State and Local Government What YOU NEED to Know!

Legislative Branch NC General Assembly is similar to Congress Lawmaking ability Made up of a House of Representatives and a Senate Representation is based upon districts

Executive Branch Governor is similar to the President Job is to enforce laws Can exercise veto power Governor has power President does not have called Line Item Veto (Gov. can cross out/veto a part of a law but does not have to veto the entire thing) Have an appointed cabinet to help advise them Governor also has a group of elected department heads to advise him Council of State Elected by citizens in the general election

State and Local Laws A State Law is a Statute Enforced by state law enforcement such as SBI or Highway Patrol Also enforced by county sheriffs and city police A Local Law is an Ordinance Enforced by county sheriff and/or city police Sheriffs are the primary law enforcement for a county City police are the primary law enforcement for cities

The Sheriff Sheriff is an elected executive branch position (enforces laws) In charge of County Jails In charge of Schools Chief law enforcement officer for a county

Annexation Taking county land and incorporating it into an existing city To make city bigger (area and population) Increase tax base for city Citizens often oppose because it raises their taxes (they now have to pay city taxes, too) People can move if they are too opposed

Incorporation Creating a brand new city The plan for a new city is called a charter The charter for incorporation must be approved by the General Assembly A new city is usually created to have organization and to provide services to citizens, such as sewer lines, garbage service, and emergency services

Zoning Rules for land use City Council either acts as the Zoning Board or appoints a Zoning Board Types of Zoning Residential: only houses Commercial: only businesses (Stores/Restaurants) Industrial: factories and warehouses You do not want a factory in the middle of your neighborhood Zoning ensures that does not happen

Leandro v. State of North Carolina Counties and Schools do not receive equal funding A group of parents and schools sued the state saying that it was not fair (students could not get an equal education with less money) State Supreme Court ruled that a citizen is entitled to an adequate, but not equal education Adequate education is measured by EOC scores Students must score at least a Level III to be receiving an “adequate education”

State of NC v. Mann Man beat and shot his slave (he lived) and was charged with assault and fined $5 NC State Supreme Court ruled that Mann could not be punished for beating his own “property” NC Declaration of Rights states that “no man shall be deprived of his property” Determined that NC Constitution is Supreme Law of NC and he could not be convicted of assaulting property