Bellringer for 4-8-13

What do you think is the main job of city government?

Explain.

Local GovernmentChapter 13

City Government

Section 1

Created By The State

The U.S. Constitution does not mention the existence of local governments.

Local governments are created by and totally dependent upon the state.

Most states define a municipality as an incorporated place a locality with an officially organized government that provides services to residents.

Created By The State

New cities are added each year as urban communities incorporate.› Done by applying for a city charter a

document that grants power to a local government.

› Some states require a population minimum Many state legislatures have begun to grant

home rule to cities› This allows cities to write their own charters,

choose their own type of government, and manage their own affairs, although they still have to follow state laws.

Created By The State

Whether a city is called a city, town, or village depends on local preference or the charter specifications.

Most city governments provide the same basic services.› Law enforcement› Fire protection› Street repair› Water and sewage systems› Garbage pick-up› Parks and Recreation

The Mayor-Council Form

Power is divided between separate legislative and executive branches.

Voters elect a mayor and members of a city council.

Mayor is chief executive of the city and responsible for overseeing the operation of administrative offices.

Mayor often appoints heads of departments (public works, planning, police, roads, buildings)

The Mayor-Council Form

The Council acts as the city’s legislature, approving the city budget and passing ordinances (city laws).

Larger cities have larger councils Some cities are divided into voting

districts called wards.› Each ward elects a representative for their

district. In other cities, council members are

members-at-large.

The Mayor-Council Form

The powers of the mayors vary› Large cities strong-mayor system

Mayor has strong executive powers Veto of ordinances passed by city council Put together city budget

› Smaller towns weak-mayor system Power is limited Council appoints department heads

The Council-Manager Form

Seen in 1912 as a way to reform corrupt or ineffective mayor-council governments.

The city council appoints a manager› Recommends budget, oversees city

departments, and deals with personnel matters.

Smaller cities with managers often have council members elected in at-large elections› run city-wide elections rather than running by

district.

The Commission Form

Five commissioners are selected in citywide elections.

Each commissioner heads a major department› Police, fire, finance, health, and public works

Commissioners pick one of the members to serve as mayor

Issues with this form› No one person is in charge› Newly elected commissioners may not know much

about the departments they are now managing.

Special Districts

A special district is a unit of government that deals with a specific function, such as education, water supply, or transportation.

School districts are the most common form of special district.

A board or commission may be elected or appointed to run a special district.

Metropolitan Areas

A metropolitan area is a central city and its surrounding suburbs

Recognized by the U.S. Census when city and suburbs have a combined 50,000 residents

Some large metropolitan areas have created a council of governments.

Bellringer for 4-9-13

What are some difference between cities, towns, townships, and villages?

Explain.

County Governments

Section 2

Counties

When counties were mapped out in the South and West in the 19th Century, the idea was for the people in the further part of the county to be able to reach the county courthouse and back home by horse and buggy in the same day.

This is why Southern and Western states have so many small counties.

The towns where county courthouse is located is called the county seat.

County Government Functions

A board of three to five commissioners or supervisors govern most counties.

The board acts as a legislative body passing laws and ordinances, the annual budget, levying taxes.

In some counties, the board acts as only a legislative body and they select a manager.

County Government Functions

Separately elected officials runs some county administrative offices.› Sheriff chief law enforcement officer› District Attorney the county’s prosecutor

County Assessor examines all taxable property within the county and estimates how much it is worth.

Towns, Townships, and VillagesSection 3

Town Government

Americans use the word “town” for a small city The town form of government occurs in New

England states Within this form, colonists met regularly to

discuss issues that involved everyone in the majority

Town meetings an exercise in the direct democracy

Today in New England, residents come together once a year to discuss and vote upon issues in their communities.

Town Government

Each New England town elects a group of officials called “select men” to run local government

Many New England towns have replaced this direct democracy with representative democracy.

Township Governments

New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania were divided into townships› Smaller than New England towns but have

similar government. Townships in the Midwest

› Congress divided the land into perfect squares, usually 6 miles by 6 miles.

Most townships elect a township committee, board of supervisors, or board of trustees.

Village Government

The smallest unit of local protects that benefit the community government

Meetings occur when citizens are dissatisfied with something from a higher form of government.

Consists of a small board of trustees elected by voters

Village board has the power to collect taxes and spend money

Dealing with Community Issues

Chapter 14

How a Community Handles IssuesSection 1

Making Public Policy

Public Policy a general agreement among government leaders about how to deal with issues or problems that affect the entire community.

Ideas for public policy come from many sources› Party leaders› Interest groups› Members of the media› Private citizens

Ex. MADD

Planning for the Future

Many useful public policies try to foresee problems and prevent them.

Many local governments have planning commissions to deal with these issues.

Short-Term and Long-Term Plans

Short-term policy meant to be carried out over the next few years.› Ex. Granting a builder a permit to construct

apartments Long-term policy a broader, less

detailed policy mean to serve as a guide over the next 10, 20, or 50 years.

Infrastructure system of roads, bridges, water, and sewers.

Evaluating Prioritiesand Resources

Priorities the goals a community considers most important or most urgent.› A community must first decide what is

more important to have thriving commerce or a peaceful place to live.

Resources the money, people, and materials available t accomplish the community’s goals.

Creating a Master Plan

Master plan a document that states a set of goals and explains how the government will carry them out to meet changing needs over time.

Planning commission normally submits its plan to the government, which then decides whether to adopt it and use it as a guide.

Education and Social IssuesSection 2

Public Education

The writers of the U.S. Constitution left power over public education to the states.

1816, Indiana set up the first modern public school system

In most states today, elementary and high school education remains a local responsibility with state guidelines.

The Federal Government shares in only 10% of funding for public schools, but it imposes certain rules on school districts.

Public Education

In 2001, President George W. Bush signed “No Child Left Behind”

This law authorized $26.5 billion in federal spending on education, but also increased the rules that schools must follow.

The biggest issue facing state governments is providing a high quality education equally to all students.› The gap occurs between districts because many

districts depend heavily upon property taxes to fund schools

Challenges to Schools and Teachers

Low test schools High drop-out rate

Charter Schools

More than 30 states now permit the creation of charter schools

These schools receive state funding, but they are excused from meeting many public school regulations.

Opponents argue that this takes funds away from public schools and that better students will leave for charter schools

The Voucher Controversy

Tuition vouchers a kind of government money order.

Parents can use these vouchers to enroll their students in private schools.

Teacher’s unions oppose vouchers because they feel they funnel education funds out of the public school system.

Others argue this violates the First Amendment because vouchers can be used to pay tuition at religious schools.› Cleveland, Ohio, 95% of students on the voucher

program attend religious affiliated schools.

Privatization

Private companies contract with local districts to run the schools.

Businesses make a profit from the schools.

The Rise of Mass Testing

The 2001 federal education bill requires states to test all students in reading, math, and soon science.› ARMT

Supporters of these tests say this holds schools and teachers accountable, but many teacher organizations oppose such testing.

Crime

Crime rates are typically higher in large cities.

Police Forces› Urban police are the main crime-fighting

force in the country.› Every state has a force known as the

highway patrol or state police› Police enforce the law and keep peace in

communities.

Social Programs

Our government tries to help people who are ill, old, in poverty, and physically disabled with welfare programs

Critics of welfare claim it undermines self-respect among the poor and encourages dependency upon the government.

Defenders of welfare claim that it is the only way poorly educated, unemployed female heads of households and their children can avoid homelessness.

Social Programs

Payday loans Government Housing WIC Food Stamps

Environmental Issues

Section 3

The Emergence of Environmentalism

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)› Sets goals and standards for

environmental protection Solid waste technical name for

garbage Americans produce 250 millions tons of

solid waste each year.

Dealing with Solid Waste

Incineration› Smoke pollution

Recycling› Reusing old materials to make new ones

Conservation› The careful preservation and protection of

our natural resources

Hazardous Waste

Toxic byproducts of industry Radioactive waste from nuclear power

plants Runoff from pesticides Environmentalists estimate that only

10% of hazardous waste is disposed of properly

Protecting Air and Water

Water pollution factories producing chemical waste.

Federal regulation limit the kinds of waste a factory can discharge.

Cars and Trucks are the worst air polluters› Building improved public transportation

systems› Encouraging car pooling

Smoking is a source of indoor pollution