This document provides information about the structure and principles of North Carolina's state government. It discusses the three branches of NC and local government (legislative, executive, judicial). It also explains the key principles of popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, and checks and balances. Examples are given of how these principles are reflected in the NC Constitution. The roles and locations of different government bodies like the legislature, governor, and courts are outlined at the state and local levels.

1. Goal 3
State Government

2. Principles and Breakdown
of the N.C. Constitution

3. Similar Principles
• Copy the Explanations for
– Popular Sovereignty
• The people are the source of governmental power
(We the People)
– Limited Government
• The gov’ts power is restricted by the Constitution
and the Bill of Rights
– Separation of Powers
• Dividing the powers of the government between 3
branches so no branch has too much power
– Checks and Balances
• When each branch of government restricts
another branch from doing something wrong
(keeping a watch over each branch)

4. Which Principle is this?
“All political power is vested
in and derived from the
people…”
• Popular Sovereignty
• Article 1, Section 2

5. Which Principle is this?
“The people of this State have the inherent, sole,
and exclusive right of regulating the
government…and of altering or abolishing their
Constitution…whenever it may be necessary to
their safety and happiness.”
• Limited Government
• Article 1, Section 3

6. Which Principle is this?
“The legislative, executive, and
supreme judicial powers of the
State government shall be
forever separate and distinct
from each other.”
• Separation of Powers & Checks
and Balances
• Article 1, Section 6

7. Find the Locations
• Of the Preamble
• Bill of Rights/Declaration of
Rights
• Legislative Branch
• Executive Branch
• Judicial Branch
• Amendments

8. The Preamble
• U.S.
Constitution
–Beginning of
Document
• N.C.
Constitution
–Beginning of
Document

9. Bill of Rights/Declaration of Rights
• U.S.
Constitution
–Amendments
1-10
• N.C.
Constitution
–Article I

10. Legislative Branch
• U.S.
Constitution
–Article I
• N.C.
Constitution
–Article II

11. Executive Branch
• U.S.
Constitution
–Article II
• N.C.
Constitution
–Article III

12. Judicial Branch
• U.S.
Constitution
–Article III
• N.C.
Constitution
–Article IV

13. Amendments
• U.S.
Constitution
–Added to
end of
document
• N.C.
Constitution
–Written into
document

14. The 3 Branches of the N.C.
and Local Governments

15. Legislative
(makes the laws)
• State Level (N.C.)
– The General
Assembly
• Senate
• HoR

16. • County
(Mecklenburg
County)
– Board of
Commissioners
Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (pictured left to right)
Front row: Vilma Leake (District 2), Harold Cogdell, Jr. (Vice-Chairman, At-
Large), Jennifer Roberts (Chairman, At-Large), Dan Murrey (At-Large), Karen
Bentley (District 1).
Back Row: George Dunlap (District 3), Dumont Clarke (District 4),
Bill James (District 6), Neil Cooksey (District 5).

17. • City/Town (City of
Charlotte)
– City Council / Town
Council

18. Executive Branch
(carries out the Laws)
• State (N.C.)
–Governor &
Lieutenant
Governor
Governor Bev Purdue

19. • County
(Mecklenbu
rg County)
–County
Manager Harry Jones – County Manager

20. • City/ Town
(City of
Charlotte)
–Mayor
Mayor Anthony Foxx

21. Judicial Branch
(interprets the laws)
• State (N.C.)
–State Supreme Court
Goodson Brady Martin Chief
Justice
Sarah
Parker
Edmunds Newby Hudson

22. • County
(Mecklenbur
g County)
–District
Court

23. • City/Town (City of
Charlotte)
–District Court

24. Qualifications for State Officials
• House of Representatives
(120 members)
–Age: 21
–Residency: Citizen and
Resident of NC for 1 year
–Length of Term: 2 yrs.
–Term Limit: None

25. Qualifications for State Officials
• Senate (50 members)
–Age: 25
–Residency: Citizen and
Resident of NC for 2 year
–Length of Term: 2 yrs.
–Term Limit: None

26. DISCUSS:
• Do you think it is more
prestigious to be a N.C.
Senator or N.C. House
Representative? Why?

27. Qualifications for State Officials
• Governor/Lieutenant
Governor
–Age: 30
–Residency: Citizen 5 yrs. and
Resident of NC for 2 years
–Length of Term: 4 yrs.
–Term Limit: 2 terms

28. Qualifications for State Officials
• State Supreme Court
–Age: 21
–Residency: Citizen and
Resident of NC
–Length of Term: 8 yrs.
–Term Limit: unlimited

29. The NC Executive Branch
Enforce the Laws

30. Governor President
30 yrs./ Citizen for 5 yrs Age/
Citizenship
35 yrs/ Natural Born Citizen
4 yrs/ 2 terms consecutively
Term Length/
Term Limit 4 yrs./ 2 terms
Legislative Leader
Commander-in-chief
Chief of State
Chief Executive
Judicial Leader
Roles
Legislative Leader
Commander-in-chief
Chief of state
Chief executive
Judicial Leader
Party Leader
Chief Diplomat
Line-item Veto
Veto
Powers Veto (all or nothing)

31. Characteristics of the
Weak Mayor Council
• Mayor is selected by the city
council rather than elected
by the people
• Mayor’s powers are usually
limited
• City councils generally
possess both legislative and
executive authority
• Executive department heads
are elected by the citizens
not appointed by the mayor
• There is no single
administrative head for the
city
• Designed for smaller cities
with simple governments
• Poorly suited for large cities
where political and
administrative leadership is
vital.
Characteristics of the
Strong Mayor Council
• Mayor is elected directly
by the people and given
broad powers.
• City councils generally
possess only legislative
powers
• Department heads are
appointed by the mayor
• The mayor is the
administrative head of
the city.
• The system calls for a
mayor to be both a good
political leader and an
effective administrator.

32. The NC Judicial Branch
Interpret the Laws

33. Why do we need a Judicial Branch?
• DISCUSS: What does freedom of speech
mean?
– Does it protect verbal threats?
– Does it protect governmental protest?
– Does it protect student protest?
– Does it mean you can lie about somebody to harm
them?
• How do we know if freedom of speech allow
these things?
– Answer: The Judicial Branch

34. The “Supremacy Clause”
“This Constitution, and the Laws
of the United States…shall be
the supreme Law of the Land…”
-Article VI,
Section 2
• No other law or constitution is
more important than the U.S.
Constitution
• The Constitution is the supreme
law of the land.

35. THE U.S.
Constitution
Federal Laws
State Constitutions
State Statutes
(Laws)
County/City
Ordinances

36. According to the chart DISCUSS:
• If the North Carolina makes a law declaring
war on Canada and the U.S. Constitution
says it is a federal power to declare war, who
would win? (N.C. law or Constitution?)
• Who would win if Charlotte creates a law
allowing convicted felons to be bought and
sold as slaves and the 13th Amendment
abolished slavery? (Charlotte law or 13th
Amendment?)

37. Line-Item Veto V. Presidential
Veto
• Line-Item Veto:
The ability of a
Governor to veto parts
of a bill he/she disagrees
with and keep the parts
he/she agrees with
• Presidential Veto:
an “all or nothing”
decision. The president
must approve or reject
the entire bill

38. Strong Mayor V. Weak Mayor
• Strong Mayor: can
choose who will
head various city
departments on his
or her own
• Weak Mayor:
needs the approval
of the city council
to appoint
department heads
Pat McCrory
Former Mayor of Charlotte

39. State Government Agencies
• Government agencies belong to the Executive
Branch
• Exist to assist the Governor in carrying out the laws
created by the General Assembly
• Examples of Agencies:
– Department of Transportation (DOT): oversees most
transportation issues like speed limits and road repairs
– Department of Public Instruction (DPI): ensures that all
students receive an equal and fair education
– Board of Election (BOE): makes sure all elections are fairly
conducted

40. Initiative V. Referendum
• Initiative: when
the people start an
action in an effort to
propose a new law
• Referendum:
a way for
citizens to
approve or
reject a state
or local law.

41. Amending the NC Constitution
• To Propose an
Amendment: 3/5 of
the General Assembly
must approve of it
• To Ratify an
amendment: a
majority (51%) of the
citizens of NC must
approve of the
amendment in a vote

42. Gerrymandering
• Redrawing
district lines in
a state to favor
a particular
political party
– A way
politicians
cheat in order
to be elected!
12th District of Mel Watt

43. Annexation
• Annexing land means
that one city gains the
territory of another
town or city
• Annexation benefits
local government by
increases the amount
of revenue (taxes) the
city or town collects

44. constitutionality
• Deciding if a law or act of
government goes with or
against the Constitution.

45. judicial review
• Supreme Court’s power to
determine constitutionality
(Marbury v. Madison)

46. unconstitutional
• When a law or act of gov’t
goes against the Constitution
Ex:
–Segregation
–Prayer in school
–Poll tax
–Unreasonable searches

47. constitutional
• When a law or act of gov’t is in
line with the constitution
Ex:
–Search with probable cause
–Take private land if paid for and
for public use
–Deny the right to vote to 16 year
olds

48. Basic
Structure
of the
NC
Judicial
Branch

49. To be continued…