UNIT 7

State and Local Government

Unit 7 Lesson1 Notes

How is Pennsylvania government organized and what is its powers?

I. Levels of Gov’t in USA

Federal (National) Government

Adams County Government

Township, Boroughs, City Gov’ts, and School Districts.

PA State Government–

What do you know about the Executive

Branch?

II. PA Government

A. Headquarters are in HarrisburgB. Executive Branch

1. Governor – Ed Rendell (Democrat) Serves 4 yr terms, 2 term limit

2. Lt. Governor – Joe Scarnati (Democrat)3. Executive Departments –

Departments who make sure laws are carried out. ex: Penn DOT

What do you know about the Legislative Branch?

C. Legislative Branch

1. General Assembly – makes laws for PA. (Much like Congress makes laws for nation)

a. Bicameral ⃗ composed of 2 Houses PA Senate – 50 members PA House of Representatives – 203

members

What do you know about the Judicial

Branch?

D. Judicial Branch

PA Supreme Court

Commonwealth & Superior Court

Court of Common Pleas– County Court

District Justices

1. PA Supreme Courta. Top court in PAb. Consists 7 membersc. Elected for 10 year terms

Unit 7 Lesson 2

How is Adams County government organized and who are the key

members of it?

II. County Government

PA has a total of 67 counties. Each county has its own gov’t.

Gettysburg is the County Seat of Adams County. This is where our county’s government works and meets.

A. County Commissioners

1. A board of 3 persons who run the county gov’t. Act as legislative & executive branches.

2. Constitute the chief governing body of the county.

3. Limited statutory/law-making power.4. Power to regulate includes:

Elections, voter registration Assessment of property for taxes Adoption of county budget Levying county taxes Building and funding county orphanages, prisons,

and nursing homes

B. Other County Officials

1. County Controller – chief financial officer of the county. Manages finances according to budget.

2. County Treasurer - duties include receipt, custody, and disbursement of county monies.

3. District Attorney – Conducts all criminal prosecutions in court for the state. Also in charge of appointing detectives.

4. Sheriff – delivers arrest and search warrants to police, subpoenas, eviction notices and other papers of the court. Also transports criminals to and from court.

5. Clerk of Courts – Keeps all papers filed under criminal and civil procedures of courts.

6. Recorder of Deeds – preservation of records relating to real estate property in county.

7. Coroner – Investigates unusual deaths8. Register of Wills – jurisdiction over

probate of wills, collects inheritance tax, issues marriage licenses.

Unit 7 Lesson 3

How are school districts organized?

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

I. AdministrationA. School Districts act as a form of local

gov’t. B. Act as a governing body with full power to

carry out the responsibilities assigned to them by law.

C. Powers:1. Employ school personnel2. Provide school buildings3. Buy textbooks and other supplies4. Set additional standards above and beyond

state standards5. Levy school taxes

II. Superintendent

A. Administrative head of the school district

B. Hired by the board to run the day-to-day operations of the school district.

C. Acts as a professional advisor to the board.

D. Mr. Larry Redding –Superintendent

III. Board of School DirectorsA. Legislative & Executive BranchB. Exercises policymaking for districtC. Tasks:

1. Appointment of all school personnel2. Setting scope and direction of the

program of instruction.3. Adopt general rules & regulations

covering the management, supervision, control, or prohibition of any school functions, games, school publications, or activities in the school.

IV. Gettysburg School Board

A. School Board is composed of 9 members

B. 3 members are elected from each region

C. Serve 4 year terms