1. State and Local Government

2. NC State Constitution NC State Constitution Three NC Constitutions in our state history  Constitution of 1776- created the government for the new state when independence was declared - it was substantially amended in 1835  Constitution of 1868 - brought the state back into the Union after the Civil War with suffrage for all males over 21 - later amended in 1873 to discriminate against African Americans in many ways- no vote  Constitution of 1971- it reorganized the entire state government- it expanded the Council of State, and increased the Governor's budgetary authority. It required the General Assembly to reduce the more than 300 state administrative departments to 25 principal departments. It also allowed local gov’ts to collect property taxes to fund law enforcement & fire depts

3. NC Executive Branch  Governor (4 terms, serve only 2 consecutive terms)  Pat McCrory  Lieutenant Governor Dan Forrest Executive and legislative power President of state Senate Member of the Council of State  Cabinet Appointed positions

4. Governor’s Cabinet

5. Council of State Council of State  Executive advisory committee: create policy, oversee spending and conduct state’s business  Made up of the Governor & Lt. Governor  as well as 8 other elected positions each is elected to a 4 year term  Each in charge of some gov’t agency

6. Secretary of State- Elaine Marshall responsible for making sure businesses follow the rules. State Treasurer- Janet Cowell has sole authority to manage the state's $70 billion pension fund for state employees Superintendent of Public Instruction - June Atkinson oversees the curriculum & funding of the state’s public schools Attorney General- Roy Cooper heads the state's Dep’t of Justice, which oversees the State Bureau of Investigation and is responsible for defending the state in court

7. State Auditor- Beth Wood serves as the state's chief financial watchdog- makes sure state agencies get good values on contracts & spends $ as intended Agriculture Commissioner- Steve Troxler handles everything from farm product marketing to the NC Forest Service, State Fair & inspectors that ensure store scanners ring up purchases accurately Labor Commissioner- Cherie Berry responsible for enforcing workplace safety rules, inspecting elevators and carnival rides at all county fairs & at the State Fair Insurance Commissioner- Wayne Goodwin enforces insurance rules & regulations, investigates fraud cases, serves as state-wide fire marshal & licenses bail bondsmen

9. State Agencies  Boards, commissions, departments and offices in the executive branch  They assist in carrying out laws

10. Legislative Branch  General Assembly House of Representatives (120) Senate (50) Create laws or statutes All laws are subject to the due process clause in the US Constitution’s 14 th amendment and Bill of Rights

11. Local Governments Counties & Municipalities (cities & towns)  COUNTY 100 in NC Governed by boards of County Commissioners  Elected by county residents  May serve 2 or 4 year terms  Administer statewide programs  Make rules to meet citizens needs (Ex. zoning requests)  Sheriff- responsible for enforcement of laws in county

12. Local Government  COUNTY Register of Deeds  Elected by citizens of the county  4 year term  Manage public records/legal documents: deeds, deeds of trust, powers of attorney, maps of property  Issue marriage licenses, birth and death certificates

13. Local Government  Municipality (city or town) 1. Council-manager Plan  Elected city council makes policies, adopts ordinances and approves the budget  Mayor is a member & presiding officer of the council  City manager hired to actually run operations 2. Mayor-council Plan  Mayor represents city and is not a member of the city council

14. Local Government  CITY (municipality)  Metropolis  set of adjacent municipalities that function together as one (Ex. Charlotte) City Council  Make laws for the city Aldermen  Represent city districts and work with the mayor to run the city government Special Districts  Specialized services within the district, paid for by the taxes of its residents  School district  BOE

15. Local Government  School Board (Board of Education) Council of local school district members Elected by voters to usually 4 yr terms Influence policies about education in the district They appoint a superintendent to run school system

16. Local Government  Ordinance Regulation enacted by city government Usually quality of life stuff (noise control, trespassing and human rights) Local acts (ordinances and municipal codes) are limited to a particular county or city Referendum (direct popular vote on an issue)  Common at state and local levels

17. Local Government  TOWN/Townships Subdivision of a county

18. Local Law Enforcement  Sheriff (Sheriff’s deputies) County’s highest elected law-enforcement officer  Oversee jail  Provide courthouse security  Transport prisoners  Chief of Police Commanding officer of city’s police department Appointed position- by city council