Chapter 13.2Chapter 13.2

County GovernmentsCounty Governments

CountiesCounties

The The countycounty is normally the largest is normally the largest territorial and political subdivision of territorial and political subdivision of a state. Counties vary greatly in a state. Counties vary greatly in population and land area.population and land area.

In the 1800s, the county courthouse In the 1800s, the county courthouse was the center of the gov’t. The was the center of the gov’t. The towns where the county courthouse towns where the county courthouse is located are called is located are called county seatscounty seats..

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A board of three to five elected A board of three to five elected commissioners governs most counties. Most commissioners governs most counties. Most serve four-year terms. Boards serve as the serve four-year terms. Boards serve as the legislature, but some also have executive legislature, but some also have executive powers.powers.

The sheriff is the county’s chief law The sheriff is the county’s chief law enforcement officer. The sheriff’s enforcement officer. The sheriff’s department, including deputies and jailers, department, including deputies and jailers, enforces court orders and manages the enforces court orders and manages the county jail.county jail.

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The district attorney, the county’s The district attorney, the county’s prosecutor, investigates crimes, prosecutor, investigates crimes, brings charges and prosecutes cases brings charges and prosecutes cases in court. The coroner tries to in court. The coroner tries to establish the cause of unusual death.establish the cause of unusual death.

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The county clerk keeps gov’t records The county clerk keeps gov’t records and supervises elections. The assessor and supervises elections. The assessor estimates the worth of taxable estimates the worth of taxable property. The treasurer supervises property. The treasurer supervises county funds, makes payments and county funds, makes payments and may serve as tax collector. The may serve as tax collector. The auditor supervises the treasurer’s work auditor supervises the treasurer’s work to make sure that no county money is to make sure that no county money is spent without the board’s approval.spent without the board’s approval.

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In some areas, cities handle most In some areas, cities handle most services. In others, county gov’ts services. In others, county gov’ts have grown more important. Many have grown more important. Many counties provide water, sewer and counties provide water, sewer and sanitation services. Many operate sanitation services. Many operate hospitals, police departments and hospitals, police departments and mass transit systems.mass transit systems.

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Some counties have adopted a new Some counties have adopted a new form of gov’t in which the board acts form of gov’t in which the board acts only as a legislature. An elected only as a legislature. An elected chief administrative official, or chief administrative official, or county executive, handles all county executive, handles all executive duties. Sometimes the executive duties. Sometimes the board appoints a county manager.board appoints a county manager.