GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE
One of our members asked me to try to frame an organizational chart about how government is structured in America. It is a daunting task but Ill give it a shot, at least hit the high points.
I will begin from the bottom up. Some of these things will vary from state to state but not much.
1. There is a city council and a mayor or it may be a city management type government where the manager is given the power to make decisionsoverseen by the council.
2. Counties are generally run by a County Commission and they elect from among themselves a Chairman. In some cases they may hire a county manager. Otherwise the Chairman has to put in a lot of time running the affairs of the county.
3. Sheriffs, tax appraisers and tax collectors are generally elected on a county level as are other local officials like the voter registrar. He/she will oversee all election activities of the county including registration and running the polling places on election day. Even District Attorneys are generally elected and he appoints his assistants. Felonies are tried in State courts while most misdemeanors are tried in city or county courts or traffic court.
4. States are governed by two legislative branches, the House of Representatives and the Senate. In many cases the Lt. Gov. also presides over the Senate and makes committee appointments whereas the House is controlled by the Speaker, very much like the Federal Govt. is run. Of course there are many variations of this as required by 50 State Constitutions. I think one or two states may operate with only one house but I don't remember which they are.
5. Governors are elected by popular vote and have the power to veto any bill passed by the legislature. Again, this is not always the case as in North Carolina where their governor has no veto power.
6. The federal government so far as lawmaking is concerned, is handled by two branches, The House and The Senate. Both are organized very much like the descriptions above for individual states. Of course the President and Vice President are elected by an electoral college, whereas they receive all the electoral votes in any state where they carry a majority.
7. The President has veto power but can be overridden by a 2/3rd vote by both houses.
8. The Vice President is also President of the Senate but generally does not preside there unless a vote is likely to be tied where he is then empowered to cast the tie breaker.
9. All spending bills must originate in the House of Representatives. The Senate must then pass the same bill for it to become law (after the president signs it of course). Bills other than spending bills may originate in the Senate but again must be passed by the House before it goes to the president for his approval.
10. In all governmental levels there are the courts. In many cases they are elected. In others they are appointed. In the case of federal judges, they are all appointed while at state levels and county and district levels most are elected although that varies state by state.
Government is a very confusing thing. Much can be learned by studying the Constitution in depth. You can find it at this link. p074.ezboard.com/fthegood...ID=2.topic
Anyone is invited to add to this or make corrections. I just wrote it in a few minutes from memory and didn't take the time to verify anything. I think it is essentially correct but is very INCOMPLETE.
One of our members asked me to try to frame an organizational chart about how government is structured in America. It is a daunting task but Ill give it a shot, at least hit the high points.
I will begin from the bottom up. Some of these things will vary from state to state but not much.
1. There is a city council and a mayor or it may be a city management type government where the manager is given the power to make decisionsoverseen by the council.
2. Counties are generally run by a County Commission and they elect from among themselves a Chairman. In some cases they may hire a county manager. Otherwise the Chairman has to put in a lot of time running the affairs of the county.
3. Sheriffs, tax appraisers and tax collectors are generally elected on a county level as are other local officials like the voter registrar. He/she will oversee all election activities of the county including registration and running the polling places on election day. Even District Attorneys are generally elected and he appoints his assistants. Felonies are tried in State courts while most misdemeanors are tried in city or county courts or traffic court.
4. States are governed by two legislative branches, the House of Representatives and the Senate. In many cases the Lt. Gov. also presides over the Senate and makes committee appointments whereas the House is controlled by the Speaker, very much like the Federal Govt. is run. Of course there are many variations of this as required by 50 State Constitutions. I think one or two states may operate with only one house but I don't remember which they are.
5. Governors are elected by popular vote and have the power to veto any bill passed by the legislature. Again, this is not always the case as in North Carolina where their governor has no veto power.
6. The federal government so far as lawmaking is concerned, is handled by two branches, The House and The Senate. Both are organized very much like the descriptions above for individual states. Of course the President and Vice President are elected by an electoral college, whereas they receive all the electoral votes in any state where they carry a majority.
7. The President has veto power but can be overridden by a 2/3rd vote by both houses.
8. The Vice President is also President of the Senate but generally does not preside there unless a vote is likely to be tied where he is then empowered to cast the tie breaker.
9. All spending bills must originate in the House of Representatives. The Senate must then pass the same bill for it to become law (after the president signs it of course). Bills other than spending bills may originate in the Senate but again must be passed by the House before it goes to the president for his approval.
10. In all governmental levels there are the courts. In many cases they are elected. In others they are appointed. In the case of federal judges, they are all appointed while at state levels and county and district levels most are elected although that varies state by state.
Government is a very confusing thing. Much can be learned by studying the Constitution in depth. You can find it at this link. p074.ezboard.com/fthegood...ID=2.topic
Anyone is invited to add to this or make corrections. I just wrote it in a few minutes from memory and didn't take the time to verify anything. I think it is essentially correct but is very INCOMPLETE.



