State and Local Government

By Chloe Blake

State and Local Government•Most Americans have more daily contact with their state and

local governments than with the federal government. • Police departments, libraries, and schools — not to mention

driver's licenses and parking tickets — usually fall under state and local governments.• Each state has its own written constitution, and these documents

are often far more elaborate than their federal counterpart.

State Government• Under the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, all powers not

granted to the federal government are reserved for the states and the people. • All state governments are modeled after the federal government and

consist of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.• The U.S. Constitution says that all states uphold a "republican form"

of government, meaning voting and checks and balances, but the three-branch structure is not required.• Kansas State government is located in Topeka, KS is the capitol

building.

State Government• Executive Branch• In every state, the executive branch is headed by a governor who is directly

elected by the people.

• Legislative Branch• All 50 states have legislatures made up of elected representatives, who create

legislation that becomes law.

• Judicial Branch• State judicial branches are usually led by the state supreme court, which

hears appeals from lower-level state courts.

State Government• Governor

• Sam Brownback

• Lt. Governor• Jeff Coyler

• Secretary of State• Kris Kobach

• State Treasurer• Ron Estes

• Attorney General• Derek Schmidt

The Governor Sam Brownback• Is the 46th and current Governor of Kansas; he

is member of the Republican Party.• He was elected the 46th Governor of Kansas in

2010 and took office in January 2011.• The governor’s responsibilities mirror the

responsibilities of the President of the United States,but on a smaller scale.• A governor is responsible for running the state

government, he is in charge of the NationalGuard for his state.• He is responsible for enforcing state laws, signs

legislation to make it effective or vetoes it, etc.

Local Government• Local governments generally include two tiers: counties and

cities/towns.• Most local governments are in charge of school districts or fire

protection districts.• They take responsibility for parks and recreation services, police and

fire departments, housing services, emergency medical services, municipal courts, transportation services, and public works (streets, sewers, and snow removal).

Local Government• Mayor

• Bobbi Mlynar

• Vice Mayor• Rob Gilligan

• City Commissioner• Joel Phipps

• City Commissioner• Kevin Nelson

• City Commissioner• Jim Kessler

The MayorBobbi Mylnar• Before running for the office of city commissioner,

and the office of the mayor, she was a journalist.• She was a reporter and a city editor at the

Emporia Gazette.• Mayors decide how to spend money on local

programs, construction projects, parks, city streets, and other things. At city council meetings, where local officers discuss current and upcoming plans for their areas, the mayor listens to everything and has the power to vote on which plans should be put into practice.

• A mayor is also responsible for making sure that city services, such as the fire department and police department, work well and are helping everyone who needs assistance.