citizen
Registered voter
At least 21 years old
Resident of district they are selected from
Odd years, legislature meets 90 days
Even number days legislature meets 60 days
How a bill becomes a law page 118

10. State Government Legislature Makes laws
Biggest duty is to pass a budget
State money includes: state sales tax, income taxes, liquor and cigarette sales, motor fuel taxes, hunting and fishing licenses, tuition at state colleges, federal funds, etc.
Lieutenant governor guides day to day operations
14 committees
Initiate-
Referendum-
Recall-

11. State Government Executive Branch
Governor is head of the executive branch
Carries out the laws
May serve 2, 4 year terms
Lives in the Governor’s mansion
Must be
Citizen of US
Resident of Nebraska for 5 years
At least 30 years old
Duties- page 122
Duties of different positions- page 123

12. State Government Judicial Branch- our system of state courts
Interpret the laws
Courts at county, district, and state level
Each county has a court
District courts- 12 districts
Handle more serious cases
Court of Appeals
Hears cases from lower courts where they appeal the decision
Supreme Court
Highest court in Nebraska
7 members, leader is the chief justice
To be a supreme court judge- 30 years old, resident of Nebraska for 3 year, and a citizen

13. Federal Government
All laws and practices of Nebraska must follow the US constitution
Federal govt is located in Washington D.C.
Nebraska sends two Senators to Washington and 3 representatives
To be a Senator you have to be: 30 years old, citizen for 9 years, and you serve a 6 year term
To be a Representative you have to be: 25 years old, citizen for 7 years, and you serve 2 year terms
Our representatives is decided by population and Nebraska gets 3

14. Federal Government Also divided into 3 branches
Executive- enforce the laws, lead by president
Judicial- interpret the laws, lead by Supreme Court
Executive- make the laws- congressmen
It is important to be an informed decision and make good decisions at the local, state, and federal levels.