1. STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT Roots on NC State Government Roots on NC State Government The NC Constitution The NC Constitution Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights Movement NC General Assembly NC General Assembly NC Executive Branch NC Executive Branch NC Judicial Branch NC Judicial Branch Local Government Basics Local Government Basics Municipal Government Municipal Government County Government County Government State Government Budget State Government Budget Local Government Budget Local Government Budget

2. Roots of NC State Government North Carolina & Independence First Provincial Congress – 8/25/1774 – elected representatives to the Continental Congress Edenton Tea Party – women burned supply of tea & issued statement protesting British policy. Mecklenburg Declaration – decided that only the Provincial Congress had government authority. Halifax Resolves – 4/12/1776 – 4 th Provincial Congress of NC called for total independence from Great Britain. (1 st colony) Need for a Bill of Rights – NC delegates voted not to approve the Constitution without a Bill of Rights. Federalism A system of government in which the states and the federal government share power. 10 th Amendment established powers of the states. Federalism – enumerated powers (federal), reserved powers (state), concurrent powers (both)

3. NC State Constitution State & Federal Government Similarities - Preamble- State Powers - Bill of Rights- Gov Responsibilities - Framework of Gov- Provision for Local Gov - Framework of Gov- Provision for Local Gov - 3 Branches of Gov- Amendment Process Constitutional Principles - Popular Sovereignty- Separation of Power - Checks & Balances- Amendment (flexibility) NC Constitution Constitution of 1776 – created a bicameral legislature, executive headed by governor and a Council of State, and a court system. Changes in 1835 – voters gained power to directly elect the Governor & approve or reject amendments. Took voting rights from men of African descent and Native Americans. Constitution of 1868 – US Congress required all former Confederate States to rewrite Constitution. All men 21 years or older could vote, regardless of race. Constitution of 1971 – Freedom of Speech and equal protection added.

4. NC – Civil Rights Movement Civil Rights & Segregation Civil Rights – protections granted in the Constitution that requires equal treatment under the law. Segregation – late 1800’s many southern states including NC had adopted Jim Crow laws to segregate in many public facilities. 1875 Constitution – banned white & African American children from attending the same schools. General Assembly – passed laws segregating buses, hospitals, and prisons. Ending Segregation Brown v. Board of Ed – segregated schools unconstitutional. Enforcing Brown in NC – Pearsall Commission – proposed local school boards be given more authority, also planned to provide payments for students to attend private schools. Swann v. Charlotte Board of Ed – Pearsall Plan unconstitutional. Schools were not totally desegregated until late 1960’s, early 1970’s. Sit-In Movement – Greensboro Woolworth’s February 1960; movement spread throughout NC and the South.

5. NC General Assembly (Legislative Branch) LEGISLATIVE BRANCH – General Assembly – Make the Law Statute – a law passed by the state government. House of RepresentativesSenate Members 120 50 Term Length 2 years2 years Qualifications 21 years old 25 years old district 1 year 2 years in NC district 1 year Legislative Sessions – odd # years = long session – January to June. even # years = short session – begins in May and lasts 6 weeks. Governor may also call special sessions. Law Making Process – very similar to US Congress. Override veto only requires 60% of both houses.

6. NC Executive Branch EXECUTIVE BRANCH Governor – Enforce the Law Term Length – 4 Years – 2 consecutive term limit Qualifications – 30 years old, live in US 5 years, live in US 2 years Lieutenant Governor Term Length – 4 Years Qualifications – 30 years old, live in US 5 years, live in US 2 years Duties - President of the Senate, serves on various boards & commissions. Executive Departments Cabinet – 10 members appointed by the governor Council of State – 8 members elected by the people of NC. Operate independently of the Governor.

7. JUDICIAL BRANCH Interpret the Law District Court – civil cases < $10,000; misdemeanors, domestic, juveniles – judges elected 4 year terms Superior Court – civil cases> $10,000; felonies, appeals of misdemeanors – judges elected 8 year terms Court of Appeals – 3 judges per case; appeals except the death penalty – judges elected 8 year terms Supreme Court – 7 justices; appeals – first appeal of death penalty – judges elected 8 year terms Landmark Court Decisions Bayard v. Singleton (1787) – family property seized by state law for being a loyalist. Appeals court ruled law unconstitutional (judicial review – state gov) State v. Mann (1830) – Mann was prosecuted for beating a slave. Court overruled conviction, said that owner could not be prosecuted for beating a slave. Leandro Case (1997) – ruled that the state constitution does not require equal funding of education. NC Judicial Branch

8. LOCAL GOVERNMENT Types of Local Government – County & Municipality Municipality – a city, town, or village with an organized government and the authority to make and enforce laws. (State General Assembly grants charter) Ordinance – a law passed by a local government. Zoning – designating different areas of land for different uses. 1. residential – housing 2. commercial – business (retail, etc…) 3. industrial – factories Annexation – incorporating land into a municipality. municipality.

9. MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT Municipality Government Each municipality elects a governing board. (City Council, Town Council, Board of Commissioners, Board of Alderman) Elections (At Large, by Ward, or Mixture) Pass Ordinances – municipal policies, approve budgets, set municipal tax rates, regulate what people can do in the municipality. Mayor Usually elected, not always. Presides over meetings of the council. Council-Manager System Governing board hires a professional called a “manager”, to carry out policies.

10. COUNTY GOVERNMENT County Government County Commissioners – voters elect commissioners (3-11). Chairperson – may be elected or chosen by commissioners. County Commissioners are responsible for the following… Hire administrators for education, elections, mental health, public health, social services, alcoholic beverage control, and soil and water conservation. LEA – Local Education Authority Voters elect a school board to carry out state education policy.

11. GOVERNMENT FINANCES State Budget Process Fiscal Year – (July 1 – June 30) Budget – Begins July 1 of odd-numbered year – June 30 of next odd-numbered year. Revenue - $ the state government has to operate. (Taxes, fees, etc…) Expenditures - $ the state government will spend on programs. Balanced Budget – Expenditures = Revenue Governor – prepares budget for two fiscal years. General Assembly – must pass the budget. Propose ways to raise revenue & cut expenditures. Often they do not pass budget by July 1.

12. GOVERNMENT FINANCES Local Government Budget Expenditures utilities (water, sewage) public safety public schools public health mental health social services Revenues user Fees (water, sewage) property tax intergovernmental revenue