I. What are some of the major responsibities of the STATE Government ?
a. regulatory agencies (ex. Public Utilities Commission, environmental protection, etc.)
b. establishing educational standards and policies
c. state court system
d. prison system and law enforcement agencies (ex. San Quentin, Highway Patrol, etc.)
e. parks and recreation (ex. state parks and beaches)
f. DMV
g. transportation (ex. Caltrans, freeways, Caltrain, etc.)
h. natural disaster relief
i. health and human services (Medical, welfare, etc.)
j. voter registration, ballots and elections
II. Counties in California are governed by an elected Board of Supervisors. What are some responsibilities of COUNTY governments ?
a. public transportation (ex.County transit, busses, BART, light rail, etc.)
b. law enforcement (sheriff, municipal courts, public defenders office, county jail, juvenile court etc.)
c. road maintenance
d. educational support services
e. health services (ex. clinics, hospitals, paramedics, etc.)
f. animal control (ex. innoculation, strays, dangerous animals, population control, etc.)
g. libraries
h. Planning Commission (ex. building codes and enforcement)
III. Cities in California are generally governed by an elected Mayor, City Council and City Manager. What are some of the major responsibilities of CITY governments ?
a. protection (ex. police, fire, paramedics)
b. traffic issues (ex. speed limits, traffic lights, signs, street maintenence, bike lanes, parking, etc.)
c. planning policies (infrastructure, zoning, growth, building permits, architectural styles, city "character", etc.)
d. parks and recreation
e. providing "basic" services and infrastructure (water, power, sewage, roads, trash collection and recycling, street cleaning, street lighting, sidewalks, tree trimming, beautification projects, etc.)
f. libraries
g. "quality of life" issues (ex. "pooper scooper" laws, decibel (noise) levels, permitted colors of buildings, trees and landscaping, skateboard regulations, etc.)
h. social problems (ex. urban renewal, affordable housing, crime, race relations, drugs, street people, etc.)
What is a special district ?
It provides a service which overlaps city boundaries (ex. school district, water district, sewage, fire).
Sources of Revenue for cities and counties
a. Assessed Valuation (property tax)
b. sales tax
c. state and federal revenue sharing (block grants, categorical grants)
d. bonds
e. traffic tickets
Sources of revenue for the state
a. income tax
b. sales tax
a. contact your city counselor
b. lobby at council meetings
c. form a coalition and network of supporters
d. circulate a petition
e. stage a "media event" (ex. a demonstration)
f. write to the editor of your local paper
g. launch a recall campaign
h. attract support from higher level politicians, lobby groups or "experts" (ex. state legislator, member of Congress).
i. file a lawsuit
Governor - (4 year terms)
Assembly - (80 members 2 year terms)
Senate - (40 members, 4 year terms)
Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Secretary of State
Controller
Treasurer
Superintendant of public Instruction
Insurance Commissioner
Initiative
Referendum
Recall