This document provides an overview of state and local government in North Carolina. It describes the legislative, executive, and judicial branches at the state level. It also discusses local laws, sheriffs, annexation, zoning, important court cases around education funding and slavery, and how state and local governments are structured and their powers. Key topics covered include the role of the governor, general assembly, city councils, differences between state and local laws, and the powers and duties of sheriffs.

1. State and Local Government
What YOU NEED to Know!

2. Legislative Branch
NC General Assembly is similar to
Congress
Lawmaking ability
Made up of a House of Representatives and a
Senate
Representation is based upon districts

3. Executive Branch
Governor is similar to the President
Job is to enforce laws
Can exercise veto power
 Governor has power President does not have called
Line Item Veto (Gov. can cross out/veto a part of a
law but does not have to veto the entire thing)
 Have an appointed cabinet to help advise them
Governor also has a group of elected
department heads to advise him
Council of State
• Elected by citizens in the general election

4. State and Local Laws
A State Law is a Statute
Enforced by state law enforcement such as SBI or
Highway Patrol
Also enforced by county sheriffs and city police
A Local Law is an Ordinance
Enforced by county sheriff and/or city police
Sheriffs are the primary law enforcement for a
county
City police are the primary law enforcement for cities

5. The Sheriff
Sheriff is an elected executive branch
position (enforces laws)
In charge of County Jails
In charge of Schools
Chief law enforcement officer for a county

6. Annexation
Taking county land and incorporating it
into an existing city
To make city bigger (area and population)
Increase tax base for city
Citizens often oppose because it raises
their taxes (they now have to pay city
taxes, too)
People can move if they are too opposed

7. Zoning
Rules for land use
City Council either acts as the Zoning Board or
appoints a Zoning Board
Types of Zoning
Residential: only houses
Commercial: only businesses (Stores/Restaurants)
Industrial: factories and warehouses
You do not want a factory in the middle of your
neighborhood
Zoning ensures that does not happen

8. Leandro v. State of North Carolina
Counties and Schools do not receive
equal funding
A group of parents and schools sued the state
saying that it was not fair (students could not get an
equal education with less money)
State Supreme Court ruled that a citizen
is entitled to an adequate, but not equal
education
Adequate education is measured by EOC scores
 Students must score at least a Level III to be
receiving an “adequate education”

9. State of NC v. Mann
Man beat and shot his slave (he lived)
and was charged with assault and fined $5
NC State Supreme Court ruled that Mann
could not be punished for beating his own
“property”
NC Declaration of Rights states that “no man
shall be deprived of his property”
Determined that NC Constitution is Supreme Law
of NC and he could not be convicted of assaulting
property

10. State of NC v. Mann
Man beat and shot his slave (he lived)
and was charged with assault and fined $5
NC State Supreme Court ruled that Mann
could not be punished for beating his own
“property”
NC Declaration of Rights states that “no man
shall be deprived of his property”
Determined that NC Constitution is Supreme Law
of NC and he could not be convicted of assaulting
property