1. State and Local Government

2. State Constitutions All have: Most have amendments - Way to change it
Preamble
Bill of Rights
Articles - describe structure, powers
Most have amendments - Way to change it
legislature
initiative
constitutional commission
constitutional convention

3. Structure Similar to Nat’l Gov’t
Legislative Branch - most are part time
Executive Branch
Governor has line-item veto or amendatory veto
Judicial Branch
trial, appeals, supreme

4. Local Governments 4 Types County - largest subdivision of a state
Police, courts, jails
Assess property value for taxes
Keep records - death/birth
Elections and public health

5. Local Governments Township Special District - most common type
divides county for roads, police, water/sewage
Special District - most common type
provide specific service
schools
fire
water/sewer
parks

6. Local Governments Municipality village, town, city
people living close together need services - water, sewer, police/fire protection

7. Local Governments Forms of municipal governments
Council-Mayor (leg-exec separate)
Council-Manager → Manager hired by council, may have a mayor too (leg-exec separate)
Commission → 5-7 members head different depts (leg-exec combined)
potential issues?

8. Financing State and Local Govt
Limits on taxing power
Cannot tax interstate commerce
Cannot tax federal property
Cannot deprive people equal protection of the law
Tax Revenue
Excise
Sales
Regressive
Progressive
Proportional

9. Financing State and Local Govt
Other Revenue Sources
Bonds
Lottery
Intergovernmental Revenue
Federal Grants
Categorical-formula grants
Block Grants
Mandates

10. Financing State and Local Govt
Local Revenue Sources
Property tax - ⅔ of total local revenue
real v. personal property
Assessment
Market Value - what it sells for
Fees and fines

11. Local Govt Services Education Fire and police protection
Elected school board sets school policy
Fire and police protection
Water, sewage and sanitation
Trash collection
Libraries
Recreation
Transportation - mass transit → buses, trains, subway

12. Challenges Local Govt Face
City govt have diff. issues
Housing
Urban renewal
Shortages
Homelessness - may result from alcohol/drug abuse, criminal, mental illness, unemployment
Revitalization and Gentrification