State and Local Governments GPS Standard SSCG 17

State and Local Governments

GPS Standard: • SSCG 17 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers of state and local government described in the Georgia Constitution. A. Examine the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. B. Examine the structure of local governments with emphasis on county, city, and town. C. Identify current state and local officials. D. Analyze the relationship among state and local governments. E. Evaluate direct democracy by the initiative, referendum, and recall processes.

GPS Standard: • SSCG 18 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the powers of Georgia’s state and local governments. A. Examine the powers of state and local government. B. Examine the sources of revenue received by each level of government. C. Analyze the services provided by state and local government.

Themes With Concepts/ Topics • Federalism – Sharing power, revenue, and services – Structure of local and state governments. • Popular Sovereignty – Direct Democracy: recall, initiative, and referendum.

Themes With Concepts/ Topics • Separation of Powers – Power among local and state governments – Current leaders • Checks and Balances – Power in the local branches of government.

State Governments

State Constitutions • State constitutions: – create state governments and establish the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. – establish local governments. – regulate how state and local governments can raise and spend money. – establish independent state agencies, boards, and commissions.

State Constitutions • A state’s constitution is the supreme law of that state. Its laws, however, cannot be enforced in other states and cannot conflict with the Constitution of the United States. • All state constitutions have a bill of rights and many states also guarantee other rights.

Amendments and Changes • Constitutions of the 50 states provide four different methods of proposing amendments. – proposing amendments by the state legislatures. – the people propose amendments by popular initiative. – a state constitutional convention proposes amendments. – a constitutional commission proposes amendments.

Important terms • Initiative – a method where citizens propose a constitutional amendment or new law. • Referendum – a special election. When voters rather than the legislature vote on an issue, it is called a referendum.

State Legislatures • • • Members are elected from districts. Qualifications for members are outlined in state constitutions. Many work part-time in other fields. Most state legislatures: 1. are bicameral 2. hold annual sessions 3. conduct business through committees • Georgia’s Legislature is called the Georgia General Assembly.

State Legislatures • • • State Senator Jack Hill Republican From Reidsville Grocery Store Owner Serves Georgia’s 4 th District.

State Legislatures • Georgia State Representative • Jon Burns • Republican • From Kildaire • Agri Business • Serves House District 157

State Legislatures • Georgia State Representative • Anne Purcell • Republican • From Rincon • Serves House District 159

State Legislature • Georgia’s General Assembly is a bicameral legislature. – Senators serve 6 year terms. – Representatives serve 2 year terms. • The web site for the Georgia General Assembly is: http: //www. legis. ga. gov/

The Executive Branch • The governor vetoes or signs passed bills. • The governor heads the executive branch of the state government. • State constitutions outline qualifications of the governor. • A governor generally must be nominated by a political party and win the general election. • Most governors serve four-year terms. In 18 states, governors and other officials can be removed from office by a recall.

The Executive Branch • The governor signs laws, represents the state to foreign businesses, is his or her party’s state leader, and works to obtain federal grants. • Most governors prepare the state budget and are commander in chief of the state National Guard. • Most states elect other members of the executive branch, such as the Lieutenant Governor.

The Executive Branch • • Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. Republican. His first term began in January 2011.

The Executive Branch • Georgia Lieutenant Governor • Casey Cagle • Presides over the State Senate. • First Republican Lieutenant Governor in state history. • Former businessman.

Did You Know? Seven sitting governors have been elected president: Rutherford B. Hayes (Ohio), Grover Cleveland (Ohio), William Mc. Kinley (Ohio), Woodrow Wilson (New Jersey), Franklin Roosevelt (New York), Bill Clinton (Arkansas), and George W. Bush (Texas).

The Judicial Branch • State courts interpret and apply state and local laws to civil and criminal cases. • The justice court performs marriages and handles minor civil and criminal cases. • State and local governments are responsible for protecting life and property, and for establishing a criminal code and a system of punishment. • State courts handle the majority of all criminal cases in the United States.

State Regulation of Business • Business corporations must have a charter issued by a state government. • Federal and state governments regulate giant corporations. • State governments provide workers’ compensation. • State governments try to attract new business and industry.

Providing Education, Health, and Welfare • State governments provide about 45 percent of revenues for local public schools. They set the standards for educational achievement. • States set the standards for marriage laws. • The state licenses doctors and dentists, regulates the sale of medicines, and requires vaccinations for schoolchildren. • State agencies provide programs of public welfare, health and human services. • With federal assistance, states help people with special needs. • With Medicaid assistance, states help low-income people pay medical bills.

Did You Know? • States today raise large amounts of revenue from state lotteries. Millions of residents buy lottery tickets each day, hoping to win the lottery jackpots. The largest prize ever won was $363 million, in a 2000 multistate lottery called The Big Game. Both winners chose to receive cash payments of about $90 million as their share of the jackpot. Of course, even though they had beaten huge odds they still had to pay income tax to both the state and federal governments.

State Tax Revenue • State constitutions limit state taxing powers, as does the Constitution of the U. S. • Today, most state governments have some type of sales tax, which accounts for about half of the total tax revenue of state governments. • Most states now also have individual income taxes and corporate income taxes, which account for more than 30% of all state tax revenues.

State Tax Revenues • States require license fees for various businesses and professions, as well as for operating motor vehicles. • States impose taxes for removing natural resources from state land or water. Many states also have less well-known taxes, such as a state property tax and estate taxes.

Other Sources of Revenue • Nearly three-fourths of the states run public lotteries to raise revenue. • The federal government provides about 20% of all state revenues, much in the form of grants, and stipulates how they may be used.

Georgia Information • • • Atlanta is Georgia’s Capital. The State bird is the Brown Thrasher. The State flower is the Cherokee Rose. 13 th British Colony, 4 th State to join the Union Known as the “Peach State. ” State Moto: “Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation. ” • http: //www. theus 50. com/georgia/information. shtml

Local Governments

Created by the State • States create local governments. • Local governments have no independence; each is dependent on its state government. • State constitutions set forth the powers and duties of local governments.

Types of Local Government • There are 4 basic types of local governments: – The County – The Township – The Municipality – The Special District • The county is normally the largest territorial and political subdivision of the state. . • Counties began in the south where population was more sparse than in the north. • In metropolitan areas, the county government has been growing more powerful.

Types of Local Government • In most counties, a county board has both executive and legislative powers. Board officials are usually elected by the voters. • Townships exist in less than half the states, and their powers and duties vary from state to state. • The municipality is an urban unit of government that has legal rights granted to it by the state. • The special district is a unit of local government that deals with a specific function such as education or transportation.

Forms of Municipal Governments • A municipal government may be formed when people in a community ask the state legislature to permit their community to incorporate. • In the most widely used form of municipal government, the mayor-council form, executive power belongs to an elected mayor and the legislative power to an elected council.

Forms of Municipal Governments • The commission form of municipal government combines executive and legislative powers in a commission that passes laws and makes policy decisions. • Under the council-manager form of government, the executive and legislative powers are separated. The council acts as a legislative body and makes policy. A manager carries out the council’s policies and serves as chief administrator.

Local Government Services • Local school districts provide most of the money and make most of the decisions regarding the operation of public schools. • Local governments use zoning to regulate the way land buildings are used. • Police and fire protection make up a large part of the local budget. • Local governments make vital decisions regarding road maintenance, water service, and sewage disposal and treatment. • Many local governments offer important services to citizens who have special needs and provide recreation and cultural programs for their residents.

Financing Local Government • Local governments finance services by levying taxes, such as property taxes. • Most Americans view property taxes as unfair: they place a heavier burden on those with low incomes and may result in unequal public services. • Revenue sources for local governments include local income taxes, sales taxes, fines and fees, government-owned businesses, bonds, and state grants.

Bulloch County Government • • • Population: 2012: 72, 694 (52% urban, 48% rural) Land Area: 682 sq. mi. County Seat: Statesboro Governed by Board of Commissioners. • Statesboro was incorporated on December 19, 1803, with a population of less than 25 people. • There are no other cities in the U. S. named Statesboro.

Statesboro • County Seat • Mayor: Jan More • http: //www. statesboroga. gov/city-overview/history/

Statesboro • The City operates under the Council-Manager form of government, established by a 1999 Charter amendment. • The mayor is elected at large while the five council members are elected by district. All elections are non-partisan, and the terms are for four years, with half of the members elected every two years. • The City Council appoints the City Manager to head the administrative functions of city government.

Did You Know? • In the 1990 s one of the most significant shifts in population was from large cities and suburbs to small towns. • Two million more Americans moved from metropolitan centers to rural areas than migrated the other way during that decade. • There were many reasons for this population shift. Some families moved to escape the social problems of the cities. Some were attracted by the lower taxes, more affordable housing, and the slower pace of small town life.

Chapter Summary