Paul Jones Mrs. Quinn G.A.L.R.E. December 8, 2010 Unit 4 Lesson 26 Reviewing and Using the Lesson 1. Why does each state have its own constitution? In the early stages of american government each state was required to write up their own constitution and Bill of Rights so that the power was given to the states. This changed when the U.S. Federal Government decide to have an umbrella Constitution that applied strict, "Must Follow" rules for the states. They still let the states decide upon certain details, such as alcohol legality, but many decisions were now controlled by the Federal Government instead of the State Government. 2. What are local governments? Why do state governments create them? Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state. Urban planning/zoning, economic development/tourism, public works, parks and recreation, police, fire, emergency medical services, emergency management, accounting/finance, human resources, general counsel/city attorney/risk management, transportation,, information technology, housing department, municipal court 3. Identify the local governments where you live and the functions they perform. The primary functions of local governments are to provide services, such as schools, libraries, police and fire departments, and make and enforce laws. 4. What are initiative, referendum, and recall? How do they reflect principles of popular sovereignty? How do they undermine the concept of representative government? An initiative provides a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote. A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote. Popular sovereignty is the belief that the legitimacy of the state is created by the will or consent of its people, who are the source of all political power.