Counties and Municipalities Unit 4

12/5 Warm-up What might be one benefit and one challenge resulting from federalism? What do you think of of when you hear “local government”?

Federalism Quiz Citizens of states elect representatives at the national level thus an intersection of state and national power. Speed limit laws are made at state level but influenced by monetary incentives from the federal level. No In order for a proposed amendment to become part of the Constitution it must be passed by the US Congress (national) and by the states (state).

Federalism Quiz No We vote for a president at the state level. States decide how to apportion their electoral votes. The outcome of the state votes determines representation at the national level. The Supreme Court (national) may rule a state decision or law unconstitutional (state). This law was made on the national level and forces state and local governments to comply without funding the implementation of the act. This is an unfunded mandate.

Local Government Quotes Read through all the quotes and select two to thoughtfully respond to in writing. Choose at least one quote that is focused on local government. In your response, you might discuss: -Do you agree, or disagree? -What does the quote make you think about? -What history is behind these words? -What does this quote say about our governmental system? -Why is local government so important?

Local Government County - oldest form of local government (also known as parishes and boroughs in some states) County seat - center of the county (within a day’s journey from any part of the county) Counties were established by the NC General Assembly between 1776 and 1912 Assist state governments with keeping law and order, and collect taxes Rooted in England, the county form of government came to North America with the English colonists. Colonies were divided into counties to carry out laws in rural areas. Because farmers lived far apart, county business was done at a place most people could reach within a day’s wagon journey. This distance to the ‘county seat’ set the boundaries of many counties. Today, most counties help state governments keep law and order and collect taxes. Counties may also offer many other services, from libraries to health care. Counties were established by the North Carolina General Assembly to make basic government services more readily available throughout the state. County lines were drawn and redrawn from 1776 to 1912, when the last of the one hundred counties was created. Counties continue to carry out state requirements but they also have the authority to take on additional roles above and beyond these basic services.

Cities Cities (municipalities) are “incorporated” within counties because people living there want a more “local” provision of public services. Municipalities must be incorporated by act of the General Assembly— defining its geographic boundaries and approving its charter Incorporation is recognition of and approval for a government and elected officials at the municipal level Charters may call the municipality a city, town, or village 552 municipalities in NC’s 100 counties

Cities Cities are not mandated to provide any services at all. Larger cities and towns provide many of the same services: water supply, wastewater treatment, police and fire protection, garbage collection, planning and zoning, and building inspection.

Who you gonna call?

Services Provided by Local Government Airports Ambulance service Animal shelters Art galleries and museums Auditoriums/coliseums Building inspections Buses/public transit Cable television regulation Cemeteries Community appearance Community colleges Cooperative extension Court facilities (space only) Economic development Elections Electric systems Public health services Public housing Public schools Recreation programs Register of deeds Rescue squads Sidewalks Social services Soil and water conservation Storm drainage Street lighting Streets Traffic control Veterans services Wastewater collection and treatment Water supply and protection Youth detention facilities Emergency management Environmental protection Fire protection Forest protection Garbage and yard waste collection Gas systems Historic preservation Human relations Jails Job training Law enforcement Libraries Mental health services Parks and open space Planning and zoning This is a competition to see which group can get the most right answers in 5 minutes Then, have them compare trade with another group and compare their lists. Check off how many each group got correct. Then, guess which are county and which are city. I tell them the right answers.

Counties Cities Both

Art galleries and museums Auditoriums/coliseums Building inspections Airports Ambulance service Animal shelters Art galleries and museums Auditoriums/coliseums Building inspections Buses/public transit Cable television regulation Cemeteries Community appearance Community colleges Cooperative extension Court facilities space Economic development Elections Electric systems Emergency management Environmental protection Fire protection Forest protection Garbage and yard waste Gas systems Historic preservation Jails Job training Law enforcement Libraries Mental health services Parks and open space Planning and zoning Public health services Public housing Public schools Recreation programs Register of deeds Rescue squads Sidewalks Social services Soil and water conservation Storm drainage Street lighting Streets Traffic control Veterans services Wastewater treatment Water supply and protection Youth detention facilities This is a competition to see which group can get the most right answers in 5 minutes Then, have them compare trade with another group and compare their lists. Check off how many each group got correct. Then, guess which are county and which are city. I tell them the right answers.

Authority in Local Government Counties: voters chose a board of county commissioners, sheriff, register of deeds. Municipalities: voters chose a council/board (and sometimes the mayor). Advisory boards make recommendations to the main board.

NC COUNTIES: Board-Manager Form County manager- chief administrator of the county government, responsible to the board of commissioners for overseeing all departments Hire, fire, and discipline county employees with the board’s approval (not elected by the people) Prepare an annual budget

CITIES: Mayor-Council Plan Elected mayor, serves as the chief executive and an elected council operates as the legislative body May be described as either strong-mayor or weak-mayor forms—based on the powers given to the mayor Strong-mayor: mayor heads the city’s administration and has power to veto, hire/fire, and prepares the budget (usually used in larger cities) **Weak-mayor: mayor has less formal power; shares executive duties with other elected officials (clerk, treasurer, city engineer, police chief, council members) most forms of mayor-council government operate as this

CITIES: Council-Manager Plan* Strong city council (5 or 7 members); weak mayor who is elected; manager named by the council City Manager- chief administrator of the city; oversee municipal affairs Appoint , suspend, or remove any city officer/employee not elected City councils must appoint: city attorney, city clerk, city police, tax collector Advantages: simple, responsibility is clear, uses trained experts; Attempts to create a balance between all parties and ideas

Review What is the oldest unit of local government in North Carolina? a. Cities b. Towns c. Counties d. Villages C

Review Who sets the boundaries of counties, cities, and towns in North Carolina? a. The counties, cities, and towns b. The NC General Assembly c. The Governor d. The Federal Government B

Review Which of the following county officials are NOT elected by the citizens? a. County Commissioners b. The Register of Deeds c. The Sheriff d. The County Manager D

Review Municipalities in North Carolina are mandated to provide which of the following services? a. Public housing b. Fire protection c. Garbage collection d. Municipalities are not mandated to provide any services D

Review Municipal governing boards make all of the following official decisions for a city EXCEPT: a. Setting local tax rates b. Adopting an annual budget c. Passing ordinances for regulating behavior d. Issuing a charter to the local community college B

Review The local government of Orange County NC has a chief executive who carries out the day-to-day operations of the county. The executive is not an elected official, but has the authority to hire and fire department heads and make significant changes to the organization. The type of local government that best describes Orange County is: a. Strong mayor form of government b. Council-manager form of government c. Weak mayor form of government d. Government of appointed boards A

Review In order for a municipality to officially become a city, town, or village, the NC General Assembly must accept the municipality’s: a. charter b. code of ordinances c. Council members d. size of its population A

Review How old must one be in order to register to vote? a. 18 b. 17, if the person will be 18 by the time of the election c. 21 d. 16 B