Transcript All Politics is Local” - Glacier Peak High School :: Home

“All Politics is Local”
Local Government Unit
Glacier Peak High School
Local Government in the USA
• To Govern: Lead, Guide, Rule, Command,
which term do you like?
• Which is closer to your experience?
• Many styles of Governments exist at the three
levels, Federal, State, and Local.
Federalism
• The concept of a nation composed of states
which voluntarily come together under a
national government. Each state takes care of
certain things, leaving other things to the
national (federal) government.
Think of our government as an umbrella.
Or rather, three or four umbrellas.
US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WASHINGTON STATE GOVERNMENT
SNOHOMISH COUNTY
CITY OF MONROE
FRED’S HOUSE
STARTING AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, EACH LAYER OF
GOVERNMENT HAS IT’S OWN
JOBS TO DO. ALL LEVELS AFFECT
OUR LIVES. AT THE BASE IS FRED
AND HIS FAMILY
JURISDICTION*
Who’s job is that? Or from the latin
“law pronouncer”
Fred makes the rules for his house, how about your house?
No that’s your job.
Who makes the rules for Monroe or Everett?
That’s their job, you and Fred stay out of it.
Snohomish county voters elect a council to make our county’s
ordinances ( laws)
King or Skagit county can’t make our rules and vice versa
Next the State of Washington Legislature makes law for all the counties
of the state.
Finally back in Washington DC we have congress who makes law that
covers every state, every county, city, town, household, and person.
Review
How many layers of government ?
Name them, starting from biggest.
Could some of you have more
levels of government than others?
Why or why not?
National Government Styles
• Dictatorship- Strong man-(ruler gives orders)
• Theocracy- Holy Book provides law
(“god” rules)
• Democracy- Rule by the People (people rule)
• Monarchy- King or Queen & family rule
• OligarchyGroup Rule (rule by committee)
• AnarchyNo government (really a phase)
• RepublicElected persons rule under law
(constitution)
What is the USA?
We are a Federal Republic.
Our government is described in and made
legal, by our constitution.
That document dates from the 1780’s.
The powers of government are assigned
and limited by that document. You have
heard of amendments to the constitution.
In over 220 years, we have changed it only
27 times.
How is the US Organized?
50 states Which are mini nations
• State governments look
much like the Federal
Government.
• All have 3 parts
• Legislative (Congress/State
legislature)
• Executive=
(President/Governor)
• Judicial (Supreme
Court/State Supreme Court)
Each State has counties and
cities of various sizes
• Counties duplicate State
and federal government
branches.
• Legislative=Council
• Executive= County Executive
• Judicial= Lower courts
So….. A quick review
One Federal Government in Washington DC,
50 State Governments all across North America,
The states placed themselves under that authority.
Hundreds of County Governments,
Dozens per state.
ALL SHARING THE 3 BRANCH MODEL
LEGISLATIVE
EXECUTIVE
JUDICIAL
The Foundation of our Republic,
Local Government
1)You and I as Citizens,
Agree to follow the Laws and Pay
our Taxes or pay the penalty.
2)Households,
Hold land by Rent or Ownership.
Mom/Dad are Legislature, Executive
and Judicial. (in the eyes of the law)
Households job is to raise kids who
know their Responsibilities and Rights.
Schools? Next section
3)Communities
Their job is to take care of local needs.
Schools, Fire Protection, Water, Etc.
The lowest actual codified law is at the
community level.
Heard of Neighborhood Covenants?
House Paint? Cars under Tarps?
How many Chickens can you have?
This is the stuff of Local Government.
Stories from your ‘hood?
Special Cases (4.Districts)
Snohomish School Dist # 201
In which fire district do you reside?
Districts are usually for a single
purpose ie, parks, drainage, sewer,
water. Can you name other DISTRICTS?
When you go to a Baseball Game can
you sue if you get hit by a hit ball?
Why or why not?
Districts are a function of Geography.
You decide where to live and travel.
Where you live decides what set of
rules you live under.
When can I have a fire in my yard?
Do I need to smog test my car?
Can I split my land into 4 lots to sell?
Local Government makes the call on
these questions and lots more.
5)Cities
are classified into categories by size
duh
Some cities are like states,
ie New York, Chicago
some are more like neighborhoods,
ie Sultan, Snohomish
City Government Types
Strong Mayor (Traditional)
• Council advises mayor, acts
as legislative body (passes
ordinances)
• Mayor is full time Executive,
appoints department heads,
Runs city day to day.
• Municipal Courts handle
traffic and minor criminal
cases.
Strong Council (City Manager)
• Council sets Policy, Appoints
Department Heads, acts as
Legislative Branch.
• Mayor is member of City
Council, job may rotate.
• May not have enough cases
for a court, so cases
handled by county courts.
• City Manager hired to run
day to day operations.
6)COUNTIES
These are the largest of the local
governments.
(any bigger and you’d be a state)
How are Counties Organized?
There are two main styles of county
government
County Council Model
• Council Elected by District,
Functions as Legislature.
• Separate County Executive
elected by whole county.
• Courts run by County, with
elected Judges.
• Snohomish County uses this
model.
Commissioner Model
• Commissioners run for
position by district, Are
legislature and executive
branch in one.
• Courts are like other model.
• Smaller counties use this
model.
Now you have an idea of how local
governments fit in with the big
picture. BUT………
What do Counties and cities do?
Couldn’t we just let the state or
Federal government do it all?
Local government has so many
responsibilities that it’s easier to
look at what local government
doesn’t do.
Can you name 5 things local
government doesn’t do?
Local Governments don’t……..
Control armies or navies
Print Money or Stamps
Negotiate treaties with other lands
write criminal law, build prisons,
regulate trade
or
chase smugglers
So what do we get for our tax $?
Counties provide roads, bridges, courts, jails,
county health workers, the Sheriff’s
department, a county courthouse for records
to be recorded, a county accessor to see that
tax values are fairly assigned.
They also staff planning and land use boards
to help organize growth and make sure roads
and ditches get built where people are living.
REVIEW- COUNTY SERVICES
What does the Sheriff do?
Traffic, Criminal Investigations, Courts, jail.
What about roads? Signs, stripes, Speed limits
County Roads Department.
How about Health? Disease statistics,
Immunizations, Food handlers permits,
Who inspects restaurants?
The health department.
Records like Births, Marriages, Deeds?
The County Clerk. Land use rules like zoning?
The County Planning Commission.
And counties supervise elections!
Each County has Commissions and
Boards to run and regulate our lives.
Examples are groups which monitor
and regulate drainage, noxious weeds,
air quality, and general planning of
land use. To get on a commission you
must run and be elected. To get on a
board, you may be appointed by
elected officials.
What about towns and cities?
Think county and you’ll be close.
Many cities have duplicates of county
services like police, courts, and road crews.
Cities commonly provide more personal
services such as water, garbage collection,
fire protection, and sewer treatment.
District Level Government
This level is the closest to you and
me on a daily level.
Districts are small geographic areas
that lump together in order to tax
the people to provide for a specific
service.
Can you name 5 district types?
DISTRICTS
School Districts,
Water Districts,
Fire protection, Libraries, Parks, Drainage,
Sewer, Flood control, Regional Air Quality,
Noxious weed control, and Electrification
districts among others.
How does all this affect me?
You want to buy a home. Your dream house??
Check the school district. What’s the sales tax?
What water system are they on?
Nearest hydrant? Do they fix the streets?
What about the police and fire?
Do they staff paramedics? EMT’s, taxi drivers?
Can we get a building permit to build a home or
business? What is the minimum lot size? Are we
on sewers or septic tanks? How many bedrooms
can I have?
Districts and how they are
organized.
All Districts have….
•
•
•
•
•
•
A specific geographic area to serve.
A specific purpose to exist. (limited jurisdiction)
A Board of Commissioners as Administration.
Employees to do the work.
Taxation authority from the state or county.
Regularly scheduled Public meetings & Elections.
Homework
• Visit the Snohomish county council website
and locate the who represents you search box.
• Enter your street address without using words
ie 1234 55
For each of 11 Districts that cover you, find
your Dist #.
A handout will list the districts to name.
REVIEW
Layers of Government
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON DC
States
OIHO
County
DELAWARE
WASHINGTON
TEXAS
NY
REVIEW CONTINUED
Counties are divided up into many types of
subunits called districts. The word district has
two meanings:
1.Districts may refer to elections districts
divided up so that each citizen has equal
population and representation. ie Legislative
districts, or County Council districts.
2.Special Service Districts cover one thing for
that small area, like Fire or Water Districts.
Yep, More Review
Districts have elected officials (Commissioners)
They set policy and rules for that geographic
area. ie, how should we best provide fire
protection for farmland vs cul de sacs or highrise apartments?
Districts have taxation authority to add to your
property tax to pay for the service (schools)or
to bill you directly (water).