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Georgia Georgia and the American Experienceand the American Experience
Chapter 16: Chapter 16:
Local Government and Local Government and CitizenshipCitizenship
Study Presentation Study Presentation
©2005 Clairmont Press
Georgia Georgia and the American Experienceand the American Experience
Section 1: County GovernmentSection 1: County Government
Section 2: City Government and Section 2: City Government and Special-Purpose DistrictsSpecial-Purpose Districts
Section 3: Where Do Georgia’s Section 3: Where Do Georgia’s Citizens Live?Citizens Live?
Section 4: Participation in a Section 4: Participation in a Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy
©2005 Clairmont Press
Section 1: County Section 1: County GovernmentGovernment
• ESSENTIAL QUESTION:– What are the powers of Georgia’s
governor?
Section 1: County Section 1: County GovernmentGovernment
• What words do I need to know?– governor– lieutenant governor
County GovernmentCounty Government
• Georgia has 159 counties, nearly 600 towns – each has a government
• county: subdivision of a state set up for certain governmental functions
• most Georgia counties are run by an elected Board of Commissioners
• most counties are set up in a similar manner
A Look at One CountyA Look at One County
• Camden County used as example• County depends on tourism and Navy’s
submarine base for jobs to support economy• Spanish settled area in 1500s – one of Georgia’s
original counties• Government led by five-member Board of
Commissioners• county administrator hired by the Board to
manage day-to-day operations• Woodbine is county seat• School Board: five elected members and elected
school superintendent
Sharing ServicesSharing Services
• Some city and county governments share services
• Fulton County is home to city of Atlanta
• Fulton County and city of Atlanta share zoning duties and library system
• Fulton and DeKalb counties share a hospital authority
• Fulton County and the City of Atlanta have separate school systems
Officials in County GovernmentOfficials in County Government
• Most counties have the following elected officials:– commissioners, superior court clerk, probate
court judge, sheriff, tax commissioner, coroner
• Many officials are appointed:– county clerk, fire chief, road supervisor,
emergency management director, attorney, planning and building inspector, etc.
• Larger counties have more officialsClick to return to Table of Contents.
Section 2: City Government and Section 2: City Government and Special-Purpose DistrictsSpecial-Purpose Districts
• ESSENTIAL QUESTION:–How do city governments work in
Georgia?
Section 2: City Government and Section 2: City Government and Special-Purpose DistrictsSpecial-Purpose Districts
• What words do I need to know?– municipality– mayor-council form– figurehead– council-manager form– special purpose district– ad valorem taxes– user fee– general local option sales tax– special purpose local option sales tax– bond issue
City GovernmentCity Government
• municipality: a city with its own government• city receives charter from state legislature• city charter explains what the city
government can do – police protection, maintain streets and sidewalks,
license businesses, control traffic, provide water and sewerage
• some city charters allow for a city-run school system
Forms of City GovernmentForms of City Government• Mayor-Council: most common in Georgia
– elected council, elected mayor– weak-mayor system: mayor has little power, figurehead– strong-mayor system: mayor has power to run the city,
propose budget, can veto council
• Council-Manager– voters elect council members– mayor may be elected or appointed– council hires city manager for day-to-day operations of
the city
• City Commission– voters elect commissioners– commissioners form department heads of the city– mayor chosen by the commissioners
City-County GovernmentCity-County Government
• some city and county governments merge when the region becomes more urban
• can reduce the cost of government• Examples
– Athens-Clarke County– Columbus-Muskogee County– Augusta-Richmond County
Special Purpose Disticts
• Created for a specific job or task
• Within certain guidelines, these districts are self-governing
• Examples– school districts – MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit
Authority) – Public Housing Authority– Georgia Ports Authority
Funding Local Government• Sources of funding include state and federal
grants and taxes on citizens• ad valorem taxes: taxes paid based on the value
of the property• user fees: paid by the user of the service• sales tax: added to purchases made in the city or
county– general purpose local option sales tax: tax for general
use– special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST):
approved by voters, adds sales tax to fund special projects such as parks or schools
• bond issues: a way for governments to borrow money; interest must be paid on the bonds
Click to return to Table of Contents.
Section 3: Section 3: Where Do Georgia’s Citizens Where Do Georgia’s Citizens
Live?Live?
• ESSENTIAL QUESTION– Where do Georgia’s citizens live?
Section 3: Section 3: Where Do Georgia’s Citizens Where Do Georgia’s Citizens
Live?Live?
• What words do I need to know?– urban area– rural area– metropolitan area– urban sprawl
Where do Georgians Live?Where do Georgians Live?• Georgia is one of fastest-growing states• Hispanics are fastest-growing group• Georgia’s has an increasing number of older
citizens• Most Georgians (2/3) live in metropolitan area
(area in or around a city)• Over 50% of Georgians live in metro Atlanta• Just 50 years ago, most Georgians lived in rural
areas – Georgians were mostly farmers
Urban SprawlUrban Sprawl• In 1960s, people began to move to
suburbs – areas near edge of cities• Expansion of suburbs created declines in
urban population• Large numbers of people in suburbs cause
challenges to infrastructure – not enough roads, utilities, schools, sewerage, etc.
• Sprawl can cause traffic and pollution problems and an economic problem for the central city since the number of residents declines
Urban RevitalizationUrban Revitalization• Effort to attract citizens to live in urban
areas
• Cities need people to work and live there in order to grow and be healthy
• Examples– Atlanta: Sweet Auburn, Little Five Points,
Virginia Highlands– Savannah: historic district, Bay Street,
Factor’s Walk– Augusta: Riverwalk
Click to return to Table of Contents.
Section 4: Participation in a Section 4: Participation in a Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy
• ESSENTIAL QUESTION– What duties and responsibilities do I
have as a citizen?
Section 4: Participation in a Section 4: Participation in a Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy
• What words do I need to know?– political party– interest group– lobbyist– general election– citizenship– naturalized citizen
Political PartiesPolitical Parties
• Organized groups of people with common ideals – seek to influence government policies
• Two major political parties in US:– Democrats– Republicans
• Minor political parties also exist• Independents are not part of a particular
political party
Interest GroupsInterest Groups
• People who share common goals and objectives who ban together with others for political purposes
• May be concerned with labor issues, business issues, agricultural issues, etc.
• lobbyist: person paid to represent interest groups in Washington or Atlanta
• May support certain candidates in elections if they believe doing so will help their group
VotersVoters• Major influence of government each election day• Voters decide who will make the decisions for the
government• Georgia Election Code guides national, state, and
local elections• General election: held each November in even-
numbered years to elect major federal and state officials
• Other elections may be held as needed for national, state, county or city officials
• Voters select most important officials, others are appointed
Public OpinionPublic Opinion
• Influences government decisions
• News media keep voters informed about issues
• Voters can call or write representatives to explain how they want the official to vote or act
• Example: Vietnam War; public opinion against the war became so great that leaders had to end America’s involvement
CitizenshipCitizenship• If your parents are US citizens or you were born in
the US, you have all the rights and protections of the US and Georgia constitutions
• Naturalized citizen: foreigner who chooses to become a US citizen
• Process to become naturalized citizen requires much time and effort
• Responsibilities go along with rights– participation in government (voting, running for office)– upholding the laws of the nation and state– defending the nation against enemies– serve on juries– serving the community
Click to return to Table of Contents.
Click to return to Table of Contents.