State and Local Government Basics

  • Posted by: NiquelleAllen
  • Aug 14,2020
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Document Type: 
Training Materials

State and Local Government Primer

 

What Does The State/Local Government Do?

The Tenth Amendment declares, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." In other words, states have all powers not granted to the federal government by the Constitution. These powers have taken many different forms. States must take responsibility for areas such as:

  • ownership of property
  • education of inhabitants
  • implementation of welfare and other benefits programs and distribution of aid
  • protecting people from local threats
  • maintaining a justice system
  • setting up local governments such as counties and municipalities
  • maintaining state highways and setting up the means of administrating local roads
  • regulation of industry
  • raising funds to support their activities

KEY ELECTED STATE LEVEL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Governor- State’s Chief Executive

Lieutenant Governor- Succeeds the governor in office and presides over the senate.

Secretary of State - Takes care of public records and documents, also may have many other responsibilities.

Attorney General - Responsible for representing the state in all court cases.

Auditor - Makes sure that public money has been spent legally.

Treasurer - Invests and pays out state funds.

Superintendent of Public Instruction - Heads state

department of education.

Supreme Court Justices – Highest authority on State law.

State Legislators – Create state laws.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Refers to governmental jurisdictions below the level of the state. Most states have at least two tiers of local government: counties and municipalities. In some states, counties are divided into townships. There are several different types of jurisdictions at the municipal level, including the city, town, parish, borough, village, reservations and boundaries. The types and nature of these municipal entities varies from state to state.

KEY ELECTED LOCAL OFFICALS

-COUNTY EXECUTIVE

-MAYOR

-CHIEF OF POLICE

-COUNTY SHERRIF

-CITY ATTORNEY

-CITY COUNCIL

-COUNTY COUNCIL

-COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Resources

U.S. Governors: https://www.usa.gov/state-governor

Statewide Elected Officials: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._statewide_elected_officials

State and Local Government Officials: https://www.usa.gov/local-governments

Attorneys General: https://www.usa.gov/state-attorney-general

State and Local Election Officials: https://www.usa.gov/election-office

General Information on State and Local Government: https://votesmart.org/education/states#.XzX1NOhKjZs

 

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