1. North Carolina’s Constitution and Government

2. What is the purpose of the North Carolina Constitution?
Why do we need one when we have a U.S. Constitution?
Take a few minutes to think about your answer…and we will discuss.

3. What does the N.C. Constitution do?
• It gives our citizens political rights such as the right to vote.
• It establishes organization and structure.
• It allows government to provide certain public services. (schools, public safety)
• It allows government to tax. (to pay for public services)
• It requires government to respect the citizens of the state and their opinions.
• It gives government and citizens the right to amend it.

4. Why is the Preamble to the NC Constitution important?
• It acknowledges the state’s purpose in “the preservation of the American union.”
• It recognizes “civil, political, and religious liberties.”

5. What is the Declaration of Rights?
Unlike the Constitution of the United States, whose Article I discusses legislative power, the NC Constitution’s Article I is a Declaration of Rights.
Adopted in 1776
This Declaration of Rights has 37 sections and provides for such things as “the equality and rights of persons,” “the sovereignty of the people,” and “rights of the accused.”

6. NC GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE BRANCH: CARRIES OUT THE LAWS.
GOVERNOR: THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE STATE AND ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF N.C. TO A 4 YEAR TERM.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: STATE’S SECOND HIGHEST EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
ONLY ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO HAS POWERS IN BOTH LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE BRANCHES OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
Has power to break a tie vote in Senate

7. Pat McCrory– GOVERNOR OF NORTH CAROLINA

8. LT. GOVERNOR OF N.C. Dan Forest

9. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH The legislative branch creates laws or (statutes).
The legislative branch has two houses (the senate and the house of representatives) called the GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Each legislator represents a district
What is the Legislative Branch in the Federal Government referred to as?

10. LOCAL GOVERNMENT The state is divided into counties
Each county has a county board of commissioners.
The residents in that county elect the commissioners.
They may serve up to two four year terms. (who else can serve up to 2 – 4 year terms?)
Example: handle requests to change zoning regulations.

11. North Carolina County Map – divided into counties

12. Another level of local government
City Government
2 types
1. Council-Manager: an elected city council is responsible for making policy, adopting ordinances and approving a budget
2. Mayor-Council: The mayor represents the city and is not a member of the city council. The city council makes the laws for the city.
**In both systems the city council sets policy, enacts laws and adopts the city’s yearly budget.

13. Terms…
Alderman: represents city districts and works with the Mayor to run the city government.
Township: Subdivision of a county
Metropolis: set of adjacent municipalities that function together as one
Example: Charlotte and surrounding towns form a metropolis.
Charter: A document that gives a city or town authority to act as a local government and explains how a city or town will be governed
Incorporation: The creation of a new town or city by act of the General Assembly.
Ordinance: regulation enacted by a city government.
Examples: noise control, human rights matter

14. Law Enforcement
Sheriff: county’s highest elected law enforcement officer. Oversee jail, provide courthouse security and transporting prisoners.
Chief of Police: commanding officer of the city’s police department. This is an appointed position.

15. Things to remember… N.C. became a state in 1789
The Constitution sets up a structure of state and local government.
Has many features as the Federal Constitution, such as separation of powers, preamble and checks and balances.

16. THE GOVERNOR & STATE ADMINISTRATION

17. What does the Governor do?
Elected to a 4 year term (NC Constitution limits the Governor to two consecutive terms)
He/she appoints key state officials and works with state agencies and administers the state budget.
The Governor has an appointed cabinet (Who else has an appointed cabinet?)
The Governor can grant clemency and pardons and has sole authority in this process.
The Governor can veto legislation passed by the General Assembly.
The Governor represents North Carolina.

18. What does the Lt. Governor do?
• North Carolina elects a Lieutenant Governor for a four-year term.
• The Lt. Governor succeeds the Governor if necessary.
• The Lt. Governor presides as President of the Senate.
• This individual may or may not work closely with the Governor.
Elected separately from the governor

19. Council of State (Please draw this graph)
Position
Duties

20. What is the Council of State?
The Council of State is composed of the Governor, the Lt. Governor, and eight other individuals elected by NC voters at the state level.
-This is different than the governor’s cabinet. Cabinet is appointed, Council of the state is elected.

21. Council of State
o Attorney General: Oversees the Department of Justice, which provides legal advice and representation to state government departments and agencies, protects consumers, and runs the State Bureau of Investigation.
o Commissioner of Agriculture: Oversees agricultural research and the safety of agricultural products.

22. Council of State
o Commissioner of Insurance: Regulates the state’s insurance companies
o Commissioner of Labor: Regulates worker safety and employment
o Secretary of State: Facilitates the state’s business activities and manages the state’s official records

23. Council of State Continued…
o Superintendent of Public Instruction: Oversees NC’s public school system
o State Auditor: Reviews (audits) the performance of other state departments
o State Treasurer: Manages NC’s money $$$$
All of these individuals serve four-year terms and appoint staff within their own agencies.
• Each of these individuals acts under policies and procedures decided by the General Assembly and decides how to carry out these practices.
• The Council of State acts independently of the Governor, the Lt. Governor, and one another, so conflict is possible.

24. Structure of City Government of Charlotte
Mayor – Patsy Kinsey
City Council- 11 Member
Courts
Remember,
Charlotte is a Weak mayor council system
Mayor: Patsy Kensey

25. COUNCIL OF STATE – ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE
GOVERNOR’S CABINET – APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR (ex. Secretary of Correction/Prisons, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Health & Human Services)

26. Incorporation: The process by which a state establishes a new city.
Important Terms…
Incorporation: The process by which a state establishes a new city.
Charters give cities a license to be a city
When a community is not incorporated, it is governed by the county.

27. Important Terms…
Gerrymandering: The deliberate redrawing of district lines to the advantage/disadvantage of a party or group.
Concentrate the opponent’s voters
Spread opponent’s voters as thinly as possible
**The word "gerrymander" is named for the Governor of Massachusetts Elbridge Gerry and is a blend of his name with the word "salamander” which was used to describe the appearance of a tortuous electoral district pressed through the Massachusetts legislature in 1812.

29. Annexation: taking possession of territory if. (in N. C
Annexation: taking possession of territory if. (in N.C. the state allows municipalities to annex w/o voter approval)
Political Corruption: the use of public office for private gain.
Examples: bribery, corruption

30. Cities & Metro Areas America’s Rural –Urban Shift
A. 1790: 5% of Americans lived in cities; today over 80% of people live in metropolitan areas.
B. Caused by the Industrial Revolution
C. Inventions lessened the need for labor on farms
Examples: Textile Machinery, Seed Drill
Picture of a Seed Drill

31. City Planning A. Most American cities developed in a haphazard way.
B. Many cities form a planning commission to make order out of the mess
C. Zoning: A process where cities assign specific areas of the city (residential, commercial and industrial)

32. Suburbs
Cars & Freeways had the effect of allowing people to move outside the city limits.
Businesses and money followed them leaving poorer city districts

33. Structure of Local Government

35. 4 Different Structures
1. Mayor-Council (Weak Mayor): The mayor has equal voting power with all members of council. Their vote may act as a tie breaker.
*Earliest structure of American City Government from Colonists

36. Mayor-Council (Strong Mayor): Mayor has veto power on the decisions of the Council. They also appoint city officials and have power over the city budge.
When cities changed from weak to strong mayor it led to corruption in some places.
Most famous case in NY – Tammany Hall from 1850’s – 1930’s.

37. 3. Commission: Each council member is in charge of a different city department. The mayor’s vote carries the same weight as each of the Commissioners’ votes.

38. 4. Council-Manager: In cities with a council manager plan, a manager is appointed by the city council to run city departments. The mayor leads the city politically and the manager directs the city’s daily operations.
Ex: Oklahoma City, OK.

39. Writing Prompt
*In your opinion, which structure of local Government is most efficient? Please explain your answer. 
* Please describe one advantage/disadvantage for each type of city government.

40. State & Local Services

41. Department of Health & Human Services
20% of state’s budget
Handle aging, child development, mental health and social services

42. Parks & Recreation
Part of N.C. Department of Environment & Natural Resources
Preserves all state parks & recreation areas

43. Department of Transportation
Plans, constructs, maintains & operates the N.C. transportation system.
Includes aviation, ferries, buses, railroads & highways
Also, driver’s licenses & registration

44. Other State & Local Services
Education (public schools)
Largest part of the state budget
Public Safety
Public Welfare (financial assistance)
Consumer Protection (commercials)
Regulate Business & commerce w/in the State

45. State & Local Services

46. Registrar of Deeds
Elected by citizens of the county for a 4 year term.
Serves as manager of public records
Examples: deeds, powers of attorney, maps, issues marriage licenses & birth & death certificates

47. N.C. Landmark Supreme Court Cases
State v. Mann (1829)
A lower court convicted a slave owner, John Mann of killing one of his slaves. The N.C. Supreme Court overruled the conviction.
Supreme Court Decision
Slave owners could not be guilty of murder for killing their slaves, because slaves were considered property.

48. N.C. Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Leandro v. North Carolina: 1997
This case considered whether the state’s distribution of funds among school districts was sufficient and fair.
Families from five poorer, largely African American counties originally filed suit.
Supreme Court Decision
All North Carolina children have a right to the “equal opportunity to receive a sound basic education”.

49. N.C. Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg
About the CMS school district and subject of school busing.
SUPREME COURT DECISION
1971- CMS district became the first to undergo court-ordered busing to desegregate classrooms.

50. Reforming & Amending
Local act: law limited in application to a particular county or city
Example: Ordinance
Initiative: A process by which a certain number of qualified voters sign petitions in favor of a proposal, which goes directly to the ballot.
Citizens in 17 States can use an initiative to propose amendments to State constitution.
This could be anything from Marriage laws to Alcohol laws.

51. Referendum: A process by which a legislative measure (law or bill) is referred to the State’s voters for final approval or rejection, put forth by the Governor or General Assembly. *** (direct popular vote)
1. Two types
A. Mandatory: requires the legislature refer the measure to the voters (people).
Example: Amendments to the State Constitution, Borrowing Money
B. Optional: Legislature voluntarily offers measure to voters. Issues are usually “hot potato” issues. These are issues that politicians themselves would rather not take responsibility for deciding themselves
Example: School Bonds

52. Which box does not have a characteristic of a Referendum?
Direct Popular vote on an issue of Public Policy.
Often used at the National level.
Vote on constitutional amendments put forth by the General Assembly or Governor.
Middle Box

53. Review…
Which state agency is the largest in the state of North Carolina?
A. Department of Health & Human Services
B. Division of Parks and Recreation
C. Registrar of Deeds
D. Department of Transportation
Answer: A