Ch 11 - State And Local Gov Flashcards
The oldest written constitution still in force
Massachusetts
Constitution
A written plan which sets go a fork if government and establishes its basic principles
Which state had voters ratify its constitution
Massachusetts
Preamble
A short introductory statement telling why the constitution was written
Bill of rights
Provisions listing the basic rights of the people
Description of state government
Provisions for the three separate branches of state government
Description of local government
Provisions for local subdivisions if state government
General provisions
Provisions dealing with voting qualifications and elections, taxes and appropriation if funds, education, etc.
Provisions for change
Provisions dealing with the process by which the constitution may be amended or revised
Revision
Major change in a state constitution
Amendment
Minor change in a state constitution
4 steps of a constitutional convention
- Voters approve calling of convention
- Voters eject delegates to convention
- Delegates revise old constitution or propose a new one
- The voters ratify or reject the new or revised constitution
Initiative
The process by which voters propose an amendment
Referendum
An election in which the voters of a state approve or reject an amendment
Plurality
More votes then any other candidate receives
Impeachment
When the legislature removes the governor
Recall
When the voters remove the governor
Pardon
Free an offender from legal responsibility for a crime
Reprieve
Temporary postponement of a sentence
Commute
To reduce a sentence
Parole
Free a prisoner before his entire term has been served.
Ex officio
By virtue if office or position
Item veto
Power to veto only part of a bill
Executive orders
Orders that dictate how a law should be carried out
Only state with unicameral legislature
Nebraska
Reynolds v. Sims series of cases
The Supreme Court ruled that apportionment of both houses of state legislatures must be based upon population
Constituent powers
The power to propose constitutional amendments
Direct primary
Voters choose the political party’s nominee
Joint committees
Made up of members of both houses of state legislatures, help 2 houses agree
Mandatory referendum
When acts of the state legislature MUST be referred to the voters for approval or rejection
Courts of record
Courts in which a transcript is made of the trial proceedings
Court clerk
Keeps courts records
Bailiff
The police officer for the court
Court of last resort
The highest court to which a case may be appealed
County government
Largest unit of local government
The states fundamental law
The state constitution
3 states w/out Secretary of State
Utah, ak, Hawaii
Attorney general
States chief legal officer, chief prosecutor
Auditor or comptroller
Sees that funds are spent properly
Baker v. Carr
Court ruled that federal courts could have jurisdiction in cases involving state apportionment
Rural lowest state courts
Justice of the peace courts
Justice of the peace
Minor offenses, no legal training, unpaid but keeps part of legal fees, popularly elected
Urban lowest state court
Magistrate or police courts
Magistrate
No jury, 4-6 year term, low salary, sometimes a lawyer
Special small claims courts
For collecting small sums of money
General trial courts
Second level of state courts
Jury
A group of people selected to ascertain the truth on the basis of evidence presented to them
Most common county board
Board of commissioners
County assessor
Appraises taxable property within the county
Clerk/recorder
Maintains county records and issues licenses
County manager plan
Mirrors federal system
Selectmen
Popularly elected board members that handle administrative matters between town meetings
Incorporated
Designated as a legal governmental organization
City charter
A legal document granted by the state which outlines a fork of government for the city
Mayor council form
Popularly elected legislative council members
Commission form
5 popularly elected commissioners, exec and leg branches
Council manager form
Popularly elected legislative council appoints executive manager
Zoning
Dividing a city into numerous zones and regulating the use of property in each zone
3 types of zones
Residential, commercial, and industrial
Annexing
Adding suburban areas
Suburbs
Developed areas outside city limits
Special districts
Districts that provide one or several government services but do not follow city and county lines
General sales tax
Applies to the sale of most products
Selective sales tax
Singles out specific items to be taxed
Regressive tax
Places greatest burden on poor
Progressive tax
Places greatest burden on rich
Uniform tax
People pay a certain fixed percentage of profits
Inheritance tax
Levied against a persons inherited share of an estate
The chief source of income did local governments
Property tax
Real property
Buildings, land, improvements on land and buildings
Personal property
Personal possessions
Tangible personal property
Visible and easily valued
Intangible personal property
Bank accounts, stocks, bonds
Higher value (market or assessed)
Market
Severance tax
For the removal of natural resources
