Units of Local Government Why It Matters Ask students which of the following BEFORE YOU READ TAKING As you read, take things would affect their daily lives NOTES notes on estab- most directly: closing the nearest The Main Idea Reading Focus Key Terms lishing local governments, county governments, and how national park, closing a state park, or Local governments 1. How are local governments municipality, p. 228 governments work together. closing all of the local parks. Students have grown as the established, and why are city, p. 228 Use a diagram like this one to country has grown. As they needed? county, p. 229 record your notes. will likely respond that closing the local 2. Americans settled in rural How is county government sheriff, p. 229 parks would affect them the most. Ask organized, and what are the communities, towns, cities, charter, p. 230 and suburbs, they set up main purposes of each level students to name other facilities and ordinances, p. 230 local governments. of county government? services provided by local government. 3. How do local and state List students’ suggestions on the board. governments work together? As students read the section, add to the list. Key Terms Have you lived through a fl ood, palities can include a state’s cities, towns, vil- Preteach the following terms: hurricane, or tornado? Did you lose lages, and boroughs. municipality unit of local government that electricity? Did you need to call the is incorporated by the state and has a large fi re department or the police? Most The Need for Local Governments degree of self-government (p. 228) of us do not think about basic services—at least until Our local governments provide the conve- city the largest type of municipality (p. 228) we do not have them. Your local government often niences and services that we have come to provides all of these services. expect to make our daily lives easier. For county division of state government example, we expect the roads to be in good formed to carry out state laws, collect taxes, Establishing repair and to allow us to get to and from work and supervise elections in a single small or school safely. Street cleaning and trash area (p. 229) Local Governments collection help keep our neighborhoods sheriff elected offi cial in charge of county What level of government is closest to you? neat and disease-free. Electricity, running law enforcement (p. 229) As a student, you are most affected by the water, and sewage systems keep our homes, charter basic plan for local government government of the city or town in which schools, and workplaces comfortable, effi - you live, and by the school district in which that defi nes its powers, responsibilities, and cient, and safe. you are a student. In other words, you are organization (p. 230) These services are often provided to us by most affected by local government. ordinances regulations that govern a com- local governments, such as city governments. A city is the largest type of municipality. munity (p. 230) Powers Come from the State Police and fi re protection, water-conservation In the United States, the states have the efforts, and snow removal are also provided Taking Notes right to establish local governments. States by local governments. Local governments also use their own constitutions to legalize and States have County Local provide education and keep records. Some defi ne their local governments. Local gov- the power governments government governments supply their citizens with public to establish have elected helps with all ernment is made up of municipalities. A transportation or recreation areas. local offi cials elections. Its municipality governments, and carry charter and is a unit of local government which out state ordinances that is incorporated by the state and that has READING CHECK Summarizing What are some provide laws, collect follow state a large degree of self-government. Munici- of the services local governments provide? important taxes, and and federal services. supervise law. elections in 228 an area. CHAPTER 9

Teach the Main Idea At Level Units of Local Government 1. Teach Ask students the Reading Focus 3. Review Create a master copy of the idea questions to teach this section. web on the board, incorporating students’ 2. Apply Have students create an idea web suggestions. with the center circle labeled County 4. Practice/Homework Have students select Government . As students read the section, one item from the idea web and draw a ask them to add to their web. Encourage political cartoon about that item. Answers them to add terms such as county seat, sheriff, county clerk, district attorney, and Reading Check transportation, charter . roads, running water, sewage systems, sidewalks, street cleaning, trash collection, and other utilities 228 County Governments The highest level of local government is the county. A county is a division of state gov- POLITICAL CARTOON ernment formed to carry out state laws, col- Speed Trap lect taxes, and supervise elections in a single Reading Focus small area. Louisiana calls its county-level The sheriff is the top law enforcement government units parishes, while Alaska calls official at the county How are local governments estab- its counties boroughs. level of government. lished, and why are they needed? County government is often the largest One of the sheriff unit of local government. County employees department’s duties is Establishing Local provide services such as health care, police enforcing traffic laws. protection, welfare, corrections, recreational Governments areas, and libraries. In some areas in a few Recall Who has the power to estab- states, county and city governments are lish local governments? the states combined into one legislative body. At the head of county governments is a Analyze Why do you think the states group of offi cials elected by the voters. This rather than the national government group may be called the county board, board The sheriff is operating the establish local governments? Possible of commissioners, county court, or board device to stop answer: because they have more of county supervisors. These offi cials form speeders. knowledge about the needs of the the county’s legislative body. They have the communities in the state power to pass laws regulating health and safety throughout the county. They also may CLOSE TO HOME ©1998 John McPherson. Reprinted with permission of Universal Press collect real estate taxes, sales taxes, and per- Syndicate. All rights reserved. sonal property taxes. ANALYSIS Reading Focus County governments also have an SKILL ANALYZING POLITICAL CARTOONS executive branch. However, unlike execu- Supporting a Point of View Why do you think How is county government organized, tive branches at other levels of government, the cartoonist chose to depict such an exagger- and what are the main purposes of county executive branches usually have no ated method of stopping speeders? each level of county government? single leader. Instead, county voters elect sev- eral county offi cials, each with his or her own Counties also have several other elected County Governments responsibilities. In some places, however, the offi cials. The county clerk keeps a record traditional form of county government has of the actions and decisions of the county Identify What services do county been replaced with a county manager and board. In addition, the clerk keeps birth workers provide for citizens? Possible county executive. The county manager is records, marriage records, death records, and answers: health care, police protec- elected by the voters and the county manag- election results. County treasurers are respon- tion, welfare, corrections, recreational er is appointed by the county board to super- sible for the county’s funds. County auditors areas, libraries vise county business and services. also watch the money the county receives One of these elected offi cials is the Evaluate and the money it spends. County offi cials Which county offi cial do county sheriff , who usually commands sev- may also include a coroner, who investigates you think is most important? Students’ eral deputies and an offi ce staff. The sheriff unnatural deaths, and a county prosecutor— answers will vary but should show un- arrests lawbreakers and carries out the orders also known as the district attorney—who derstanding of the roles and functions of county courts. In many states, the sheriff represents the state in county trials. of county offi cials. is responsible for law enforcement only in the areas of the county that are not part of READING CHECK Summarizing Describe the Challenge and Enrichment Activities: a city. basic structure of county governments. Chapter 9

LOCAL GOVERNMENT 229

Collaborative Learning At Level Create a Newspaper 1. Organize the class into groups of three. participate fully in creating their group’s Tell groups that they will create a special page. newspaper page in honor of the county 3. Have groups present their pages to the class system of government. Their page should for discussion. Ask students to compare Answers explain what county government and its county government to their town or city’s Analyzing Political Cartoons offi cers do and why they are important to government. Tell them that they will learn Possible answer: to show that the citizens. more about city and town government later in sheriff puts a lot of effort into the job of preventing speeding 2. Have students work together, dividing the the chapter. Interpersonal, Verbal/Linguistic Reading Check group of elected work into the following roles: reporter, editor, Alternative Assessment Handbook: Rubric 23: officials acting as the county’s and headline writer. Make sure all students Newspapers legislature, several elected leaders in the executive branch, other elected officials 229 FOCUS ON Governments Work Together Antonio The duties of local government offi cials are Villaraigosa usually outlined in state-approved charters. A (1953 – ) charter is a basic plan for a local government Reading Focus In 2005 Antonio Villaraigosa unit that defi nes its powers, responsibilities, became the first Hispanic mayor and organization. Of course, a charter can- of Los Angeles, California, in 133 How do local and state governments not violate state or federal laws. years. He was born and raised in the city by a single mother work together? It is the job of local governments to make with four children. communities better places to live. To accom- Governments Work Villaraigosa was elected to the California State Assembly in plish this job, local lawmaking bodies have 1994 and four years later became assembly speaker. In this the power to pass ordinances , or regulations role, he sponsored legislation to modernize public schools, ban Together that govern a community. Ordinances also assault weapons, and provide health care for poor children. Recall Under what type of plan do cannot confl ict with state or federal laws. After losing a bid for mayor in 2001, Villaraigosa focused Local law enforcement groups, such as police most local governments operate? on his research. For two years he studied and wrote about departments, are responsible for enforcing state-approved charters the future of American cities. In 2003, Antonio Villaraigosa both local ordinances and state laws. won a seat on the Los Angeles city council, representing the Make Judgments Do you think city’s northeast sector. During his term he became a leader Local governments also help the state by it is a good idea that charter govern- in the council. making sure election procedures follow state ments must follow state laws? Why On a platform of progressive urban reform, Villaraigosa ran guidelines. Local offi cials both supervise the or why not? Possible answers: Yes—it for mayor again in 2005. He defeated incumbent mayor voting process and provide citizens with poll- is important that the laws be consis- James Hahn in a run-off election. When Mayor Villaraigosa ing places—that is, places where people can was sworn in on July 1, many people in Los Angeles cel- cast their ballots. Without local assistance, tent and easy for people to remember. ebrated with a victory parade. state and federal elections could not happen. No—each community should be able to create laws that are best for the Making Inferences Why is it significant that Villaraigosa is the READING CHECK Summarizing Why must first Hispanic mayor of Los Angeles in 133 years? people who live there. states and local governments cooperate? go.hrw.com Online Quiz KEYWORD: SZ7 HP9 SECTION 1 ASSESSMENT

Reviewing Ideas and Terms Critical Thinking 1. a. Defi ne Write a brief defi nition for each of the 4. Summarizing Use your notes and a chart like this Close following terms: municipality and city . one to summarize the section. b. Draw Conclusions Why can local govern- Have students discuss the establish- County Board ments provide some services more effi ciently than ment, purpose, and organization of local Sheriff state governments can? County Clerk governments. 2. a. Defi ne Write a brief defi nition for each of the County Treasurer following terms: county and sheriff . County Auditor Review b. Explain Describe the organization of county District Attorney Online Quiz: Section 1 government. c. Compare and Evaluate What are some of Focus on Writing Quiz Game the duties of county government? 3. a. Defi ne Write a brief defi nition for each of the 5. Supporting a Point of View Imagine that you Assess following terms: charter and ordinances . are live in a neighborhood in a rural county. Coyotes are beginning to come into the neighborhood and SE Section 1 Assessment b. Summarize In what ways do counties support cause problems. Write a letter to the county board state governments? Daily Quizzes: Section 1 asking for assistance in handling the coyotes.

Reteach 230 CHAPTER 9 Main Idea Activities for Differentiated Instruction: Section 1 Section 1 Assessment Answers

1. a. municipality, p. 228; city, p. 228 b. Possible 3. a. charter, p. 230; ordinances, p. 230 b. They answer: They know what local issues to help enforce state laws and run elections address. according to state guidelines. Answers 2. a. county, p. 229; sheriff, p. 229 b. County 4. Students should use the graphic organizer to governments have legislative and executive explain the duties of the county board, sheriff, Focus On Possible answer: because branches, as well as other elected officials. county clerk, county treasurer, county auditor, Hispanics are now better represented in c. carrying out state laws, collecting taxes, and district attorney. local government in Los Angeles supervising elections Reading Check so ordinances passed 5. Students’ letters will vary but should reflect by local governments do not conflict an understanding of the responsibilities of with state laws; so local governments county government. can help enforce some state laws and supervise elections 230