State and local government
Statutory law: law passed by the legislature
Referendum: legislature refers measure to the voters for approval or rejection
Representative government: system where public policies are made by officials who have been selected by voters and held accountable through periodic elections
Federalism: system of government in which power is divided between a national government and state or local governments
legislative branch
Senate
2 senators per state
Serves a 6 year term
Requirements to be a senator: 30 years old, U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, resides in state they represent
House of Representatives
Each state has at least 1 representative, but the number is determined by state population
Requirements: 25 years old, U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, resident of state they represent
Executive Branch
President
Serves 4 year terms, may serve 2 terms
Requirements: 35 years old, natural born citizen, 14 year resident of United States
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court
9 justices
Nominated by president, confirmed by Senate
Serve life term as long as they have good behavior
Constitutions
1802:
required to ask voters if a new constitutional convention should be held every 20 years
Gave most power to General Assembly, resulted in misuse of power and large amounts of state debt
Includes over 150 amendments including Bill of Rights with 20 amendments
1851:
voters elect Governor, state judges
Created a 3rd level of state courts (district court of appeals)
Enacted debt limitations
Banned poll taxes
Prevented the state government from enacting retroactive laws
Required tax dollars to be used only for their stated purpose
Legislative Branch of Ohio
Ohio General Assembly
Made up of Ohio Senate and House of Reps
132 members (33 senators 99 reps)
Elected by voters in district they represent
Ohio Senate
33 members
4 year term (2 terms max)
Must be 18 years old, U.S. citizen, and reside in district they represent
Ohio House of Reps
99 members
2 year term (4 max)
Must be 18 years old, U.S. citizen, and reside in the district they represent
Executive Branch
Governor
Serve 4 year term (no more than 2 consecutively)
30 years old, U.S. citizen, resident of Ohio for at least 5 years
Governors can be recalled (president cannot)
Judicial Branch
Common Pleas Court
88 courts
Must have 6 years experience as a lawyer
Hear civil and criminal cases
Elected to 6 year terms
State Courts of Appeals
12 courts
Appellate jurisdiction
Attorneys with 6 years of experience practicing law
6 year term
Ohio Supreme Court
7 justices
6 year term, unlimited terms until 70 years of age
Local Government
Charter: city’s basic law
Ordinances: legislation enacted by a municipal authority, usually dealing with zoning, safety, or business
Zoning: practice by which local government decides how city property will be used (residential, commercial, industrial)
Mayor council: local government that features an elected executive (mayor) and an elected legislative body (council)
consists of 7 elected members (mayor and 6 city council)
Appoints city manager: chief administrator that hires or fires city employees, prepares budget, controls spending
City council serves 4 year terms, may serve unlimited terms
City mayor may be recalled and serves 4 year terms, may serve unlimited terms
Local judiciary
Municipal courts: courts that are confined to a city or municipality. Handles smaller cases
Mayors court: court in which the mayor decides cases involving violations of city ordinances or petty criminal or civil cases
Justice of the peace: judicial officer that handles civil controversies, protects the peace, performs judicial acts, or hears minor criminal complaints
County commission
Group of elected officials (usually 3 or more) that are in charge of administering the county government
Oversees the collection and disbursement of funds and other affairs for the county
UN Security Council is made up of 10 countries, 5 rotate every 2 years and the other 5 are permanent. (US, Russia, Britain, China, and France)
NATO:
Supra national organization: any organization thar consists of multiple countries, to be apart of the organization the country has to give up some sovereignty