1.  Study Vocab (25 Questions)  Study Notes  One short answer- Venn on state and Federal Government

3.  Federal System- government that divides powers between the national government and the states  Popular Sovereignty- People are the ultimate source of any power given to the government  Suffrage- the right to vote  Civil Rights- protections granted in the Constitution; recognize all citizens must be treated equally  Statute- General laws that apply statewide

4.  Commute- to reduce a criminal’s sentence  County Seat- center of county government  Ordinance- local laws  Incorporated- the state has declared that a specific geographic area is a municipality (city, town, or village) and has been given a charter

5.  King Charles II grants territory south of VA, 1663; separates into North and South in 1729  NC insists of representative gov’t; the General Assembly passes laws & levies taxes  NC legislature bicameral- governor & council is the upper house; elected reps is the lower house

6. NC Seeks Independence  French and Indian War had created huge debt for Great Britain- levy taxes on colonists to pay war debts  NC held congress in Wilmington to elect reps to attend the Continental Congress

7. The Mecklenburg Declaration  All Great Britain's offices vacant; the NC government was only lawful government in the colony The Halifax Resolves  First Colonial gov’t to call for total independence from Great Britain

8. Constitution of 1776  Two house legislature called General Assembly; Executive branch with governor and Council of State; NC Court system  In 1835 voters gain power to elect the governor and approve or reject constitutional amendments Constitution of 1868  New constitution must be written after Civil War; Abolish slavery, males over 21 could vote Constitution of 1971  lower voting age from 21 to 18; governor serves 2 four year terms; governor can veto legislation

9. The Legislative Branch- The General Assembly  Makes laws or General statutes that apply statewide; Enact local laws to specific areas  General Assembly elects members to sit on University of NC Board of Governors

10. Organization of General Assembly  Bi-cameral- senate (50 members) and house of reps (120 members)  Senate and house members are elected for 2 years, with no term limits  Member of General Assembly rules  House  21 years old, Live in the district for a year before election  Senate  25 years old, live in district for a year before election  Speaker of the House leads house Lieutenant Governor leads senate

11. The Executive Branch  The Governor is NC’s chief of state and chief executive  Governors roles include-  leader of state agencies  administers state budget  grants pardons to criminals or commutes (reduces) sentences  Gov. serves for 4 years, 2 consecutive term limit  30 years old  US citizens for at least 5 years  live in NC for 2 years  Lieutenant Governor is like VP- president of senate

12. Executive Officers  Governor appoints 10 department chairs to head various administrations- called cabinet  Some appointed by Governor, other officers are elected by voters- Council of State  Council of State operates independently of governor

13. Magistrates

14.  Magistrates – a civil officer or lay judge who administers the law  2 year term  have original jurisdiction in certain misdemeanor cases usually when there is an admission of guilt  can issue warrants; set bail  NC District Courts– There is at least one district court located in each of the 100 counties  judges elected for 4 year terms  Original jurisdiction in all misdemeanor cases  NO JURY

15.  NC Superior Court- Major cases  Judges elected for 8 years  Original jurisdiction; takes appeals from District Court  felony criminal cases  Trial by 12 member jury  The NC Court of Appeals- 15 judges hear appeals  Judges elected for 8 year term  decides on cases appealed from District and Superior Courts

16.  The NC Supreme Court– 7 Justices (1 Chief and 6 Associates)  Judges elected for 8 year terms  decides civil and criminal cases appealed from lower courts  no witnesses or juries

17. Municipality- cities, towns, villages ▪ Municipalities provide services to meet needs of its citizens ▪ Each has been incorporated- officially given a charter basic rules for gov’t ▪ Cities can expand by annexation- bringing unincorporated land into an existing municipality (Midway, Davidson County) ▪ All municipalities elect their own governing board- city/town council ▪ Citizens elect a mayor, but city council hires a “professional” to run the city- council-manager form of gov’t

18. Government Finances  Two parts to budget- revenues and expenditures  Fiscal budget year begins July 1 for state as well as for local gov’t  Budgeting begins in governor’s office- must present a balanced budget  General Assembly studies and revises budget proposed by governor  Most money for state gov’t from state taxes

19. Municipal and County Budgets  Most expenditures from cities go to utilities water, sewage, and schools  Revenue comes from utility user fees and property taxes