STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Chapter 4 OConnor and Sabato American
Government: Continuity and Change Slide 2 STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT In this chapter we will cover 1.The Evolution of State
and Local Governments 2.Grassroots Power and Politics 3.State
Governments 4.Local Governments 5.Relations with Indian Nations
6.Finances Slide 3 The Evolution of State and Local Governments
Governance in the United States is by multiple authorities.
Sometimes they work together, other times they seem to work at
cross purposes. At independence, the thirteen colonial governments
became states tied together in a loose confederation under the
Articles. They formed a federal union in the late 1780s in order to
address the weakness of the confederative model. States create and
determine the powers of local governments in our system. Slide 4 In
1962, the Supreme Court forced the states to redistrict and become
more representative of the states population. In Baker v. Carr, the
Court applied the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause to
voters. The ruling of one man, one vote required that legislatures
redistrict so that all districts have an equal number of
constituents. The Evolution Continued Slide 5 During the 1960s and
1970s, the national government added to the responsibilities of the
state and local governments. Federal programs to fight poverty,
promote urban renewal, and protect the environment were
administered at the state and local levels. The Evolution Continued
Slide 6 In the 1990s, the clear message was that state and local
governments were increasingly important. States, cities, and local
governments are taking bold initiatives and establishing direct
ties with each other and with other countries to spur economic
growth. Governors have become important national actors. State
legislators, county officials, city managers, and other officials
now travel the globe promoting the interests of their constituents.
The Evolution Continued Slide 7 Grassroots Power and Politics Most
small towns have a local dynasty--some big towns have them, too.
State politics, and particularly local politics, are often more
personal, non-partisan, and issue- oriented than national politics.
A full understanding of what happens at the grassroots includes an
appreciation of local elites, local issues, local news media, and
issue-specific organizations through which local and state
governments make and implement policies. Slide 8 State Governments
The primary responsibilities of state governments are: education
public health transportation economic development criminal justice
the licensing and regulation of professions (teachers, social
workers, doctors, lawyers, barbers/stylists, architects, etc.)
Additionally, states have become more active in welfare and
environmental issues both on their own and as administrators of
national programs. Slide 9 Slide 10 State Constitutions State
constitutions generally limit the powers of the state governments.
After the Civil War, the states of the South were forced to adopt
new constitutions acceptable to the victorious North. Often these
constitutions gave significant powers to former slaves and
disenfranchised the traditional elites. After Reconstruction, these
states adopted yet newer constitutions reflecting white distrust of
power and providing for weak governments. Slide 11 Western states
also chose weak governments. Many Western states allow voters to
enact legislation through initiatives and recall elections to
remove officials from office. The trend has been to strengthen
state governments so that they can more effectively deal with
important issues. Terms of governors have been lengthened, and they
have been given additional authority over spending. Legislatures
have become full-time with more adequate pay, and courts were
strengthened. State Constitutions Slide 12 Governors Governors are
the chief executive officers of the states. They have both
ceremonial and policymaking roles. In most states, governors:
propose the budget have veto authority have appointment powers have
power to pardon someone who has been convicted of a crime can
commute sentences, grant parole, and extradite individuals Slide 13
State Legislatures All states except Nebraska have bicameral
legislatures. By 1999, twenty states limited the number of terms a
legislator could serve. The limits range from six to twelve years.
State legislatures are still primarily part- time bodies. There is
abundant turnover-- over 25% of seats each election. Slide 14 Slide
15 State Courts The primary function of courts is to settle
disputes. Criminal behavior, family law, contracts, and land use
are all issues for state law and state courts. State court judges
are are usually elected to the bench for a specific term. Sixteen
states have partisan elections to the bench, another sixteen states
hold nonpartisan elections. Six states use gubernatorial
appointments. The remaining states use the Missouri Plan in which
the governor selects appointees from a list prepared by an
independent panel. Slide 16 Slide 17 Elections Elections are the
methodology for determining who will direct the institutions of
state government. Highly partisan however, campaigns are usually
centered on individual candidates. Slide 18 Slide 19 Patterns of
Party Competition in State Legislatures Slide 20 Slide 21 Direct
Democracy Direct initiative: The process in which voters can place
a proposal on a ballot and enact it into law without involving the
legislature or the governor. Indirect initiative: The process in
which the legislature places a proposal on a ballot and allows
voters to enact it into law without involving the legislature or
the governor. Slide 22 Local Governments Formed by a chartera
document that specifies basic procedures, politics, and
institutions of any local municipality. Similar to a constitution.
Counties: subdivisions of every state except Connecticut and Rhode
Island. Towns: government in which everyone is invited to an annual
meeting for elections, budget discussions, etc. Municipalities:
villages, towns, and cities Special Districts: school districts,
etc. Slide 23 Types of Charters for Local Governments Special
Charters General Charters Classified Charters Optional Charters
Home Rule Charters Slide 24 Executives and Legislatures Local
governments have some or all of the following decision-making
positions: Elected executive: mayor, village president. Elected
council or commission: city council, school board, county board.
Appointed manager: city manager, school superintendent. Slide 25
Slide 26 Relations With Indian Nations Treaties between the
national government and Indian nations directly affect thirty-four
states. The status of Indian tribes today is that of domestic
dependent nations. The national government has ceded authority to
the states, except for several specific areas such as gaming and
criminal behavior. The two most important features of
federal-tribal relations for state and local governments are land
rights and treaty provisions for hunting, fishing, and gathering.
Slide 27 Slide 28 Finances Unlike the national government, states
and localities must balance their budgets. States receive as much
as 25% of their funds from Washington, D.C. Local governments get
as much as 15% of their money from the federal government.
Different governments depend on different taxes and fees for
revenue. States rely primarily on income and sales taxes. Local
governments tend to rely on property taxes and some sales tax
income. Both local and state governments levy users fees for parks,
hunting licenses, tuition, and so on. Slide 29 Slide 30 State and
Local Tax Burdens
