State

1
State Local Government
2
Problems with state constitutions.unnecessary
details, burdensome restrictions, repetition,
outdated..

• length most are between 15,000 40,000 words
  Alabama 340,000 words!!
• -- distrust of govt details to prevent
  misuse of power
• -- failure to separate fundamental law from
  statutory law
• NY 56,326 words

3
..whats the difference?

• Fundamental law laws of basic and lasting
  importance
• stuff that shouldnt change much
• Statutory law passed by legislature
• .. day to day stuffffff

4

• age - 33 states have const. more than 100 years
  old 19 still have the const. they entered the
  union with
• NY has had 5 constitutions
• 1777, 1821, 1846, 1894, the current one
  adopted in 1938

5
State Legislatures

• Aka general assembly, legislative assembly,
  general court
• Law-making body
• All bicameral except Nebraska
• - upper house Senate
• - lower house House of Representatives,
  Assembly, General Assembly, House of
  Delegates
• NY Senate - 62 members
• Assembly - 150 members

6
How are state legislaltors elected?

• Legislator person who serves on the
  legislature
• Elected by the people from districts within the
  state

NY state senate districts
NY state assembly districts
7
How are districts drawn??

• Districts are drawn by legislators
• - redrawn every 10 years census
• Are supposed to be drawn on basis of population
  equality
• Legislators represent people, not trees or
  acres

8
What is gerrymandering?

• The deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of
  congressional districts to influence election
  outcomes

Elbridge Gerry 1812 Massachusetts governor
9
What is the purpose of gerrymandering?

• to either concentrate opposition votes into a few
  districts to gain more seats for the majority in
  surrounding districts
• -- packing
• or to diffuse minority strength across many
  districts --dilution

10
Isnt that illegal???
Kinda sortof, but, not exactly..
Groups are watching http//www.fairvote.org
11
What formal qualifications do most states set
out for legislators?

• Age, citizenship, residency
• - in most states reps at least 21, senate
  at least 25
• - NY assembly senate - 18
• - resident of NY for 5 years of
  district 12 months prior to election

12
What is the usual term?

• 2 or 4 years
• - in most states senate serves longer than
  lower house
• - NY both houses serve 2 year terms

Do they make a lot of money???
13
Hmmmmm.lets see..

• Legislative salaries per state

14
What are eight of the most important legislative
powers of state legislatures?

• tax, spend, borrow, police, establish courts,
  define crimes and provide for their punishment,
  regulate commercial activities, maintain public
  schools

15
What are three non-legislative functions of state
legislatures?

• executive approve governors appointments
• judicial impeachment
• constituent constitution-making and amending

16
How does the committee system work?

• laws are referred to committees for
  recommendations to full houses
• - similar to Congress
• From where do a large number of bills originate?
• variety of public and private sources
• ex- officers agencies of state local govt
• - interest groups, private citizens

17
Direct Democracy at the state level

• Initiative, referendum, recall
• Allow citizens to become directly involved in
  their government by drafting and voting on laws
  or by removing elected officials

18
Initiative

• Allows citizens to propose laws amendments and
  place them on the ballot for a vote
• Most commonly used
• form of direct
• democracy

19

• Referendum
• Provides for a popular vote on laws passed by the
  legislature
• Recall
• Allows citizens to remove elected officials from
  office

20
What is the structure and functions of county
government?

• County major unit of local govt in most states
• Structure
• County board governing body
• Boards or commissions
• Appointed officials
• Elected officials

21

• Functions
• Administration of state county laws
• Maintaining roads, jails, schools, collecting
  taxes to fund services

Hmmmmlets see..
Towns, etc in Orange County
22
What does a town government do??

• Delivers services provide by county city govts
  in other areas
• Usually includes rural and urban areas
• Governed by an elected board

23
What is a special district?

• Performs govt functions at the local level
• Run by an elected board
• Ex school district, fire district

24
How does a place become a city?

• Can be established as a city by the state through
  the process of incorporation
• Need certain population
• Needs a charter citys basic law or
• constitution