very handy civics

1. Do Now, Week 10, Day 2
How can the government of a city understand
better the needs of the city in comparison to the
government of the nation?

2. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
US Citizens are most affected by the government in their cities and towns. In the
United States, the states have the right to establish local governments. The local
governments' structure is determined by the states Constitution. Each local
government is made up of a municipality, a unit of local government under the state
government but with a large degree of self-government.

3. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
Using various forms of city government, municipalities provide a wide range of services
to their residents, while also planning for growth and development. Some of the
services included are education, welfare, roads and their maintenance, water supply,
electricity, sewage and garbage treatment, and public safety.

4. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
The highest level of local
government is the county. A County
is a division of a state
government formed to carry out
state laws, collect taxes and
supervise elections. In some states
the word county is substituted by a
synonym, such as parish, or borough.
Countys have their own legislative,
executive and judicial branch.

5. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
The county's legislative branch are
elected by the voters.
The county's executive branch normally are
not one sole individual, instead several county
officials have separate responsibilities. Some
examples of county officials are the county
manager, the county executive

6. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
A special type of county executive is the
sheriff.
The sheriff usually commands several deputies and an office
state. The sheriff and his deputies arrest lawbreakers and carry
out the orders of the county court. In many states the sheriff is
responsible for the law enforcement only in the areas of the
county outside of the urban area.

7. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
The duties of the local government
officials are outlined in a state-approved
charter. A charter is a basic plan of the
local government that defines its powers,
responsibilities and organization. Of
course, it must abide state and federal law.
Local governments are responsible for making their
own rules and regulations, they can pass
ordinances. Thus, an ordinance is a regulation for a
community. Ordinances can't also conflict state or
federal laws. Local governments also assist in
voting procedures.

8. Unit 3. Local Government
CLASSWORK
Draw conclusions: Explain in at least 5 full sentences,
why can local governments provide some services
more efficiently than state governments?
Research: Summarize who the following officials
are and what they do, and in what branch do they
work:
• County board
• Sheriff
• County clerk
• County treasurer
• County auditor
• District attorney

9. Do Now, Week 10, Day 2
What does a county clerk do?
What does a county treasurer do?
What is a district of attorney?

10. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
A town is a unit of local government
larger than a village, but smaller than a
city. Towns developed in the colonies
with the homes, the church and the
surrounding farmlands that fed the
town.

11. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
The early colonists created a simple, yet powerful, form of local government, the town
meeting. In a town meeting all citizens discuss the town issues, after the citizens have
expressed their opinions, they would all vote on the issues. All citizens had a direct
voice in the government, this is a form of direct democracy.
Town meetings were also held to elect
officials to manage the town affairs
between town meetings.
This form of government can work very
well but only in small populations, where
all voters can gather easily in one area.

12. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
In some states, land is often divided into other
smaller units. Two common divisions are
township and special districts.
Township
When the US expanded to the west, the Americans started to settle in wild, unsettled
areas. The Congress, at the time, divided the land into perfect squares of 6miles by 6
miles. As people settled into these areas, they set up their own government in them,
forming townships with their own elected officials for legislative, executive and
judicial branch.
Nowadays townships are rare since cities have taken most of the government
responsibilities.

13. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
Special District
A special district is a unit of government formed to meet different, specific,
specialized needs and services. They work separately from local governments. Some of
these needs are based on health, security... such as fire protection, roads, medical
care, libraries, public and national parks... A hospital can extend its district to several
towns, or even counties to supply aide.
Each areas pay taxes for the services received.

14. Do Now, Week 10, Day 2
What is a charter?
What is an ordinance?

15. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
A city is the largest kind of municipality. The size of a city can be very different.
Traditionally, cities receive their authority from the state legislature. However, some
states have granted cities what is called Home Rule. This means that cities can amend
their own charters, which needs to be approved by the voters.

16. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
A city's government can be organized in one of four ways: a mayor-council government,
a strong-mayor government, a commission government, or a council-manager
government.

17. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
The most common form of city government is the Mayor-Council government. In a
mayor-council government the City Council, elected by the members of the
municipality, oversees the legislative branch. The Mayor is the individual elected by
the members as chief executive of the city.
There are 2 types of Mayor-Council Governments: Strong and Weak.

18. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
Mayor-Council government: Weak-Mayor Plan
The weak-mayor plan was made to limit the power of the mayor, and most of the power
is given to the City Council. The mayor holds no formal authority and mostly holds a
ceremonial role. He cannot veto (or it may be limited), he cannot appoint or remove
officials, and most of his work is monitored by the city council. The executive power
of the mayor is mostly awarded to the council, and it's limited on the mayor.

19. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
Mayor-Council government: Strong-Mayor Plan
The most common form of mayor-council government is the Strong Mayor plan or
form. Under this form the Mayor holds the major role in running the city. In this case
the Mayor acts in the same role as the President does for the Federal-National level,
and the Governor does in the State level. He can veto ordinances, he can appoint
officers, he drafts budgets. He is the chief executive power.

20. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
The Commission form of government is a type of local government in which the voters
select a group of individuals to form a committee in charge of governing the city both
as executive and legislative powers. In many cases the departments of the city are
divided amongst the members of the commission.

21. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government
The Council-Management form of government is a type of commission government
with a city manager added. The council works as the legislative branch, and the city
manager assigned by the council works as the chief executive. As a chief executive he
can appoint officers, he can remove officers.

22. Do Now, Week 10, Day 2
Who decides the government of cities?

23. Unit 3. Local Government
Local Government

24. Do Now, Week 11, Day 1
Define the following:
• Bicameral
• Lieutenant Governor
• Chief Executive
• Patronage
• Reprieve
• Penal Code
• Gerrymandering
• Item Veto

25. Do Now, Week 11, Day 2
Define the following:
• County
• City Manager
• Mayor
• Township
• Town Meeting
• Ordinance
• Charter
• Home Rule