Local Government VHSG US GOVERNMENT POLITICS Week 10

Local Government VHSG: US GOVERNMENT & POLITICS Week 10 Nov 7 – Nov 12, 2016

In the book, Chapters 51 -55 Overview of Week 11

Current Lesson Counties, Townships & Special Districts Lesson 51

Growth of Governments in the United States Type of government U. S. government State government Local government County Municipal Township School district Special district Total 1997 1 50 87, 453 3, 043 19, 372 16, 629 13. 726 34, 683 87, 504 2007 3, 033 37, 381 89, 527 SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of the Census, at www. census. gov.

The Nature of State &Local Relations Counties in the United States • The largest jurisdiction within a state • Originally organized on the idea that the county seat would be no more than a day’s journey for anyone within the county’s borders • Traditional functions: – Law enforcement – Highway construction/maintenance – Tax collection and property assessment – Recording legal papers – Administration of welfare programs

INSIDE THE COUNTY: Types of Districts Towns and Townships How do we know a town when we see one (incorporation)? Representative government Special Districts (Across several towns, run independently of other governmental organizations or as a group of towns) INCLUDE: Waste, Water, Education, Environmental (like River Authorities) Are they needed? Concerns Most common special district: School Districts Public Schools Community Colleges Public preschools, continuing education, etc. 11 | 10

Figure 11. 1 Numbers of Local Governments, By Type of Government: 1952 versus 2002 11 | 11

Figure 11. 2 Traditional Organization of County Government 11 | 12 Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Current Lesson Municipal Government Lesson 52

Towns, Cities, Suburbs • The Rise of “Edge Cities”

The Nature of State &Local Relations • Most state constitutions create a unitary system in which power is concentrated in a central government • Unlike states, local governments usually have no constitutional authority in their own right • Constitutional home rule granted constitutional independence to some local units

Ten Largest U. S. Cities and Nine Fastest Growing by Population 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. New York, N. Y. Los Angeles, Calif. Chicago, Ill. Houston, Tex. Philadelphia, Pa. Phoenix, Ariz. San Antonio, Tex. San Diego, Calif. Dallas, Tex. San Jose, Calif. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Lincoln, CA Surprise, AZ Frisco, TX Goodyear, AZ Beaumont, CA Louisville/Jefferson County, KY 7. Pflugerville, TX 8. Indian Trail, NC 9. Wylie, TX SOURCE: U. S. Bureau of the Census, 2010

City Government Different ways of structuring city government, and the functions of mayors. City Government • 19, 492 municipalities • 9, 000 have less than 1, 000 residents • 58 have 300, 000 or more • Three supercities • New York • Los Angeles • Chicago

City Government Today • The Mayor-Council Charter • Weak Mayor Councils and Strong Mayor Councils • The Council-Manager Charter

The Mayor-Council Form of City Government Weak Mayor-Council Form Members of the city council select the mayor, who then shares power with other elected or appointed boards and commissions Strong Mayor-Council Form Voters directly elect the city council and the mayor, who enjoys almost total administrative authority and appoints department heads makes policy carry out policy

The Council. Manager Form of City Government makes policy appoints Department heads carry out policy

Figure 11. 3 Mayor-Council Form of Government 11 | 21

Figure 11. 4 Council-Manager Form of Government 11 | 22

Figure 11. 5 City Commission Form of Government 11 | 23

City Councils of the 10 Largest U. S. Cities 11 | 24

Local law says… When you can or cannot burn trash. How late you can have a party before you violate a noise ordinance. What tags your dogs need to have. Who can go to local schools. What businesses can operate (including alcohol, gambling, and sale of cigarettes. ) Building permits for new homes, renovations, businesses. Whethere will be sidewalks. Activities in local parks. Recreation centers and their offerings. How the local emergency and police departments will be structured. What parades and town celebrations will be allowed. Who can have a library card. What streets will have stop signs. Who collects the garbage and recycling.

Put another way… It allows local action on local matters and applies national and state decisions on bigger concerns. Example: State determines minimum age for getting married. Town or County issues marriage licenses and certifies them to the state. Example: Education District decides what days the schools will be closed in addition to National holidays.

Current Lesson Spring Hill, TN Lesson 53

Current Lesson Hurricane Katrina Lesson 54

Current Lesson Eminent Domain Lesson 55