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Chapter Nineteen:
State and Local Government
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Learning Objectives
Describe in general terms the differences between the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions, and the reasons for these differences.
Describe the structure of the typical state executive branch, including the weak executive, and describe the obstacles to reforming the system.
Explain the veto and line-item veto power of state executives and contrast the exercise of this power with the U.S. president’s veto power.
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Learning Objectives
Explain the importance of legislative apportionment, court decisions on gerrymandering and racial gerrymandering, and the principle of one person, one vote.
Evaluate the proposals for reform related to legislative apportionment.
Describe and explain the significance of the tools of direct democracy, including the initiative, referendum, and recall.
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Learning Objectives
Explain the various units of local governments, including municipalities, counties, towns, townships, and special districts.
Explain the various plans for municipal governments, including the commission plan, the council-manager plan, the mayor-administrator plan, and the mayor-council plan.
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Learning Objectives
Describe how state and local governments raise revenue through general sales tax and property tax, and evaluate why state and local governments are so vulnerable to economic cycles.
Explain what services are provided with this revenue, including education and public welfare.
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U.S. Constitution and the State Governments
The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land.
States have the authority to lay taxes, spend, and regulate intrastate commerce.
State constitutions tend to be much longer than the U.S. Constitution.
Constitutional Convention and Constitutional Initiative
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The State Executive Branch
Weak ExecutiveReforming the SystemGovernor’s Veto Power
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The State Legislature
Legislative Apportionment:
Minority Representation Political Gerrymandering
Term Limits for State Legislators
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The State Legislature
Ethics and Campaign Finance Reforms in the States
Direct Democracy: Initiative, Referendum, and Recall
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The State Legislature10
The State Legislature11
The State Legislature12
The State Legislature13
The State Legislature14
The State Judiciary
Trial Courts
Appellate Courts
Judicial Elections and Appointments
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The State Judiciary16
How Local Government Operates
Legal Existence of Local Government
Local Governmental Units: Municipalities Counties Towns and Townships Special Districts and School Districts
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How Local Government Operates 18
How Local Government Operates
Consolidation of Governments
The purpose of many COGs is the pursuit of federal grants.
COGs can only recommend actions. They do not have the power to make binding decisions on all of the governmental units who have joined the organization.
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How Local Government Operates
How Municipalities Are Governed Commission Plan Council-Manager Plan Mayor-Administrator Plan Mayor-Council Plan
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How Local Government Operates
Machine Versus Reform in City Politics Machine politics was an important political
structure in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
These political organizations helped new immigrants by providing jobs and services in return for their votes to keep them in power.
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How Local Government Operates
Governing Metropolitan Areas Various policy problems, such as crime, traffic
congestion and pollution, are not contained within municipal political boundaries.
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How Local Government Operates
Governing Metropolitan Areas (Continued)
Possible solutions include :Annexation by a city of surrounding suburbs.Consolidation of city and county governments.Set up a system of metropolitan government. Create special districts.
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Paying for State and Local Government
State and Local Government Expenditures
State and Local Government Revenues
Struggle to Balance State Budgets Borrowing too much Poor productivity Health care costs
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Paying for State and Local Government25
Paying for State and Local Government26
Paying for State and Local Government27
Web Links
National Conference of State Legislatures: bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs and provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas: www.ncsl.org.
FindLaw: searchable database of state law codes (statutes) and state court cases: www.findlaw.com/casecode/state.html.
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What If…All States Offered School Vouchers?
All public education systems in the United States are funded and controlled by local and state governments.
School choice is open only to those families willing to spend thousands to send their children to private or parochial schools.
School vouchers could give parents choices to send their children to any public or private school.
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What If…All States Offered School Vouchers?
Voucher system would create competition for students among public and private schools.
Critics fear that some public schools could not attract students and survive.
Other critics argue that it violates the separation of church and state if state monies are spent at religious schools.
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You Can Make a Difference: Learning About Local Politics and Government in Your Community
Local government impacts areas of education, health, employment, and crime, which affects you, your family, and your friends.
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You Can Make a Difference: Learning About Local Politics and Government in Your Community
Students can:Attend a neighborhood association meeting.Attend a city council meeting.Attend a school board meeting.Volunteer for a local or state campaign.Run for office.Attend proceedings at local courts.
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