Chapter 19 State and Local Government Instructor: Kevin Sexton Course: U.S. Political Systems Southeast Missouri State University

Federalism Review Based on the concept of Shared Sovereignty. Ultimate Authority shared between the Federal Government and each of the 50 State Governments. This means that the Federal Government did not create the States Governments And the States did not create the Federal Government. They were created simultaneously. (Dillion’s Rule) Therefore each state has there own constitution, and they decide for themselves what the state government will look like, and how decisions will be made within their state.

Structure of State Governments 1.Constitutions 2.Branches 3.Citizen Participation

State Constitutions Comparing The U.S. & State Constitutions U.S. Constitution – 4,543 total words (including signatures). 8,700 if you include the amendments State Constitutions – 26,000 average words. U.S. Constitution – brief, almost vague in some respects. State Constitutions – more detailed, less flexible, more easily amended, more frequently re-written. *****************

State Constitutions ***************** Amending Constitutions U.S. Constitution Amended 27 times But Keep In Mind That: First 10 Took Place Immediately After It Took Effect 27 th Amendment Was Actually Introduced With Bill of Rights Two Amendments (18th & 21st) Nullify Each Other Average State Constitution Has Been Amended 115 Times. Alabama Constitution Amended 770 Times (Also Longest Constitution With Over 172,000 Words) State Constitutions Easier To Amend

State Constitutions ***************** Amending Constitutions U.S. Constitution Requires 2/3 rd of Each of the Houses of Congress & Ratification by 3/4 th of the States Typical State Requires 2/3 rd of Each House of Legislature & Simple Majority of Voters in the Next Election Constitutional Iniative Registered Voters Obtain Signatures on a Petition & A Proposed Constitutional Amendment Goes Before the People of the State. If A Majority of the People Agree the Constitution is Amended. The Legislature Plays Virtually NO ROLL.

Branches of Government All 50 States Have A State Government With Three Branches In All States Those Three Branches are Executive, Legislative & Judicial. All States Have Governors As Their Chief Executive All States Have State Legislatures All States Have Their Own State Court System

State Executive Branches Unlike The Federal Executive Branch All Executive Power Is Not Vested In The Chief Executive State of Missouri For Example Elects The Following Executive Officers Independently Of Each Other: Governor Lt. Governor Attorney General Secretary of State State Treasurer State Auditor Each Office Exercises Limited Executive Power Over Their Issues, With Little Or No Direct Responsibility To The Governor. Governor’s Power Has Increased As The Size and Complexity Of State Government Has Grown.

State Legislatures All State Legislatures Operate Similarly To Congress. All Have The Power To Make Laws, Appropriate Money and Represent The People Size Of The Legislatures Is Set By The State Constitutions. 49 Of The 50 States Have Bi-Cameral Legislatures (Nebraska Has a Uni-Cameral Legislature. They Have A State Senate Only) Most State Legislatures Are Becoming More And More Professional. More Legislatures Have Full Time Legislatures. Legislators Spend More Time In The Capital Working On State Issues. Salaries For Legislators Range From Over $100,000 in California To Less Than $10,000 In States Like Wyoming, Texas, New Hampshire. About ½ Of All States Place term Limits On Some Of Their States’ Elected Officials.

State Courts Each of the 50 States Have Their Own Independent Court System. About 2/3rds of the State Court Systems are Three Tiered: Trial Court + Appeals Court + State Supreme Court About 1/3 rd of The State Court System are Two Tiered: Trial Court + State Supreme Court ********************* The State Courts Systems Deal With Approximately 100,000,000 Cases a Year As Compared With Approximately 314,000 Cases a Year For U.S. Courts

State Judges In About 1/4 th of States Judges Are Appointed By The Governor. Most States Elect Their Judges Like Other State Officials. Several States Use The MISSOURI PLAN

Citizen Participation Individual States decide what level of participation they are going to afford their citizens. This is more than VOTING, which is guarenteed to all U.S. citizens by the U.S. Constitution. Additional methods of participation that some states afford to their citizens include: Initiative - Citizens get to suggest and approve new laws. Referendum - Citizens get to approve or reject laws or actions of the legislature. Recall - Citizens get to “un-elect” government officials.