US vs. NC Govt.
This term describes the division of powers between national and state governments.
What is federalism?
The chief executive of the state.
Who is the Governor?
The lower chamber of the NC General Assembly.
What is the NC House of Representatives?
The lowest level of North Carolina’s court system, where misdemeanors and small civil cases are heard.
What are district courts?
This type of local government includes cities, towns, and villages.
What are municipalities?
The U.S. Constitution does not mention this being, whereas the N.C. Constitution does.
Who is "Almighty God"?
A group of 10 statewide elected officials—including the Governor and Lt. Governor—who oversee major agencies like Agriculture, Insurance, and Public Instruction.
What is the Council of State?
This person presides over the NC Senate, and does not run on a ticket with the governor during elections.
Who is the Lieutenant Governor?
These courts hear felony cases and larger civil lawsuits.
What are superior courts?
Buncombe County uses this form of county government, where elected commissioners hire a professional administrator.
What is commission-administrator?
While the U.S. Congress is bicameral, so is this lawmaking body in North Carolina.
What is the General Assembly?
This term describes the governor’s power to reject a bill passed by the General Assembly.
What is a veto?
Besides passing laws, members of the NC General Assembly also perform this duty by working with citizens and helping them with government services.
What is constituent service?
This court reviews errors of law from the lower courts and has 15 judges elected statewide.
What is the NC Court of Appeals?
A written document granting a municipality its powers and structure.
What is a charter?
This document protects individual rights at the national level, while Article I of the NC Constitution includes a Declaration of Rights.
What is the Bill of Rights?
The executive departments run by appointed secretaries (such as Environmental Quality and Health & Human Services) form this advisory body.
What is the Governor's Cabinet?
This major piece of legislation, passed every two years, outlines how North Carolina will spend taxpayer money.
What is the state budget?
The highest court in North Carolina.
What is the NC Supreme Court?
These local governing bodies create zoning laws, approve budgets, and set property tax rates.
What are county commissioners or city councils?
The U.S. President appoints Cabinet secretaries, but in NC these top officials—such as the Commissioner of Agriculture and Attorney General—are chosen this way.
What is "they are elected by the voters"?
This power allows the governor to call the General Assembly into session during emergencies.
What is calling a special session?
The General Assembly can override a governor’s veto with this fraction vote in each chamber.
What is a three-fifths (3/5) majority?
NC judges reach office through this method, unlike federal judges who are appointed for life.
What is "they are elected by voters"?
Federally recognized tribes, such as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, possess this type of authority that allows them to govern their lands.
What is tribal sovereignty?