Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge

1. Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge Requirement 3 by: David Seitz

2. Why I’m Doing This • For Communications Merit Badge, I have to teach a skill • I am very interested in politics and government • I decided to put my interest to work for all of us by teaching you everything you need to know for Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge requirement 3

3. Requirement 3A • Chart the organization of your local or state government. Show the top offices and tell which are elected or appointed. • This presentation is an outline of state, county, and municipal government • You can use the outline to make a chart and then talk to Mr. Hallberg or another Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge Counselor.

4. State and Types of Local Governments • State Government • County Government • Municipal (City) Government

5. Branches of American Government • Executive Branch – Helps to create laws and to enforce existing laws • Legislative Branch – Creates laws • Judicial Branch – Revises existing laws and helps to enforce laws

6. State Government – Executive Branch • Executive Branch – Governor and Administration • Governor – Elected by people to a 4-year term • Governor’s Cabinet and Administration – Help governor with policy, appointed by governor, approved by legislature • The Cabinet is composed of departments, while the rest of the administration is composed of committees and such

7. State Government – Executive Branch, Continued • Constitutional Officers – Parts of the executive branch required by the state constitution, all of whom are elected every 4 years • Lieutenant Governor – Serves as governor when governor is impeached, incapacitated, or out of state • Attorney General – State’s top law enforcement and prosecution officer • Secretary of State – Does a variety of things for the state • Treasurer – Collects, gives out the Money • Superintendent of Public Instruction – To assist and set standards for all public schools.

8. State Government – Legislative Branch • Legislative Branch – Legislature • Assembly (99 Equally Populated Area Districts) • Representatives elected every two years • Senate (33 Equally Populated Area Districts Composed of 3 Assembly Districts Each) • Senators elected every four years • Legislators meet to set the state budget and create laws

9. State Government – Judicial Branch • Judicial Branch –Court of Appeals • Court of Appeals – Cases appealed from county circuit courts • There are four districts, each centered around a major city. The cities are: Madison, Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Wausau • There are sixteen judges • The Judges are elected to 6-year terms • Three-Judge panels hear every appeals case, but some criminal cases are tried there

10. State Government – Judicial Branch, Continued • Supreme Court – Cases appealed from appeals courts • There are 7 Justices • The Justices are elected to 10-year terms • The governor appoints if there is a death or vacancy

11. County Government – Executive Branch • There are 72 Counties in Wisconsin • We live in Milwaukee County • Executive Branch – County Executive, County Administrator, or County Board Chairperson • County Executive – All counties bigger with at least 500,000 people are required to have an elected leader, and some of the smaller counties have them too • County Board Chairperson – Sometimes the leader of the county board is also the county’s administrative coordinator

12. County Government – Legislative Branch • Legislative Branch – County Board of Supervisors • Each represents an equally populated area district of the county • The Board’s chairperson is sometimes also the county administrator • There are 25 supervisors in Milwaukee county • County Boards range in size from Menominee County (7 members) to Dane and Outgamie Counties (tied for 39 members)

13. County Government – Judicial Branch • Judicial Branch – County Circuit Courts • The county circuit courts hear most criminal and civil cases about violating state law or county ordinance, and appealed cases from municipal courts • There are 69 circuits (three pairs of counties share courts) in the state • There are 241 circuit court judges in Wisconsin, because all counties need more than one circuit court judge • All judges are elected to 6-year terms

14. Municipal Government – Executive Branch • Mayors, Village Presidents, or other Municipal Leaders • City leaders are elected by the people, usually to two-year or four-year terms • Mayors of smaller towns are often paid part-time • Mayors enforce and help create new city laws, which are called ordinances • A mayor’s administration, which may contain many city departments, helps him or her to do this

15. Municipal Government – Legislative & Judicial Branches • City Common Council • The common council of a city is composed of elected aldermen • It makes the city’s ordinances and controls its budget • Municipal Courts • Municipal Judges are usually elected, but not always • Municipal Court deals with criminal cases that violate city ordinances. (ex. Illegal Parking)

16. Requirement 3B • Name the political parties in your community government and list four persons active in the politics of your community and what positions they hold. • Political parties are illegal for most city and county offices in Milwaukee County • I have links to websites so you can learn more about our elected officials

17. Internet Resources • http://www.ci.wauwatosa.wi.us/ -- The Official City of Wauwatosa Website • At the top there’s a link called “Elected Officials.” This was really helpful – it lists the mayor and all the aldermen, and there’s even a map, so you can find what aldermanic district you live in! • http://www.wauwatosaschools.com/ -- The Official Wauwatosa Public School District Website • On the left side there’s a heading called “School Board.” You’ll find the names and positions of the school board members at the link below it called “Board Members.”

18. Internet Resources, Continued • http://www.co.milwaukee.wi.us/ -- The Official County of Milwaukee Website • On the right side there are links to the County Executive and the County Board of Supervisors. (Hint: Wauwatosa is in the 20th and a small part of the 15th Supervisory Districts) • http://www.bsatroop21waumc.org/ -- The Official Troop 21 Website • There’s an announcement and a link to my powerpoint presentation and handouts online, so if you missed anything, don’t worry!

19. If you don’t have the internet… • You can go to the Wauwatosa public library and use the internet there • You can ask them to direct you to the pamphlet file on Wauwatosan history or politics.

20. The End Aww… It’s over already?