State GovernmentState Government

How is California government similar to US federal government?

How does California government impact the lives of its residents?

What are the duties of the state level of government?

State ExpendituresState Expenditures

Expenditures Percentage

Welfare including Medicaid

26.2

Education 19.5

Highways 13.2

Employee retirement 10.0

Unemployment Compensation

4.6

FederalismFederalism

History States existed before the nation was created. Constitution designed to maximized state sovereign.

Created a national government with powers to unify the states, but not to replace state governments

Jurisdiction Federal government has enumerated power States have reserved power Federal and state governments also share concurrent powers

Constitutional AnalysisConstitutional Analysis

Article IV: Federalism Section 4: (Federal duties to the States)

Representative (republic) government Protect from invasion Protect from domestic violence Congress can make rules and regulations respecting US

territory Section 1: (State powers)

Public acts- regulate intrastate commerce, safety, health, morals

Public records- tax, spend Justice system- courts, prisons

Constitutional AnalysisConstitutional Analysis

Article IV: Federalism Section 2 & 3: (States responsibility to each

other) Respect other states laws, by returning fugitives New states cannot be created inside another

boundaries

Article VI: Limitations on states power Section 2: Supremacy Clause

FederalismFederalism

Federal

StateMunicipalities

Concurrent Powers

Enumerated Powers

Reserved PowersReserved

Powers

State GovernmentsState Governments

Importance Meet the population’s general needs and deliver

services Education Welfare Transportation Administration of justice Housing Public health Environment

Only ¼ of the states revenues come from the federal aid

Most revenues must be meet by a variety of taxes

Federal and State ConstitutionsFederal and State Constitutions

States Constitution Excessively long and detailed

California Constitution is 110 pages

California has amended 425 times Weak executive

Legislative BranchLegislative Branch

Similarities: 3 Branches of Government

Executive, Legislative, Judicial branches Legislature are bicameral except Nebraska

California Legislative BranchCalifornia Legislative Branch

History Was prestigious, but now pejorative Post Civil War- voters restricted legislative

powers in spending and borrowing

California Legislative BranchCalifornia Legislative Branch

Structure: Bicameral:

Assembly:– 80 representatives– 2 year terms (max of 3 terms)

Senate– 40 senators– 4 year terms (max of 2 terms)

Duties: Make state laws, but laws can be made through

initiatives Draw state and federal legislative districts

(gerrymandering)

Stupid State LawsStupid State Laws

CA-Animals are banned from mating publicly within 1,500 feet of a tavern, school, or place of worship

Al-It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle

S.Dak-If there are more than 5 Native Americans on your property you may shoot them.

LO- Biting someone with your natural teeth is "simple assault," while biting someone with your false teeth is "aggravated assault."

California Executive BranchCalifornia Executive Branch

Plural Executive Different than federal executive where

president appoints all of the executive positions

State executive positions are elected: Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary

of State, Controller, Treasurer, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Public Instruction, Board of Equalization

California Executive BranchCalifornia Executive Branch Governor (Chief Executive):

Powers Sets the agenda for legislature Veto power Create state budget 8 agencies meet directly with him/her Appoint department, agency heads and

Supreme Court Judges Pardon, commutation, reprieve

Lieutenant Governor (Elect Garamendi):

Duties Assumes power if the governor dies,

resigns, or is not in the state Presides over senate and cast tie

breaking vote Chairs the Economic Development

Commission, Member of the State Lands Commission, and sits on board of the California University System

California Executive BranchCalifornia Executive Branch Attorney General: (Elect Jerry

Brown) Heads the Department of

Justice Chief counsel in state litigation Advises governor about the

legality of proposal Secretary of State: (Elect

Debra Bowen) In charge of state elections Records of campaigns and

lobbyist disclosure statement Files official documentation for

corporation trademarks

California Executive BranchCalifornia Executive Branch Controller (Elect Chiang)

State’s accountant and bookkeeper of all public funds

Manages CA state Accounts Treasurer (Elect Lockyer)

State’s banker and manages state investments

Administers and markets the sale of bonds

Pays out state funds went spent by the Controller and other agencies

Insurance commissioner (Elect Poizer) License, regulates, and examines

insurance companies Enforces Insurance codes Answers public questions and

complaints regarding insurance companies

California Executive BranchCalifornia Executive Branch Superintendent of public

instruction: Heads the department of

education Provides education policy and

direction to local schools Enforces education code

Boards of Equalization Overseas the administration of

over 2 dozen taxes and fees Ensure counties property

taxes are fair and uniformed Serves on the appellate body for CA tax cases

California Judicial BranchCalifornia Judicial Branch

3 level structure Trial Courts (Superior Courts)

All civil and criminal cases Misdemeanors and felonies

Appellate Courts Organized in 6 districts Review contested lower court rulings

Supreme Courts 7 Justices which are appointed by the governor and

confirmed by the commission on judicial appointments Interprets state constitution

QuizQuiz

What are two similarities and two differences of the federal and California government?

Local GovernmentLocal Government

How are city governments similar to both federal and state governments?Which management plans work better

for big cities?

Local ExpendituresLocal Expenditures

Expenditures Percentage

Education 43.2

Utilities 12.6

Highways 5.4

Police 4.9

Hospital 4.7

CA CountiesCA Counties

County GovernmentsCounty Governments

County Government Governing Body: Los Angeles County Board of

Supervisors “five little kings” District 1: Gloria Molina District 2: Yvonne Burke District 3: Zev Yaroslavsky District 4: Don Knabe District 5: Michael D. Antonovich (currently Mayor of the

County of Los Angeles) The board decides which issues should be addressed

and in what manner The board also hires the executive body

(administrators in the county

County Governments County Governments

County Government Counties are set up as an extension of state

government. Duties

Administer state policies and provide state services

– Highways– Public safety– Justice– Record Keeping

County Governments County Governments

County Government Duties

Provide countywide services– Health – Hospitals– Pest Control

Supports municipal services– Zoning– Building regulations– Prisons

District GovernmentsDistrict Governments

Special Districts (aka authorities, boards, corporations)

One function governments usually created by the state legislature Cut across geographical and government boundaries Governed by a board of directors Example

School districts Metropolitan transport district Port of NY authority

City Governments City Governments

New England Town- Structure

Government in New England states that combine county and city responsibilities

Consist of one or more urban areas surrounded by rural areas

Duties At least one town meeting

a year to elect the board The Board runs the town

during the remainder of the year

City Governments City Governments

Townships- Rural unit of government based on federal

lands Provides services to unincorporated areas

Town Manager System- Popular election of 3 selectpersons who then

appoints professional town managers Town mangers then appoint people to run the town

City GovernmentsCity Governments

Commission Plan 3-9 members have both legislative and executive

power Each commissioner heads one department As a group, they are required to pass city ordinances

and control spending Mayor is ceremonial and is selected from one of the

commission Example:

100 cities use this system- Tulsa, Salt Lake City, Mobile

City GovernmentsCity Governments

Council-Manager Plan Council is the policy makers Council hires manager executes the policies

Manager hires and fires subordinates Is accountable to the council

Mayor is ceremonial and has no executive power

Examples: 2000 cities use plan, i.e., Dallas, San Diego,

San Antonio

City Governments City Governments

Mayor-Administrator Plan: Strong mayor Mayor appoints a administrative officers Administrative officers executes mayors

directives and manages budget Administrative officers hire and fire

subordinates

City GovernmentsCity Governments

Mayor-Council Plan Most widely used General Structure

Mayor is chief executive Council is legislature

Elections Both mayor and council are elected

Different forms of Mayor-Council Plan Strong mayor plan-mayor has more authority as an

administrators and with the budget, and less checks from council

Weak mayor plan- Mayor has to share power with the executive officers and the council

QuizQuiz

There is too much bureaucracy in CA state and local government. Cite 2 reasons why you agree or disagree with this statement.