local governments
Post on 02-Jan-2016
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Local governments are closest to the people
They affect you more than any level of governmentThey serve you in your home, school streetlights
stop sign, pipes that carry your drinking water
They are: workers who build and maintain roadsPolice sanitation crews
CountiesCitiesSpecial districts
Everyone living in Georgia lives in a County
Counties are created by the State Legislature
In Georgia’s first constitution there were 8 counties
Most counties are headed by elected: county commission - elected by the county
voters for 4 years, staggered terms.
The commission has a combination of legislative and executive power
More than half of Georgia counties have a county administrator or county manager who carries out day to day work of the county government
The 3rd county formed in Georgia Incorporated: February 5, 1777
Population: 232,048
Total Area: 440.4 Square miles
Chatham County
County commissions enact laws regarding local property and affairs
These laws are called county ordinances -laws that affect local affairs:
recreation program traffic regulations
provide trial courtsState health and welfare programsVoter registrationState electionsBuild and repair roads and bridges Record property ownershipBirthsDeathsMarriagesRegistering automobiles/state automobile tags
Fire protectionSewer systemPublic transportationParksLibrariesPolice departmentsRecreation facilities Public health facilities
A city is a community that has been incorporated officially created by the state legislature
A city with its own government is a municipality
Cities are made because people want certain services not provided by the county
http://www.savannahga.gov/cityweb/SavannahGaGOV.nsf/mainportal/government?opendocument
A city exists as a political unit with: At least 200 people living in the area Be at least 3 miles from the boundary of an existing city Be 50% developed and divided into tracts designated for residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, or institutional purposesConsolidated city
City charters allow the city to:Provide police protectionMaintain streets and sidewalkscontrol trafficProvide for water and sewage services
Some cities were formed before counties were made:
Savannah Augusta Most cities are small There were 527 cities in the 2000 census Georgia has 246 cities that have fewer than
1,000 people 62 cities have populations larger than 10,000
people
City council: governing body of a city also known as a city commission
Cities have an elected mayor who is the leader of the city
Mayor –Council government with a “Strong Mayor”
Mayor-council government with a “Weak Mayor”
Council-Manager
Elected city council responsible for making the laws
Mayor may be either weak or strong
Mayor –Council government with a “Strong Mayor” Mayor has total responsibility for day-to day
operations Mayors hires and fires staff Prepares the budget mayor has Veto power
ceremonial head of government City council decides policies but no administrative power, limited power, may over ride veto Atlanta
Mayor has limited powers Mayor and city council share power Mayor may preside over council meetings Mayor has little veto power Mayor appoints department head with council
approval Mayor serves as ceremonial head City council decides policies and makes laws Smyrna
Mayor presides over meeting but little executive power
Mayor serves as ceremonial head Set up like a corporation Citizens elect a city council City council hires a city manager
City council decides policies and makes laws
Appointed by the city council to administer the government and can be removed by it.
Prepares the budget Administers daily operations Hires and fires staff Oversees meetings Ceremonial duties
Most of Georgia’s cities have a Mayor-council form of government
Are made for special purposes: School districts MARTA CAT bus system School districts They make their own rules and regulations They can charge a fee
What is Savannah? A Mayor Council “strong mayor” form of government or a Mayor Council “weak mayor” form of government or a Council-Manager?
Find out, write it up and submit!
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