North Carolina Constitution

NC Government

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Constitutions and Government

The United States Constitution divides the federal government into three branches, or parts.They are the legislative (LEH•juhs•lay•tiv), the executive (ig•ZEH•kyuh•tiv), and the judicial (ju•DIH•shuhl) branches. The powers of government are divided among the branches. This prevents one branch from having too much power over the others.

Multiple Choice

Why are the powers of the US government are divided.

• To ensure the president has the most power.

• To ensure no branch has more power over another.

• To ensure laws are upheld.

• To create new laws for the country.

The constitution of North Carolina divides state government in the same way. Like the United States Constitution, the state constitution describes the powers and duties of each branch of the state government.

Multiple Choice

How are the branches the NC government similar to the US government?

• They have the same power over the country.

• They each have a president to oversee them.

• Both have the same three branches w.

• The executive branch of both have the most power.

Since becoming a state, North Carolina has had three constitutions. The first was approved in 1776. It was amended, or changed, in 1835. North Carolinians wrote their next constitution in 1868. It was written so the state could rejoin the United States after the Civil War.

By 1970, North Carolinians had amended their constitution many times. Citizens voted to write a new constitution. The state constitution used today was written in 1971.

The Legislative Branch

The legislative branch of government makes the laws. Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government. It is made up of two parts—the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Multiple Choice

What is the role of the legislative branch?

• makes the laws

• see that laws are carried out

• decides whether laws are fair

NC’s legislative branch is the General Assembly. It is also divided into two parts called the Senate and the House of Representatives. NC’s Senate has 50 members, called senators. The House of Representatives has 120 members, called representatives.

North Carolina is divided into voting districts made up of one or more counties. Voters elect people to represent their district in the Senate and in the House of Representatives. All members of the General Assembly serve for two years.

Members of the General Assembly write bills, or plans for new laws. Members then discuss bills before voting on whether to approve them. If members in both houses of the General Assembly vote to approve a bill, it can become a law if the governor also approves it.

Open Ended

Describe the steps for a bill to become a law.

The Executive Branch

The executive branch sees that the laws are carried out. The executive branch may also suggest ideas for new laws. In the federal government, the executive branch is led by the President of the United States.

North Carolina’s governor leads the executive branch of state government. North Carolina voters elect a governor for four years. Other officials in the state executive branch include the lieutenant (loo•TEH•nuhnt) governor, the state treasurer, and the attorney general.

Multiple Choice

What is the role of the executive branch?

• makes the laws

• see that laws are carried out

• decides whether laws are fair

One of the governor’s duties is to prepare the state budget, or plan for spending money. The governor also reviews bills that are approved by the General Assembly. If the governor approves a bill, it becomes a law. The governor may also choose to veto, or reject, a bill. A bill vetoed by the governor can become a law only if three-fifths of the House and three-fifths of the Senate vote for it again.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is NOT a duty of the state governor?

• To prepare the state budget.

• To create new laws for the state.

• Oversee the state militia.

• Carries out laws and appoints cabinet members.

The Judicial Branch

The judicial branch sees that laws are carried out fairly. It also decides if laws agree with the Constitution. The judicial branch of the federal government is made up of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

North Carolina’s judicial branch makes sure that laws agree with the state constitution. The judicial branch is made up of several levels of state courts. All judges in the state are elected.

In the state’s trial courts, most cases are tried by a jury. State courts at this level are the district and superior courts.

Multiple Choice

What is the role of the judicial branch?

• makes the laws

• see that laws are carried out

• decides whether laws are fair

The state’s appellate courts review decisions made by lower courts. In an appeal, a person who has lost his or her case in a lower court asks the appellate court to change the decision.

The appellate courts are made up of the court of appeals and the supreme court. The North Carolina Supreme Court is the state’s highest court. Seven judges, called justices, serve on the court. They are elected for eight-year terms.

Multiple Select

Check the TWO kinds of courts in NC

• Superior

• Senator

• Appelate

• Justice

• Supreme

Local Government

Local governments provide services and solve problems in counties or communities. There are two main kinds of local government in the state—county and municipal (myoo•NIH•suh•puhl), or city, governments.

County Government

North Carolina has 100 counties. In each county, one town or city is the county seat, or center of government for a county.

Voters in each county elect commissioners. They decide county tax rates and how to spend tax money on services. County services include elections, road care, and public schools.

Other county officials are also elected. The county sheriff enforces the laws. The finance officer or director keeps track of the county’s money.The county register of deeds keeps important county records, such as land sales.

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT a role of the county government?

• Sheriff enforces laws.

• Road care and county schools

• Keep track of the counties money.

• Pardons state offenders.

Municipal Governments

Municipal governments provide services such as fire fighting, police protection, clean water, and garbage collection. They also plan and care for city parks and put up traffic lights.

Categorize

Options (11)

Cares for roads

Cares for and budgets for schools

Sheriff enforces laws.

Keeps track of county money

Records and keeps track of important documents

fire fighting

police protection

garbage collection

ensures clean water

maintenance parks

installs and upkeep of traffic lights

Match the roles of the county government vs. the municipal government.

County Government

Municipal Government