The local government is not based directly on the U.S. Constitution. The state government creates a Charter which defines the structure and responsibilities of the local government. It may define several forms of local government such as city and county governments.
The local government is responsible for administering local programs such as police and fire services, public health and safety, building and repairing roads, collecting garbage, maintaining schools, collecting local and state taxes, running elections, and keeping official marriage and birth records.
Next step on the ladder, state government.
The state government is based on the Constitution. The Constitution states that any powers not specifically given to the federal government are the responsibility of the state. The details of a state government's structure and responsibilities are defined by state constitutions. The state constitutions differ from state to state, but they are all similar to, and do not contradict the U.S. Constitution.
Like the federal government, the state government also has three branches:
- Executive Branch
- Legislative Branch
- Judicial Branch
The Legislative Branch consists of the State House of Representatives and the State Senate. They are responsible for making laws that relate to state matters.
The Judicial Branch consists of a hierarchy of courts including the State Supreme Court, Appellate Courts, District Courts and Municipal Courts. State courts hear cases relating to state law. They are responsible for explaining the laws, applying the laws, settling disagreements and deciding who is guilty of breaking a state law.
And finally, top of the heap, king of the hill, we have the federal government.
The structure and responsibilities of the federal government were defined by the constitution. The federal government's role has be expanded since the Constitution was first written. This expanded role is defined in the Amendments to the Constitution.
The federal government consists of 3 branches:
- Executive Branch
- Legislative Branch
- Judicial Branch
The Legislative Branch, or Congress, consists or the Senate and House of Representatives. The Legislative Branch is responsible for making the laws which govern the country.
The Judicial Branch consists of the federal courts such as the Supreme Court, Court of Claims, Court of Customs, Circuit Courts of Appeals and District Courts. They are responsible for interpreting the laws and ensuring that the rights or the people are protected.
So that is pretty basic and all but the local government are ruled by the constitution. The local is run by The State Government so hopefully it still has to be somewhat constitutional.
The United States Constitution is provides basis for the government structure and responsibilities. The Constitution defines three main principles:
- Inherent rights of anyone living in the United States
- Government by the people
- separation of powers between branches of the government including Executive, Legislative and Judicial
The Constitution guarantees the United States people their freedom and rights such as:
- Freedom of religion
- Freedom of speech
- Right to bear arms
- Right to a trial when accused of a crime, and to know what crime one is accused
- Right to own property and to expect the government to help protect private property
My next question then is how do people starting at the lowest level of government get their jobs? That's pretty simple, we vote for them from top to bottom. The people interested in the jobs run a campaign and we the people vote. We vote hopefully, on what they stand for, and we get this information based on what they tell us, so if it is that simple why are so many people unhappy with our governing body? This gets more complicated for me. It seems that a lot of it comes down to money. You have to have it to run a campaign. If you don't have it then you have to depend on your supporters who in fact should have the same goals and beliefs as you the campaigning person. Still sounds ok right? I think this might be where things break down. Lets say I have ideas that I know will help the people of whatever part of society I am trying to represent. I KNOW it will be an excellent plan, but no one knows who I am. In comes Mr. B.B.(Big business). Mr. BB wants something that will make him more money and he tells me hey I will give you $$$$$ and get you elected if you promise that when you are in office you will get this done for me. Now as I said I REALLY want my ideas to grace my small city or the USA which ever category it falls in. So I figure hey the other guys are doing this and they have terrible ideas so I am pretty sure it would be better for everyone to have me in office even if I have to promise a few little thing to get there. I finally justify accepting B.B.'s money and now I have an agenda but hey I get voted in and I get to get my ideas on the table.
I think we need to examine Mr.B.B., and maybe the guy that told Mr. B.B. about my ideas and my need for money.
I know a rambling story but I suspect pretty accurate in the process of appointing our most respected positions in the USA. So I guess my next Step is to figure out the big money and the guys who do the bribing. I think we call them Lobbyists.
See ya soon,
Christy
No comments:
Post a Comment