Chapter 12, Lesson 2 Outline, completed, non-highlighted
Chapter 12, Lesson 2 Outline, completed, non-highlighted
Name ____________________________
Date ____________________________
Period __________ HR ______________
Chapter 12 – “Local Government”
Lesson 2 – County Government
Directions: Read chapter 12, Lesson 2 and complete the outline below with information from the reading, choosing facts you believe to be important as well.
Lesson 2 – County Government (21 in NJ)
- Introduction
- The _county________ is normally a state’s largest territorial and political subdivision_.
- States grant these powers in charters, _plans of government, like mini constitutions_____.
- Alaska calls them _boroughs_; Louisiana calls them parishes__.
What is a County Seat?
- Towns/cities where the county courthouse is located are called _the county seat_, which is _Hackensack__ for Bergen County.
- _Usually the location of the county courthouse and government__.
Functions and Who Runs a County
- With modern transportation and population growth, cities__ in some areas provide services counties once provided, and some counties___ provide services cities once provided, like _sewer___ and _water___ service and _mass transit systems____.
- A group of officials called the _Board of Commissioners____ governs NJ counties. There are _seven (7)__ members on this board. (elected)
- Usually, each board member represents _smaller districts within the county____
- Laws passed by these county boards are called _ordinances_______.
- These boards can raise money by levying, or imposing, _taxes____ to pay for all services they provide, such as hospitals, parks, etc.
- Counties in NJ have an elected chief executive who appoints top officials and administers county government called the _county executive_______________. (elected)
Bergen County Executive, James J. Tedesco
Sheriffs, DAs, and More
- The sheriff is _the county’s chief law enforcement officer___ and his/her
department does things like _maintain the county jail, provide court security, deliver court orders, etc., prisoner transport_______. They also share law enforcement duties with the _local police departments____. (elected)
Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Sheriff
(2nd African American to be sheriff. Up for re-election.)
- The district attorney is _the county’s chief legal officer/investigator___ and he/she
investigates crimes, charges criminals, and prosecutes cases in court___. This position is called the county prosecutor in New Jersey.
Mark Musella, Bergen County Prosecutor
- The coroner establishes the cause of suspicious deaths while working with police and sheriff’s departments. In New Jersey, we have “medical examiners” instead. Perform autopsies on deceased individuals.
- The county clerk is _keeps county records, maps, and keeps track of voter registration and election results_.
John S. Hogan, Bergen County Clerk (up for re-election)
- The assessor establishes the worth of taxable property to determine taxes owed.___.
- The county treasurer supervises _all funds collected and makes payments. He/she is also the chief tax collector and is overseen by an auditor to be held accountable.
Some Interesting “Counties” Facts:
- San Francisco, CA, is both a city and a county.
- New York, NY, the nation’s largest city, is made up of five counties, called “boroughs” -- Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
- Loving County, TX, had only 82 inhabitants as of 2010. In 2019 it jumped to 169.
Chapter 12, Lesson 2 Outline, completed, non-highlighted
Name ____________________________
Date ____________________________
Period __________ HR ______________
Chapter 12 – “Local Government”
Lesson 2 – County Government
Directions: Read chapter 12, Lesson 2 and complete the outline below with information from the reading, choosing facts you believe to be important as well.
Lesson 2 – County Government (21 in NJ)
- Introduction
- The _county________ is normally a state’s largest territorial and political subdivision_.
- States grant these powers in charters, _plans of government, like mini constitutions_____.
- Alaska calls them _boroughs_; Louisiana calls them parishes__.
What is a County Seat?
- Towns/cities where the county courthouse is located are called _the county seat_, which is _Hackensack__ for Bergen County.
- _Usually the location of the county courthouse and government__.
Functions and Who Runs a County
- With modern transportation and population growth, cities__ in some areas provide services counties once provided, and some counties___ provide services cities once provided, like _sewer___ and _water___ service and _mass transit systems____.
- A group of officials called the _Board of Commissioners____ governs NJ counties. There are _seven (7)__ members on this board. (elected)
- Usually, each board member represents _smaller districts within the county____
- Laws passed by these county boards are called _ordinances_______.
- These boards can raise money by levying, or imposing, _taxes____ to pay for all services they provide, such as hospitals, parks, etc.
- Counties in NJ have an elected chief executive who appoints top officials and administers county government called the _county executive_______________. (elected)
Bergen County Executive, James J. Tedesco
Sheriffs, DAs, and More
- The sheriff is _the county’s chief law enforcement officer___ and his/her
department does things like _maintain the county jail, provide court security, deliver court orders, etc., prisoner transport_______. They also share law enforcement duties with the _local police departments____. (elected)
Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Sheriff
(2nd African American to be sheriff. Up for re-election.)
- The district attorney is _the county’s chief legal officer/investigator___ and he/she
investigates crimes, charges criminals, and prosecutes cases in court___. This position is called the county prosecutor in New Jersey.
Mark Musella, Bergen County Prosecutor
- The coroner establishes the cause of suspicious deaths while working with police and sheriff’s departments. In New Jersey, we have “medical examiners” instead. Perform autopsies on deceased individuals.
- The county clerk is _keeps county records, maps, and keeps track of voter registration and election results_.
John S. Hogan, Bergen County Clerk (up for re-election)
- The assessor establishes the worth of taxable property to determine taxes owed.___.
- The county treasurer supervises _all funds collected and makes payments. He/she is also the chief tax collector and is overseen by an auditor to be held accountable.
Some Interesting “Counties” Facts:
- San Francisco, CA, is both a city and a county.
- New York, NY, the nation’s largest city, is made up of five counties, called “boroughs” -- Manhattan, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
- Loving County, TX, had only 82 inhabitants as of 2010. In 2019 it jumped to 169.