“All Politics is Local”

Local Government UnitGlacier 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 versaNext 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.

ReviewHow 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• Oligarchy- Group Rule (rule by committee)• Anarchy- No government (really a phase)

• Republic- Elected 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

LEGISLATIVEEXECUTIVEJUDICIAL

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)CommunitiesTheir 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)Citiesare classified into categories by size

duhSome cities are like states,

ie New York, Chicagosome 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)COUNTIESThese 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 naviesPrint Money or Stamps

Negotiate treaties with other landswrite criminal law, build prisons,

regulate tradeor

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 SERVICESWhat 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 GovernmentThis 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?

DISTRICTSSchool 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 wordsie 1234 55For each of 11 Districts that cover you, find your Dist #.A handout will list the districts to name.

REVIEW

Layers of Government

States

County

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON DC

DELAWARE WASHINGTON TEXAS NY

OIHO

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 high-rise apartments?

Districts have taxation authority to add to your property tax to pay for the service (schools)or to bill you directly (water).