Chapter 10
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around one of two kinds of government. In
one kind of government, the people of a city
or borough elect seven members to a
council
. The members serve a four-year
term. They are responsible for making local
laws for the city or borough. For example, a
borough council can pass a law stating you
are not allowed to have pet alligators!
Inmost cases, the town council is led by
a
mayor
. He or she is elected for four years
by the citizens. Themayor makes sure that
the laws passed by the council are carried
out. Sometimes, boroughs or cities hire
a
city manager
to run the local
government. This is a second form of local
government. Many city managers have
been trained to run the local government.
Each city or borough also hires workers
for special jobs. Local government is
responsible for providing a good water
supply, collecting trash, repairing sewer
lines, operating a water treatment plant,
fixing local roads, and so on. The police
chief enforces the laws within the borough
or city. The tax collector collects the tax
money that the community needs to run
the local government. This money would
pay teachers and school officials, police
officers, and local government workers.
Townships also have their form of local
government. The voters of each type
of township elect from three to five
township supervisors
for four years to
six years. They run the township
government similarly to the borough
council.
People called
district justices
explain
the law at the local level. Our state has
more than500district justices. Theyhandle
the smaller crimes. They can issue
search
warrants
. A search warrant gives police
the right to search someone’s property for
goods involved in a crime. They also can
holdhearings todecide if a case goes to the
county court. There is not a jury at the
district justice level. If someone is found
guilty of a crime, the district justice can
place a person in a county jail for a length
of time.
All types of government have a few things
in common. They represent the people.
They are responsible for deliveringprograms
and services tobettermeet theneeds of their
citizens. However, government costsmoney.
That is why all types of government have
thepower to set and collect taxes and topass
laws. That’s why we pay taxes at the
national, state, county, and local levels— to
pay for these services.
ReviewQuestions
1. Name the four types of local government.
2. Which is the highest form of local government?
3. What is themain purpose of the county seat?
4. What are the people calledwho are elected to run the county government?
5. What is the name given to the people elected to run cities and boroughs?
9. What are the names given to the two kinds of leaders of cities and boroughs?
7. What is the name given to peoplewho explain the law at the local level?
8. What are two things that all levels of government have in common?
