 What do you think is the main job of city government?  Explain.

Section 1

 The U.S. Constitution does not mention the existence of local governments.  Local governments are created by and totally dependent upon the state.  Most states define a municipality as an incorporated place  a locality with an officially organized government that provides services to residents.

 New cities are added each year as urban communities incorporate. › Done by applying for a city charter  a document that grants power to a local government. › Some states require a population minimum  Many state legislatures have begun to grant home rule to cities › This allows cities to write their own charters, choose their own type of government, and manage their own affairs, although they still have to follow state laws.

 Whether a city is called a city, town, or village depends on local preference or the charter specifications.  Most city governments provide the same basic services. › Law enforcement › Fire protection › Street repair › Water and sewage systems › Garbage pick-up › Parks and Recreation

 Power is divided between separate legislative and executive branches.  Voters elect a mayor and members of a city council.  Mayor is chief executive of the city and responsible for overseeing the operation of administrative offices.  Mayor often appoints heads of departments (public works, planning, police, roads, buildings)

 The Council acts as the city’s legislature, approving the city budget and passing ordinances (city laws).  Larger cities have larger councils  Some cities are divided into voting districts called wards. › Each ward elects a representative for their district.  In other cities, council members are members-at-large.

 The powers of the mayors vary › Large cities  strong-mayor system  Mayor has strong executive powers  Veto of ordinances passed by city council  Put together city budget › Smaller towns  weak-mayor system  Power is limited  Council appoints department heads

 Seen in 1912 as a way to reform corrupt or ineffective mayor-council governments.  The city council appoints a manager › Recommends budget, oversees city departments, and deals with personnel matters.  Smaller cities with managers often have council members elected in at-large elections › run city-wide elections rather than running by district.

 Five commissioners are selected in citywide elections.  Each commissioner heads a major department › Police, fire, finance, health, and public works  Commissioners pick one of the members to serve as mayor  Issues with this form › No one person is in charge › Newly elected commissioners may not know much about the departments they are now managing.

 A special district is a unit of government that deals with a specific function, such as education, water supply, or transportation.  School districts are the most common form of special district.  A board or commission may be elected or appointed to run a special district.

 A metropolitan area is a central city and its surrounding suburbs  Recognized by the U.S. Census when city and suburbs have a combined 50,000 residents  Some large metropolitan areas have created a council of governments.

 What are some difference between cities, towns, townships, and villages?  Explain.

Section 2

 When counties were mapped out in the South and West in the 19 th Century, the idea was for the people in the further part of the county to be able to reach the county courthouse and back home by horse and buggy in the same day.  This is why Southern and Western states have so many small counties.  The towns where county courthouse is located is called the county seat.

 A board of three to five commissioners or supervisors govern most counties.  The board acts as a legislative body passing laws and ordinances, the annual budget, levying taxes.  In some counties, the board acts as only a legislative body and they select a manager.

 Separately elected officials runs some county administrative offices. › Sheriff  chief law enforcement officer › District Attorney  the county’s prosecutor  County Assessor  examines all taxable property within the county and estimates how much it is worth.

Section 3

 Americans use the word “town” for a small city  The town form of government occurs in New England states  Within this form, colonists met regularly to discuss issues that involved everyone in the majority  Town meetings  an exercise in the direct democracy  Today in New England, residents come together once a year to discuss and vote upon issues in their communities.

 Each New England town elects a group of officials called “select men” to run local government  Many New England towns have replaced this direct democracy with representative democracy.

 New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania were divided into townships › Smaller than New England towns but have similar government.  Townships in the Midwest › Congress divided the land into perfect squares, usually 6 miles by 6 miles.  Most townships elect a township committee, board of supervisors, or board of trustees.

 The smallest unit of local protects that benefit the community government  Meetings occur when citizens are dissatisfied with something from a higher form of government.  Consists of a small board of trustees elected by voters  Village board has the power to collect taxes and spend money

Section 1

 Public Policy  a general agreement among government leaders about how to deal with issues or problems that affect the entire community.  Ideas for public policy come from many sources › Party leaders › Interest groups › Members of the media › Private citizens  Ex. MADD

 Many useful public policies try to foresee problems and prevent them.  Many local governments have planning commissions to deal with these issues.

 Short-term policy  meant to be carried out over the next few years. › Ex. Granting a builder a permit to construct apartments  Long-term policy  a broader, less detailed policy mean to serve as a guide over the next 10, 20, or 50 years.  Infrastructure  system of roads, bridges, water, and sewers.

 Priorities  the goals a community considers most important or most urgent. › A community must first decide what is more important to have thriving commerce or a peaceful place to live.  Resources  the money, people, and materials available t accomplish the community’s goals.

 Master plan  a document that states a set of goals and explains how the government will carry them out to meet changing needs over time.  Planning commission normally submits its plan to the government, which then decides whether to adopt it and use it as a guide.

Section 2

 The writers of the U.S. Constitution left power over public education to the states.  1816, Indiana set up the first modern public school system  In most states today, elementary and high school education remains a local responsibility with state guidelines.  The Federal Government shares in only 10% of funding for public schools, but it imposes certain rules on school districts.

 In 2001, President George W. Bush signed “No Child Left Behind”  This law authorized $26.5 billion in federal spending on education, but also increased the rules that schools must follow.  The biggest issue facing state governments is providing a high quality education equally to all students. › The gap occurs between districts because many districts depend heavily upon property taxes to fund schools

 Low test schools  High drop-out rate

 More than 30 states now permit the creation of charter schools  These schools receive state funding, but they are excused from meeting many public school regulations.  Opponents argue that this takes funds away from public schools and that better students will leave for charter schools

 Tuition vouchers  a kind of government money order.  Parents can use these vouchers to enroll their students in private schools.  Teacher’s unions oppose vouchers because they feel they funnel education funds out of the public school system.  Others argue this violates the First Amendment because vouchers can be used to pay tuition at religious schools. › Cleveland, Ohio, 95% of students on the voucher program attend religious affiliated schools.

 Private companies contract with local districts to run the schools.  Businesses make a profit from the schools.

 The 2001 federal education bill requires states to test all students in reading, math, and soon science. › ARMT  Supporters of these tests say this holds schools and teachers accountable, but many teacher organizations oppose such testing.

 Crime rates are typically higher in large cities.  Police Forces › Urban police are the main crime-fighting force in the country. › Every state has a force known as the highway patrol or state police › Police enforce the law and keep peace in communities.

 Our government tries to help people who are ill, old, in poverty, and physically disabled with welfare programs  Critics of welfare claim it undermines self- respect among the poor and encourages dependency upon the government.  Defenders of welfare claim that it is the only way poorly educated, unemployed female heads of households and their children can avoid homelessness.

 Payday loans  Government Housing  WIC  Food Stamps

Section 3

 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) › Sets goals and standards for environmental protection  Solid waste  technical name for garbage  Americans produce 250 millions tons of solid waste each year.

 Incineration › Smoke pollution  Recycling › Reusing old materials to make new ones  Conservation › The careful preservation and protection of our natural resources

 Toxic byproducts of industry  Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants  Runoff from pesticides  Environmentalists estimate that only 10% of hazardous waste is disposed of properly

 Water pollution  factories producing chemical waste.  Federal regulation limit the kinds of waste a factory can discharge.  Cars and Trucks are the worst air polluters › Building improved public transportation systems › Encouraging car pooling  Smoking is a source of indoor pollution