North Carolina Government compared to the Federal Government (including a graphic on the NC Court System)

US CongressNC General Assembly H – 25; S - 30 US Cit. H – 7 yrs; S – 9 yrs Senate has a 6 year term H - 2 yr term Both make laws Both bicameral [only Nebraska is unicameral] Leadership determined by majority party Senate has 2 year term Simply a US Citizen H – 18; S - 25 H – 435; S H – 120; S - 50

US PresidentNC Governor NATIVE BORN & 35 Can make treaties as Chief Diplomat Resident for 14 years 4 year term Both enforce laws as Chief Executive Both lead a ‘military’ as Commander in Chief Both have a second in command Resident for 2 years prior Can Line Item Veto Citizen for 5 years & 30 Can only serve 2 terms or 10 years Can serve 2 consecutive terms and may do more after a term off Impeachment Both sign or Veto laws as Legislative Leader Party Leader

NC Supreme Court 7 members 1 Chief & 6 Associates NC Appellate Courts – 15 judges sit in rotating panels of 3, deciding only questions of law on cases appealed from Superior and District Courts. North Carolina Lower Courts: NC Superior Court: Also called county court or circuit courts with and may be specialized in criminal, civil, and juvenile. Hears all felony cases, civil cases over $14,000, and serious juvenile cases. NC District Courts: can be divided into 4 categories – civil, criminal, juvenile and magistrate. NCDCs sit in the county seat of each county – for civil cases such as divorce, child custody & support, & involving less than $14,000 along with criminal misdemeanors. Magistrate courts accept guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors, traffic violations, and civil cases involving less than $4,000. They supervise all other state courts. No determination in fact – only considers error in law. All decisions final unless appealed to USSupCt.