This document summarizes the structure of government in North Carolina from the federal level down to local municipalities. It outlines the legislative, executive, and judicial branches at each level of government and provides details on representatives, terms, responsibilities, and websites for further information.

1. For use with section 13.1

2. Federalism
Legislative Executive Judicial
makes laws carries out, executes, enforces interprets laws
laws
Congress President Supreme Court
Washington, DC
Senate Executive Bureaucracy Appeals Courts
National /
Federal
House of Representatives District Courts
NC General Assembly Governor NC Supreme Court
Raleigh,
State
NC Senate Executive Bureaucracy
NC
NC House of NC Courts of Appeals
Representatives NC Superior Courts
City Council Mayor – City Manager NC District Courts
City (Municipalities)
Raleigh, NC
Local
County Commissioners County Manager County Courthouse
County Seat
County

3. State Legislature
 North Carolina General Assembly
 Makes state laws called statutes
 Two parts:
1. North Carolina House of Representatives
2. North Carolina Senate
 Being elected to the General Assembly is considered a
“part-time” job for which members receive a stipend

4. State Legislature
General NC House of
NC Senate Assembly Representatives
50 Number 120
25 Age 21
•live in NC at •live in district
least 2 years for 1 year
•live in district before the
Residency
for 1 year election
before the
election

5. State Legislature
General NC House of
NC Senate Assembly Representatives
2 years Term Length 2 years
none Term Limit none
1. Lieutenant 1. Speaker of
Governor the House
2. President
pro Leadership
tempore of
the Senate

6. NC General Assembly
NC Senate Leaders’ Responsibilities
1. Lieutenant Governor
 presides over meetings
 only votes if there is a tie
2. President pro tempore
 regular member of the senate
 chosen by senate members
 makes all key appointments (committees)
 presides over meetings when Lt. Governor is absent

7. NC General Assembly
NC House of Representatives Leader’s Responsibilities
1. Speaker of the House
 presides over meetings
 makes all key appointments (committees)

8. NC General Assembly
Responsibilities
1. Main Responsibility: Make Laws (statutes)
a) What purposes do statutes serve?
 To influence people’s behaviors; decides how much money
the state will spend; decides how it will be paid for,
including how much taxes will be collected
2. Oversight
 examines government operations to learn how well
current laws are working and if they need to be
changed

9. NC General Assembly
Responsibilities
3. Elects members of the UNC Board of Governors and
community college system
 chooses the individual who will lead the North
Carolina University system
4. Impeach and Removal
 judges and members of the Council of State suspected
of wrong doing may face formal accusation
(impeachment) and a trial based on the allegations

10. NC General Assembly
Sessions
1. “Long Session”
 odd-numbered years
 meets from January through June
2. “Short Session”
 even-numbered years
 begins late May and lasts about 6 weeks
 finishes up the work from the previous long session
3. Special Sessions
 as an emergency meeting called by the governor,
Speaker of the House or President pro tempore of the
Senate

11. Local Legislature
County Government Municipal Government
Board of Council or Board of
Commissioners
Commissioners (Raleigh City Council)
3-11 5-7
(Wake 7) Number (Raleigh 8)
•4 years
•staggered elections Term 2 years
every 2 years
•enacts laws •enacts laws
(ordinances)
(ordinances) •adopts
Responsibilities
•adopts county municipal
budget budget

12. Websites
1. North Carolina General Assembly
 http://www.ncleg.net/
2. Wake County
 http://www.wakegov.com/
3. Wake County Board of Commissioners
 http://www.wakegov.com/commissioners/boc/default.h
tm
4. City of Raleigh
 http://www.raleighnc.gov/
5. Raleigh City Council
 http://www.raleighnc.gov/home/content/LandGovernm
ent/Articles/CityCouncil.html