1. North Carolina State Government

2. NC Legislative Branch The General Assembly
Has the authority to pass state wide statutes (laws)
Similar responsibilities to Congress
NC’s Budget
Taxes

3. Elections for General Assembly
50 Districts for NC Senate
120 Districts for NC House
2 year terms for both Senate and House
No limit to number of terms

4. Qualifications for G.A. NC House NC Senate 21 years old
Live in the district you represent for one year prior to election
NC Senate
25 years old
Living in NC for at least 2 years, your district for 1 year before elections

5. General Assembly Sessions
Meet in odd numbered years for “long sessions” January-June
Even numbered years meet for “short Sessions”
Will also meet for special sessions called by Governor, speaker of the house, or president of the senate

6. The Governor Currently Pat McCrory Leader of Nc’s executive Branch
Appoints many key state officials
May grant pardons or commute (reduce) punishments for those convicted of a crime
Cannot serve more than two consecutive terms (4 years each)

7. Lieutenant Governor Elected separately from governor
Acts as the president of the NC Senate
Current NC Lt. Governor is Dan Forest

8. North Carolina’s Judicial branch
Superior Courts
Deal with civil cases of more than $10,000
More serious criminal cases
Jury trials
Voted on by district (Governor can up to 15 special superior court judges as needed)
Eight year terms
District Courts
Judge decides verdict
No jury
Usually civil cases or misdemeanors
At least one per district (more depending on population) voted for four year terms

9. Appellate Courts Appellate courts
Look at questions regarding state law
All decisions are final unless overruled by the NC or US Supreme Court,

10. budget
North Carolina begins their Fiscal Year on July 1, runs until June 30 of following year
General Assembly adopts Biennial Budget; every two years in Odd Numbered Years
May Revise, or change, the Budget during Even # Years
Begins w/Governor
MUST PASS A BALANCED BUDGET---Significance?
How? Raise additional revenue, spend money from savings (ha!), cut spending, or a combination of all 3
Local Gov’t must pass budgets as well, not necessarily balanced

11. Structure of NC constitution
Similar to U.S. Constitution in structure
NC Constitution includes:
-Preamble
-Bill of Rights
-Outline of the Framework of Government
-Listing of State Powers & Responsibilities
-Provision for Local Government
-Methods of Amending the Constitution
How many Constitutions has NC had?
Three! 1776, 1868,1971

13. “Creature of the state”
Local government
“Creature of the state”

14. Local Government Two basic types: Counties & municipalities
Different responsibilities
Counties-100 in NC, colleges, education, jails, health services, social services, tax assessment
Municipalities-cemeteries, Gas & Electric, streets, traffic control, urban development
Local government- “creature of the state”
Both-economic development, law enforcement, emergency services, waste collection

19. County commissioner-system
Voters
Elect
Commissioner
for Public Safety
Commissioner
for Public Works
Commissioner
for Finance
Commissioner
for Parks and Recreation

20. Activities Constitution Comparison Scavenger Hunt
You Be The Justice Activity!
I will split you into groups of 3, then you will work on the Scavenger Hunt 1st. The U.S. Constitution is in your text, beginning on Page 94.
NC Constitution (1971 Version) Link is under Branches of Government Tab on Class Website, under Classwork
Once you finish the Scavenger Hunt, we move to the Justice Activity, in which each group is provided a Scenario & then you make a ruling on it.