Vocab
County Coroner
investigates deaths that don't look natural
Name one of the three basic forms of local government?
- Mayor-council form
- Commission form
- Council-manager form
What county do we live in?
Essex County
What is a town?
A political unit that is smaller than a city, but larger than a village.
What is a suburb?
Communities near or around cities,
Mayor
is like the president of a city; chief executive of a city government
Where do local governments get the money to pay for the services they provide?
State and federal governments, taxes, fees, and fines.
What is a county seat?
The center of county government, where the courthouse is located.
Why are town meetings important?
They allow people of a town to express their feelings on issues that will affect them.
Why are many county meetings at night?
So county residents who work during the day can attend.
Selectmen
chosen to run the day-to-day activities of the city; a different part of the executive branch of a town
How does a city become incorportated?
They apply for a city charter.
What office might a coroner work with?
Why didn't direct democracy work as time went on?
The population grew, making it hard to logistically coordinate.
Why would an unincorporated area (such as a township) want a city charter?)
To have the power to govern itself.
County auditor
makes sure the county is using its money responsibly and legally
What is the difference between a strong mayor system and a weak mayor system?
The power given to a mayor to act.
True of false: Counties come in many sizes.
True
How often do town meetings occur?
Once a year.
How many counties does Hawaii have?
3
Special district
A unit of government (like a school district) that handles specific issues
What is a metropolitan area?
Why did counties in the Midwest need to be small?
People needed to be able to get to the county seat and back in one day if needed.
How are townships governed?
Usually, they are governed by a township committee, board of supervisors, or board of trustees.
Where are parishes used instead of counties?
Louisiana
Ordinance
a law
Which came first: strong mayor system, or weak mayor system?
Weak mayor system; the colonists were afraid of a tyrannical leader.
What does the Board of County Commissioners do?
- Pass laws
- Administer law enforcement
- impose taxes
- employ inspectors
What is a township?
A subsection of a county, usually 36 square miles large...it does not have a city charter.
Is a village usually in a township, or is a township usually in a village?
The village, being the smaller unit, is in the township.