American Government and Politics Today Chapter 18 State and Local Government

The U.S. Constitution and the State Governments The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land. As we have seen before, this means that any conflict between a state power and a legitimate federal power will always be resolved in favor of the national government. However, this does not mean that the federal government can dictate all policies for the states. States have the authority to lay taxes, spend, and regulate intrastate commerce. Furthermore, state governments can take actions to promote and safeguard the health, morals, safety, and welfare of the people (the police power), providing these actions do not violate the United States Constitution or the laws made by Congress.

State Constitutions  Why are state constitutions so long? Filled with specific details These authors did not want to leave anything up to the courts for interpretation  The Constitutional Convention and the Constitutional Initiative

The State Executive Branch  A Weak Executive  Reforming the System  The Governor’s Veto Power

The State Legislature With the exception of Nebraska all states have a bicameral legislature. An important issue for determining the power of the legislature relative to the elected executive officials is how often the legislature is in session. Legislative Apportionment Term Limits for State Legislators Direct Democracy  Initiative  Referendum  Recall

The State Judiciary Trial Courts Appellate Courts Judicial Elections and Appointments

How Local Government Operates The legal existence of local government Local government units  Municipalities  Counties  Towns and Townships  Special Districts and School Districts

Consolidation of Governments This has long been encouraged by many to promote efficiency. The major problem with consolidation is the resistance to elimination by effected governmental units. One type of consolidation has been the council of governments, or COGs. The purpose of many COGs is the pursuit of federal grants. But 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.

How Municipalities Are Governed The Commission Plan The Council-Manager Plan The Mayor-Administrator Plan The Mayor-Council Plan

Machine versus Reform in City Politics Machine politics was an important political structure in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The operation of the government was controlled by a select group of men who exerted great control over city government. Bosses controlled the party organization and therefore controlled the nomination process. By providing jobs and services to people within the city, the machine was able to ensure the election of the party candidates.

Governing Metropolitan Areas  A problem with government in metropolitan areas is that poor people often are concentrated in the old, central city, which as a result has large expenses and a limited tax base.  Various kinds of metropolitan governments seek to spread the burden throughout the metropolitan area, but these solutions are usually opposed by suburbanites who do not want to pay higher taxes or be associated with persons who are poor or who are members of a racial minority.  If cities can easily annex outlying areas, there may be less of a problem. Unified city-county governments are another option.  The creation of special districts to handle area-wide problems is perhaps the least controversial solution.

Paying for State and Local Government State and Local Government Expenditures State and Local Government Revenues The Struggle to Balance State Budgets  Borrowing too much  Poor Productivity  Health-Care Costs  Recovery from the Crisis  Entrepreneurial Federalism

What the States are Spending

Local Expenditures

Where Does the Money Come From?

Questions for Critical Thinking  What are the municipal forms of government that exist within the local city government? How do these municipalities affect our daily routines?  Name some of the problems associated with relying on local property taxes to finance education. How will the availability of revenue impact the quality of education?