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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

LOCAL GOVERNMENT. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. “ The General Assembly shall provide by general law for local government within the Commonwealth. Such general law shall be uniform as to all classes of local government…” ... Article IX of Pennsylvania Constitution. LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

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  1. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

  2. LOCAL GOVERNMENT • “The General Assembly shall provide by general law for local government within the Commonwealth. Such general law shall be uniform as to all classes of local government…” • ... Article IX of Pennsylvania Constitution

  3. LOCAL GOVERNMENT • Key Concept: HOME RULE The option under PA. State Constitution that gives local governments the power to set up the rules for governing themselves as opposed to following the rules of the state government.

  4. LOCAL GOVERNMENT • Key Concept: HOME RULE In 1972, PA voters approved a home rule section of the Commonwealth Constitution. Home Rule gives more power to municipalities to exercise certain types of local powers without additional laws from the General Assembly.

  5. LOCAL GOVERNMENT • 1. LG IS ALL THOSE UNITS OF GOVERNMETN INSIDE THE STATES. • EX: Counties, Cities, Townships and Boroughs (a/k/a Municipalities), School Districts and Special Districts

  6. LOCAL GOVERNMENT • 2. Your local governmental entities are closer to the people and are more important in the day-to-day lives of the citizens.

  7. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • 1. What is a “COUNTY”?

  8. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • 1. A COUNTY is the intermediate form of government between the state and the local municipality.

  9. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • 2. A COUNTY is the largest political subdivision of a state. • 3. A county is both a geographic area as well as a political unit.

  10. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • 4. How many counties are there in Pennsylvania?

  11. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • 4. How many counties are there in Pennsylvania? • 67

  12. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • 5. History = Which 3 counties were first established by William Penn in the 1600’s?

  13. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • 5. History = Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester Montco was Originally part of Philly

  14. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • 6. How do we classify (group together) the 67 counties in PA? • By Population

  15. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • 1st Class: 1.5 million + people – Philadelphia • 2nd Class: 800,00 to 1,499,999 – Allegheny (Pittsburgh) • 2A Class: 500,00 to 799,999 – Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware • 3rd Class: 225,000 to 499,999 – Chester and 11 others • 4th Class: 150,000 to 224,999 – 6 counties • 5th Class: 95,000 to 149,999 – 9 counties • 6th Class: 45,000 to 94,999 – 20 counties • 7th Class: 20,000 to 44,999 – 8 counties • 8th Class: less than 20,000 – 8 counties

  16. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • How is county government organized?

  17. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • How is county government organized? It is a “NO EXECUTIVE” type of government. So it is not like your father’s version of Separation of Powers.

  18. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • How is county government organized? A. There are no separate executive and legislative branches. The main governmental unit is the County Board of Commissioners.

  19. MONTCO • BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS A. The legislative and executive arm of the county government • They make the laws and rules • They enforce / execute the laws and rules

  20. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • How is county government organized? B. There are 3 Commissioners elected by the voters of the county for 4 year terms.

  21. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • How is county government organized? • Qualifications: Minimum age of 18 years Citizen of the US and of the county for 1 year prior to the election

  22. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • How is county government organized? • Bipartisan Board – How so? 1 Commissioner is guaranteed to come from the minority political party. Voters are permitted to vote only for 2 of the 3 people on the ballot. The highest 3 vote totals win the seats.

  23. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • What do the County Commissioners do? • Administration of elections – manage all voter registration and conduct all federal, state and local elections

  24. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • What do the County Commissioners do? • Pass laws for the county • Assessment of property values for taxes – Board of Assessment • Keeper of Records = real estate transactions, marriages, deaths, court cases, weights and measures

  25. COUNTY GOVERNMENT • What do the County Commissioners do? • Pass laws for the county • Construction and maintenance of county buildings • Local administration of public welfare like public roads, parks, health and elderly services • Run the county courthouse – Court of Common Pleas

  26. MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT

  27. MONTCO • Montco Courthouse in Norristown, PA.

  28. MONTCO • BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS • JAMES MATTHEWS – Chair – R • Joseph Hoeffel – Vice-Chair – D • Bruce Castor - R

  29. ROW OFFICES • This name is used to refer to the 9 elected offices or departments that administer Montgomery County politics. • The name comes from the fact that these offices originally were listed on the same row or line on the election ballot. In addition, these offices were originally all on the same floor of the courthouse.

  30. ROW OFFICES • 1. CLERK OF COURTS • Runs the criminal courts of Montco. • Keeps all criminal records • Collects all money (fines and court costs) from criminal defendants

  31. ROW OFFICES • 2. CONTROLLER • Supervises all fiscal ($) affairs of Montco • Like the county accountant • Watchdog over the county revenues

  32. ROW OFFICES • 3. CORONER • Investigates causes of deaths in Montco • Must be a medical professional

  33. ROW OFFICES • 4. DISTRICT ATTORNEY • Prosecutes all criminals arrested in Montco • Has to be a licensed attorney • Highest paid of all Row Officers – WHY???

  34. ROW OFFICES • 5. PROTHONOTARY • The chief clerk of the civil trials in Montco • Keeps all civil court records • The civil case equivalent of the Clerk of Courts

  35. ROW OFFICES • 6. RECORDER OF DEEDS • Maintains all land records – who owns the land in Montco • Collects all transfer taxes (2% of sale price)

  36. ROW OFFICES • 7. REGISTER OF WILLS • Handles all wills and intestacy proceedings after one dies • Collects inheritance taxes

  37. ROW OFFICES • 8. SHERIFF • Chief law enforcement officer of Montco

  38. ROW OFFICES • 9. TREASURER • Handles receipt and disbursement of all Montco funds

  39. ROW OFFICES • 10. JURY COMMISSIONERS • Handles selection of pool of eligible jurors for criminal and civil cases in Montco

  40. LOCAL GOVERNMENT MUNICIPALITIES

  41. MUNICIPALITIES • 1. So what is a Municipality? It is a unit of local government. It is primarily a local political unit having corporate status and powers of self-government. PA has the 2nd highest number of local gov’t units (about 5,000 total) in the country

  42. MUNICIPALITIES • 1. So what is a Municipality? It is created by the state upon the consent of the residents in order that they may provide for themselves the services that they need or desire.

  43. MUNICIPALITIES • 2. Examples of a Municipality? • Townships / Boroughs / Cities / Special Districts

  44. MUNICIPALITIES • 3. What types of services does a Municipality provide? • Fire and Police protection • Cultural and recreational facilities (parks and pools) • Water and sewer systems • Streets and traffic regulations

  45. MUNICIPALITIES • 3. What types of services does a Municipality provide? • Building and zoning (land use) regulations • General health and welfare services • Pass Ordinances (laws)

  46. MUNICIPALITIES • 4. ORGANIZATION OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT • There are 2 types of townships in PA. • 1st Class and 2nd Class Townships which are classified by population

  47. MUNICIPALITIES • 4A. 1ST CLASS TOWNSHIPS • Where? Mainly in suburban areas near large cities • How many in PA? 91 such as Upper Darby / Lower Merion / Abington / Bristol / Haverford

  48. MUNICIPALITIES • 4A. 1ST CLASS TOWNSHIPS • Government? Ruled by a Board of Commissioners with 5 to 15 people, elected to 4 year terms • Can be elected AT LARGE or BY WARDS (regions) • They are the leg and exec branch (NO EXECUTIVE)

  49. MUNICIPALITIES • 4A. 1ST CLASS TOWNSHIPS • Government? • Other officers of 1st class twp include a Mayor (weak with little power but in charge of the police department) / Auditor (Controller) / Treasurer / Tax Collectors / and sometimes a Township Manager

  50. MUNICIPALITIES • 4B. 2nd Class Townships • Where? Usually found in outer suburban areas and in more rural sections • How Many? Over 1450

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