State Gov Flashcards
Cooperative Federalism
Decision making is shared by the central and state governments, but federal gov. is supreme
Federalism
system of government in which political power is divided between a central gov. and regional governments by a written constitution
States Rights
Competitive relationship between state and federal government and a gain in power for one is a loss in power for the other
5 Principles of State Gov.
1) Popular Sovereignty
2) Limited Government
3) Separation of Powers
4) Checks and Balances
5) Bicameral Legislature
Popular Sovereignty
Will of the people
Limited Government
Government is not all powerful
Functions of State Gov.
1) Police power
2) Public Services
Police power
1) Public safety
2) Public health
3) Public morals
4) Public transportation
5) General Welfare
Public Services
1) Building roads
2 Education
3) Controlling local gov.
Dillon’s Rule
All units of local Gov. are created by and subordinate to the states
Weaknesses of State Gov.
1) Slow to change
2) Lack of Money
Federal Aid to States
1) Grants in Aid
2) Block Grants
3) Revenue Sharing
5 Things State Constitutions have in Common
1) Bill of Rights
2) Establish structure of state Gov
3) Establish system of local gov
4) Create state boards, agencies, and institutions
5) Establishes revenue system
When did Tennessee become a state
1796
Tennesses First Capital
Knoxville
Name of Tennessee Legislative Branch
Tennessee General Assembly
Bicameral
1) House of Reps. - 99 members
2) Senate- 33 members
Session
Lasts 90 days over 2 year period
Primary Function of Committee
1) Make laws
2) Provide forum for debate
3) Provide financing for state Gov.
Extraordinary Session
1) Called by Governor
2) Called by 2/3 of members of both houses
Constitutional Officers
1) Secretary of State (4 year term)
a) Keeps records of the state
2) Comptroller of the Treasury (2 year Term)
3) State Treasurer (2 year term)
4) Legislature elects
Legislation (how bill becomes law)
1) A bill may originate in either house
2) Must be introduced during first 10 legislative days
3) Must be passed on 3 separate legislative days in both houses
4) Sent to governor
What governor can do to bill
1) Sign
2) Veto
a) Simple majority can override veto
b) Gov does nothing for 10 days, bill comes law
Senate
1) Term
2) Qualifications
3) Leadership
Term
4 years
Qualifications
1) 30 y/o
2) U.S. citizen
3) Live in TN for 3 years
4) Live in district for 1 year
Leadership
1) Lt. Gov.
2) Majority Leader
3) Minority Leader
4) Speaker Pro Tempore
5) Standing Committees- 9
Lt. Gov.
Speaker of the Senate
Speaker Pro Tempore
1) Succeeds Gov.
2) Presides over senate
3) Appoints all committees
4) Member of all standing committees
Standing Committees
1) Education
2) Transportation
Judicial Branch
1) Supreme Court
2) Intermediate appellate courts
3) Trial Courts
4) Courts of Limited Jurisdiction
Intermediate appellate courts
1) Court of Appeals- Civil cases
2) Court of Criminal appeals- criminal cases
Trial Courts
1) Probate Court
2) Chancery Courts
3) Circuit Court
4) Criminal Courts
Probate Court
1) Guardianship
2) Estates
Chancery Courts
1) Domestic Relations
2) Civil Cases
Circuit Court
1) Domestic Relations
2) Civil and Criminal Cases
Criminal Courts
Criminal Cases
Courts of Limited Jurisdiction
1) Juvenile Court
2) General Sessions Court
3) Municipal Courts
Juvenile Court
1) Paternity
2) Juvenile Cases
General Sessions Court
1) Preliminary Hearings
2) Civil Cases where fine is $10,000
3) Domestic Relations
4) Mental Health
5) Small claims
6) Misdemeanors
7) DUI’s
Municipal Courts
Interpret and apply the ordinances of a town
County Government
1) Sheriff
2) County Mayor
3) County Commission
4) Trustee
5) Register of Deeds
6) County Clerk
7) Assessor of Property
8) Board of Education
9) Superintendent of Schools
10) Corner
11) Highway Administrator
Sheriff
1) Elected by people
2) Three main duties
a) Preserves the peace
b) Maintain the Jail
c) Serve Court documents
County Mayor
1) Almost zero power
2) Elected
3) What they do
a) In charge of county property
b) Keeps county’s accounts
c) Prepares report on county’s financial condition
County Commission
1) County’s legislative Body
a) Set taxes
b) Make county budget
Trustee
1) Elected
2) Job
a) Collect taxes
b) Pays county’s bills
Register of Deeds
Takes care of county legal documents
County Clerk
1) Marriage license
2) Renewal
Assessor of Property
Determines the value of all real and personal property in the county
Board of Education
1) Elected
2) In charge of schools
Corner
Pronounces dead
Highway Administrator
County roads
Gov. of TN
Bill Haslam
TN Lt. Gov.
Ron Ramsy
Speaker of the House
Beth Harwell
Senate President Pro Tempore
Bo Watson
Mayor of Murf.
Shane McFarland
Mayor of Lavergne
senna Mosley
Mayor of Smyrna
Mary Esther Reed
Mayor of Eagleville
Travis Brown
Sheriff
Robert Arnold
Mayor
Ernest burgess
Trustee
Teb Batey
Court clerk
Lisa smith
Accessor of Property
Rob Mitchell
