2. Vocabulary Unicameral – one house – legislative branch
Bicameral – two houses – legislative branch
Census – official population account to show population shifts
Commute – reduce a sentence. A power of the governor
Ordinances – local laws
Incorporate – to receive a state charter, officially recognizing the government of the locality.
Municipality – either a city, town, or village
Charter – basic rules for a municipality
Annexation – process of bringing unincorporated land into a municipality.
How are states funded? State revenue; over half is from taxes
Majority of state expenditures; health, welfare and education

3. Legislative Branch Makes two types of laws:
Statutes – apply to everyone in the state
Local or Specific laws – just to certain areas in the state
Major power deals with finances. How much to spend and how much to tax?
Legislative Oversight – review of government operations

4. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
STATE LEGISLATURE
SENATE
50 Members
Presiding Officer:
Lieutenant Governor
Elected Chamber Leader:
President Pro Tempore
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
120 Members
Presiding Officer:
Speaker of the House
Elected Chamber Leader:

5. Executive Branch of State Government
4 year terms, 2 consecutive
Must be 30 years old, US citizen for 5 years, lived in state for 2 years
Lt. Governor elected also. Must meet governor qualifications. Head of the state Senate.
Council of the State – 8 state agencies, people elected to these 4 year positions, unlimited
Offices of the Council

6. Superintendent of Public Instruction Commissioner of Insurance
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Elected Officials
Comm. Of Agriculture
State Treasurer
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Secretary of State
Attorney General
Secretary of Labor
Commissioner of Insurance
State Auditor

7. Superior Court District Court
Supreme Court
Other
Court
Officials
Court of
Appeals
Superior Court
TEACHERS: Click on the court that you want to discuss and the appropriate Power Point slide will open up; when you are ready to return from that slide to this graphic organizer, click on the purple arrow.
District Court

8. State Government Each state has its own constitution.
All states have three branches of government.
Voters ratify amendments in all states except for Delaware.
All states have bicameral legislatures except for Nebraska.
Each state must accept the validity of all other state laws and contracts (Full faith and Credit).
Extradition: Governor orders a suspect to be returned to the state where the crime was committed.

9. Executive Branch Led by a governor.
In most states a person must be 30 years old, US citizen, and a resident of the state for five years.
Serve a four year term.
Recall: An election where voters can remove state officials.
Lieutenant Governor: Takes over for the governor and is head of the state senate.

10. Powers of the Governor
Chief Executive, Chief Legislator, Judicial Leader, Commander in Chief, Party leader, Ceremonial leader.
As judicial leader a governor can:
Commute: Reduce a sentence.
Parole: Early release from prison.
Can offer pardons and reprieves.

11. Executive Officials Most officials are elected by voters.
There are many different departments led by a secretary.

12. Legislative Branch State is divided into districts.
Apportionment: Distribution of seats according to population.
Legislators must be US citizens, live in the district, and meet an age requirement. Fairly low pay.
Legislative process is the same as the national level.

13. Judicial Branch
Trial courts: Use juries. Judge decides punishment; hear civil matters and cases involving serious crimes
Appellate courts: Panel of judges. Appellate jurisdiction only; only cases approved for appeal
State Supreme Court: Highest level of appeal
Plea Bargain: Defendant pleads guilty for a reduced sentence; often times an option; depends on evidence

14. County Government
Local governments are established by state governments.
Charter: Plan that explains the power of a local government.
All counties provide services for their citizens.
County board has legislative powers.
Ordinance: Law passed by a county board.
Provide law enforcement, set up hospitals, improve transportation, and set up public libraries and schools
Collect revenue through property tax and sales tax.
Have executive power to enforce laws (Inspectors).

15. County Officials
Sheriff: Law enforcement. Keeps peace and manages the jail.
District attorney: Investigates crime and prosecutes in court.
Coroner: Establishes the cause of death.
County clerk: Keeps official records.
Assessor: Determines the value of property for tax purposes.

16. City Government Must get a charter from the state government.
Home rule: Allows cities to write their own charters.
Crime, medical problems, drug abuse, and homelessness are problems.
Ward: Voting district in a city.

17. Mayor-Council Government
Separate legislative (city council) and executive (mayor) branches.
Council and mayor are elected
There are strong and weak mayor plans.

18. City Council – City Manager
Voters elect a city council.
City manager runs the city. Appointed by the city council.

19. Commission Government
Began in Galveston, Texas in 1901 after a natural disaster.
Separate departments led by a commissioner. The commission has executive and legislative powers.

20. Financing Taxes: Sales, property and income.
User fees: Fares paid for the use of services.
Bond: Borrow the money and pay it back later.

21. Education, Health, Welfare
Education is the most expensive service provided by state and local governments, followed by welfare and health
Magnet school: Students focus on a particular field of study.
Vouchers: Help parents send children to private schools.
Urban renewal: Re-building old neighborhoods.
The government provides low income housing.
Health departments; health clinics; example, All Kids Ins

22. Federal Aid to the States
Spending is roughly related to population of the state (from census numbers)
Additional demographic questions to find out where children are located (education), minorities (grants for minorities), and population density (highways)

23. Types of Aid
Categorical Grants – funds for some specific closely defined purpose.
Like money for school lunches
Usually have strings attached
Block Grants – funds for much more broadly defined purposes
Fewer strings attached, more freedom for state/local to decide how to spend money
Project Grants – funds for specific organizations or governmental bodies
For research, job training programs, etc.