Black Political Training Toolkit

BLACK POLITICAL TRAINING TOOLKIT

www.AdvanceCarolina.org

2021

CONTE NT S Who We Are 3 An Abbreviated History: African Americans in North Carolina Politics

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Glossary of Terms 6 Political Environmental Justice Voter Education Policy Processes Public Policy 101 Black Political Organizations in North Carolina 12 How the United States is Organized 14 Federal Positions State Positions County Positions City + Town Positions References

WHO WE ARE Advance North Carolina (Advance Carolina), a 501c(4), is a statewide, independent, BlackLed, organization with a mission to build political and economic power in Black communities and institutions in North Carolina.

Our mission is to educate and mobilize African-American and progressive voters to take charge of their communities amid inclusive, committed and authentic engagement in order to advance community-based political solutions.

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A N AB B RE V IA TE D H I ST O RY

African Americans in North Carolina Politics

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uring slavery and before the Civil War, North Carolina African American men and women have had a hunger for being a part of the political process yet could not actively participate until the Reconstruction Era. Throughout slavery, Black slaves were only used as property and political props to bolster white southern political power.

They had no agency over themselves and their political power. Sadly enough, African Americans did not even equate to a whole person. White politicians commodified Black bodies to be three-fifths of a white person, which gave slaveholders more political power.

Fortunately, freed African Americans had a brief opportunity to tap into their political potential in the Reconstruction Era. Slavery set the precedent that African Americans would not be seen as equal to their white counterparts in United States politics.

to ensure Union rebels would stay in line. During Reconstruction, the 15th Amendment was ratified, giving African American men the right to vote. Several African American men were also elected to political office. Many white male property owners were upset that newly freed African Americans gained so much political power and sought to change that. During the subsequent election cycle, newly appointed African American lawmakers were removed from their offices, and new restrictions were put in place regarding who could participate in elections. Laws like the Grandfather Rule, reading tests, and poll taxes were created to ensure that African Americans would not gain more political power in North Carolina.

Moreover, voter intimidation tactics used by the Ku Klux Klan fueled fear among African Americans. The use of vigilante intimidation plus the passage of Jim Crow laws began an Since the state government was in shambles era of voter suppression that made it difficult from the Civil War, North Carolina had to for African Americans to participate in the rebuild politically and economically during political process until the 1960s.

Reconstruction. To do this, President Andrew Johnson sent military troops to North Carolina

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Despite the institutional disenfranchisement, African Americans in North Carolina found subversive ways to resist political dispossession.

They created and used social institutions like social clubs, Greek Letter Organizations, and faith-based communities to organize and mobilize their communities to fight against injustices. Building on the traditional role of women as moral agents within society, African American women were particularly masterful organizers during this adverse political environment.

With more than 30 years of involvement in temperance societies, Republican aid groups, and churches, Black women in North Carolina became critical spokespersons for their communities. They managed to turn the Progressive crusade for public cleanliness into a means to improve the living conditions of many African Americans. Regardless of these efforts, most white North Carolinians sought only to refine the Jim Crow system and retain systematic segregation through the premise of separate but equal facilities. However, even amid oppressive efforts, the work of these social institutions and organizing efforts laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement.

During the 1950s and 1960s, African Americans began to make many legal reform strides regarding reinstating rights for Black people in society. The most notable actions were the legal case of Blue v. Durham Board of

Education in 1951, the school integration efforts of 1957 in Charlotte, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, and the Greensboro Four SitIn in 1960. All the mobilization during the 1950s and 1960s led to the adoption of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After its adoption, African Americans began to shift their attention to obtaining political offices and politically furthering the issues that pertain to Black North Carolinians. Although African Americans were ‘documented’ equally, there have been and continues to be remnants of Jim Crow political tactics. Racialized violence such as the Wilmington Bombing of 1972 and political tactics like redlining and gerrymandering still suppress African American political power.

Even today, African Americans still fight voter suppression with the passing of Voter ID laws in the 2018 election and absentee ballot fraud in the 2018 Congressional District Nine race.

Regardless of the racial backlash, Black people continue to persevere, rebuild and rebrand themselves in North Carolina. African American North Carolinians are resilient people who will not allow voter suppression and voter intimidation to get the best of them. For African American North Carolinians, 2022 is a crucial year. It is our time to fight for what is right and continue building Black political power in North Carolina.

REF ERENC ES North Carolina Museum of History NCPedia.org North Carolina Historic Sites The New York Times

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1-on-1 - a meeting scheduled by an organizer to get to know a person better.

Usually, at the end of this meeting, the organizer will ask the person to volunteer with the organization/ campaign.

G LO S SA RY O F T E R M S

Action - A tool to mobilize people around certain social or political issues. Types of actions include rallies, and protests.

Activist - a person who galvanizes a group of people around a political or social issue to act.

Advocacy - an activity by a person or organization that aims to influence political decisions.

Alinsky Method - Alinsky used symbol construction and nonviolent conflict to create a structured organization with a clearly defined goal that could take direct action against a common enemy.

At this point, Alinsky would withdraw from the organization to allow their progress to be powered by the community itself.

Ally - a person or group that provides assistance and support in an ongoing effort https://www.merriam-webster.com/ dictionary/ally Ask - to frame a request for a person to participate with a group or an organization in the future.

Base -the group of people and organizations who are deeply committed to your issue, many times directly impacted by your issue or serve people who are. https://residentactionproject. files.wordpress.com/2017/05/communityorganizing-101-tookit-for-organizing.pdf Call List - a catalog of phone numbers that staff and volunteers use in phone banking.

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Canvassing - a systematic approach of getting the word out about a particular campaign. Most times this is done by walking door-to-door in a neighborhood and persuading a resident to participate in the campaign.

Capacity Building - the process of recruiting organizations and people to participate in a social issue or campaign.

This process is often referred to as building a base.

Civic Engagement - the process of helping people be active participants in building and strengthening their communities centered around the rights and duties of citizenship.

Coalition Building - a way for organizations to build political power. Organizations can bolster their competence and capacity by forming deliberate partnerships with other organizations that complement their strengths. https://www. communitycatalyst.org/resources/tools/ grassroots/what-is-grassroots-organizing Community Engagement - a strategic process with the purpose of working with an identified group of people on a specific social or political issue.

Constituent - A person who is represented politically by a designated government official or officeholder. http://webhome. auburn.edu/~johnspm/gloss/constituent. phtml County Table - County Tables regularly convene and adopt county-specific political strategies to address political, economic, health, environmental, and educational issues. Advance Carolina supports their County Tables by providing data and strategic talking points that advance the table’s political strategy.

Data - information collected for volunteer recruitment. This information includes name, phone number, email and any other useful information that would be pertinent to the organization to have.

Debrief - a meeting to question someone or a group of people around a completed event.

Digital Advertisement - the use of the Internet to influence political debate and ultimately persuade people to vote for a particular candidate.

Electorate - is a group of people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election.

Faith Based Organizing (“Souls to the Polls”) - a organizing and activist tactic to mobilize African American voters through their church/ faith community.

Fellows - Unpaid or paid staff that are a part of an organization for a limited amount of time that work with full-time staff.

Fundraising - the seeking of financial support for a charity, cause, or other enterprise.

-Oxford Dictionary Gentrification - a general term for the arrival of wealthier people in an existing urban district. When this happens, rent increases as well as property values. This changes the district’s character and culture. http://archive. pov.org/flagwars/what-is-gentrification/ Gerrymandering - Elected officials draw voting districts to be in favor of their party or constituency block. https://www.lexico.com/ en/definition/gerrymander Get-Out-To-Vote (GOTV) - The process and plan to ensure that people make it to vote on election day.

Goal - the aim or desired result for an organization. Usually referred to as the mission/vision statement.

Grassroots Organizing - a way to build political power by involving a constituency in identifying both the problems they share and the solutions to those problems. This is a bottom-up approach to organizing. https:// www.communitycatalyst.org/resources/tools/ grassroots/what-is-grassroots-organizing Issue Campaigns - an organized action around a social issue or political issue.

Lobbying - any attempt by individuals or private interest groups to influence the decisions of government. https://www. britannica.com/topic/lobbying Messaging - a set of talking points that campaign staff use to talk about their work to voters and to the media.

Mobilize - activities and/or conversations that are intended to motivate a person to participate in a campaign.

Organizer - a person who unites people around a political or social issue to build capacity.

Parachute Organizing - a method of organizing that temporarily moves organizers to a community to work for a campaign.

Once the campaign is done, the organizer leaves.

Party to the Polls - is an event to encourage people to vote in an election. The event is usually centered around food, music, and voting information so voters have everything they need to vote.

Persuasion - the attempt to influence a person’s choice on a social issue or who to vote for in an election. www.AdvanceCarolina.org| 7

PO L ITI CA L T E R M S Phone Banking - a way to reach out to voters via phone to share information about a specific campaign.

Pledge Cards/Commitment Cards - a piece of campaign literature that asks voters to commit to voting for a candidate or a particular issue. There is often a space to encourage the voter to also volunteer for the organization. https://changemediagroup. com/value-pledge-cards-brief-overview/ Political Campaign - an organized action around a person running for political office Protest - An action used by a mass group of people to voice their disapproval of a cause of concern.

Rally - an organized gathering of people of similar beliefs that is focused around raising morale and support towards a social issue or political candidate. https://www. davemanuel.com/investor-dictionary/ political-rally/ Redistricting - the process of redrawing legislative districts. The Uniform Congressional District Act (enacted in 1967) requires that representatives be elected from singlemember districts. When a state has a single representative, that district will be statewide.

Redlining - refusal to rent or sell (a loan or insurance) to someone because they live in an area deemed to be a poor financial risk.

-oxford dictionary Relational Voter Program (RVP)/Crucial Conversations - is a tactic to communicate with voters. This program uses an individual’s personal contacts as a list of people to reach out to, encourage to vote, and to get involved in elections.

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Stakeholder - a person or group who has an interest or a stake in an organization. https://www.stakeholdermap.com/politicalstakeholders.html Storytelling- a personal story that an organizer or activist uses to persuade people to participate in their campaign.

Strategic Planning - a process to set priorities and common goals for an organization to ensure that staff have a clear focus.

Strategy - the overall campaign plan of an organization.

Tactic- carefully planned action used to attain a specific objective.

Targeting - determined focus of resources, time, and money towards a specific group of people that is tied to the political strategy of the community.

Volunteer Recruitment- Asking a person to work for a campaign without pay. People are often recruited to volunteer through phone banking and canvassing.

Voter Action Network (VAN) - a voter database that includes the voter files for all registered individuals in a state.

Voter Intimidation - tactics and strategies to put pressure and stress on marginalized communities to deter them from voting.

Voter Suppression - a strategy used to discourage marginalized communities from participating in elections.

Voter Turnout- the percentage of voters who cast a ballot in an election.

Win - a success or victory in accomplishing a goal.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Environmental JUSTICE

Advance North Carolina works to improve the conditions of Black North Carolinians and address environmental discrimination that is ongoing in our state.

Air Pollution - type of environmental pollution that contaminates the air, usually harmful smoke or other poisonous gases.

Protecting communities from toxic waste and other sources of pollution. Focusing on the people and the environment they live in.

Climate Disasters - This is a term used for hurricanes and other natural disasters made worse by climate change and pollution created by major corporations.

Environmental Racism - The practice of corporations using Black, Indigenous and LatinX communities as dumping grounds. The term is used to define environmental injustice that occurs within a racialized way in both policy (laws) and practice.

Climate Justice - Climate justice is a term used to frame global warming as an ethical and political issue, rather than one that is purely environmental or physical in nature.

Coal Ash - the toxic remains of coal burning in power plants, is full of chemicals that cause cancer, developmental disorders and reproductive problems. It poisons our air and water, and kills fish and wildlife.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) - A large farm or corporate farm that has over 1000 animals confined for 45 days a year.

Disaster Capitalism - The action of exploiting national crisis, this includes climate disasters: hurricanes and major storm systems. To create and establish controversial and questionable policies that hurt Black and Brown communities. Examples are gentrification (to take housing and land from original tenants) following a hurricane.

Environmental Justice - the action of centering people, specifically people-ofcolor in environmental laws and policy.

Food Deserts - a community, neighborhood or area that has limited access to fresh healthy foods. Limited access to grocery stores or supermarkets. Also called a food oasis.

Food Insecurity - The measurement used to evaluate a person’s access to healthy foods.

Fracking - To inject a poisonous liquid at high pressure into rocks in order to force the earth to open in order to pull out gas Frontline Communities - The communities who are hit first and the hardest by natural disasters, environmental corporations. The communities are majority communities-ofcolor and low-wealth communities.

Just Recovery - Supporting frontline communities in their full economic recovery and building of political power to rebuild and shape their communities following disasters.

This includes healthy jobs, restored homes without contaminants such as mold, clean air, clean water and clean land. www.AdvanceCarolina.org| 9

Offshore Drilling - To drill into the earth underneath the ocean to extract petroleum and natural gas.

Onshore Drilling - To drill deep holes into the earth’s surface to extract oil and gas

G LO S SA RY O F T E R M S

Runoff - how toxins are spilled into the water supply of communities. Toxins can include: sewage, medical waste, animal waste, fertilizers, petroleum, litter and other chemicals.

PFAS - a man-made chemical, called forever chemicals, because they can not be boiled, killed or eliminated. This chemical has been known to cause increased rates of cancer, lung and bronchial diseases and childhood diseases.

Resiliency - The ability to recover from difficult situations.

Urban Heat Island - An urban area with more concrete/asphalt than grass. These concrete areas retain the sun’s heat and increases in temperature. The hot temperatures can elevate community members’ body temperature, increase high blood pressure, and hyper-tension.

Vulnerable Communities - are groups and communities at a higher risk for poor health as a result of the barriers they experience to social, economic, political and environmental resources, as well as limitations due to illness or disability.

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DID YOU KNOW

56%

of residents living within a 2-mine radius of toxic waste facilities are people of color.

Black American in 19 states are more than TWICE as likely as Whites to live in neighborhoods with high pollution levels, compared to Hispanics in 12 states and Whites in 7 states.

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79%

of Black Americans are more likely than whites to live where industrial pollution poses the greatest risk.

Harmful environmental corporations and impacts are mapped closely with Jim Crow housing segregation and discriminatory zoning and land use practices.

PUBLIC POLICY TERMS Equitable Policy - Knowledge and understanding of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in policy making, analysis, and implementation with a focus on equity impact. Common Health Action.

Laws - the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties. (Find Source Here) Public Policy - public policy is simply what the government (any public official who influences or determines public policy, including school officials, city council members, county supervisors, etc.) does or does not do about a problem that comes before them for consideration and possible action. (Find source here)

VOT E R E D U CAT I O N TERMS Absentee Ballot - In North Carolina an absentee ballot is a ballot that is requested by a voter who is not able to vote in-person at a voting precinct.

Ballot Harvesting - This is an action where absentee ballots were stolen which forced a given outcome in a political race. This happened most notably in District 9, a district that was heavy in Black and Brown voters and disenfranchisement.

Curbside Voting - In any election, if any voter is able to travel to the voting place, but because of age or physical disability and physical barriers encountered at the voting place is unable to enter the voting enclosure to vote in person without physical assistance, that voter will be allowed to vote in the vehicle conveying that voter. (Find Source Here)

General Election - an election in which candidates are elected to offices. This is in contrast to a primary election, which is used either to narrow the field of candidates for a given elective office or to determine the nominees for political parties in advance of a general election. (Find source here) Gerrymandering- manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class to achieve (a result) by manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency.

Primary Election- are the process by which voters can indicate their preference for their party’s candidate, or a candidate in general, in an upcoming general election, local election, or by-election. Depending on the country and administrative divisions within the country, voters might consist of the general public in what is called an open primary, or solely the members of a political party in what is called a closed primary. In addition to these, there are other variants on primaries (which are discussed below) that are used by many countries holding elections throughout the world.(Find source here) Mid-Term Election: (Blue Moon Election)refers to a type of election where the people can elect their representatives and other subnational officeholders (e.g. governor, members of local council) in the middle of the term of the executive. This is usually used to describe elections to a governmental body (generally a legislature) that are staggered so that the number of offices of that body would not be up for election at the same time. (Find Source Here) Voting - a formal expression of opinion or choice, either positive or negative, made by an individual or body of individuals. The means by which such expression is made, as a ballot, ticket, etc.

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G LO S SA RY O F T E R M S

Voter ID Laws - These were laws passed with the intention of keeping Black and Brown voters from the polls due to lack of access to “proper” sources of Identification. The Laws argument given to pass these laws was language that made it seem as if this was an attempt to protect the North Carolina Vote from Voter Fraud.

POLICY PROCESSES Bill - The principal vehicle employed by lawmakers for introducing their proposals (enacting or repealing laws, for example) in the House and Senate. (Find Source Here) Bill Drafting - The process of drafting a bill Bill Process- A bill is a proposed change to the general statutes. The Legislative Services Commission’s Bill Drafting Division drafts bills at the request of the members of the General Assembly. The Office of the Attorney General has the statutory duty to draft bills for the State departments and agencies generally,

B L AC K P O L I T I CA L O R GA N I Z AT I O N S I N N O R T H CA R O L I N A • North Carolina Black Alliance www.NCBlackAlliance.org • North Carolina National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) www.naacpnc.org/ • NC IGNITE https://ncignite.org • Black University www.blackuniversity.black • Southerners on New Ground www.southernersonnewground.org 12 | BLACK POLITICAL TRAINING TOOLKIT 2020

including the General Assembly. Thus, legislators have two separate offices to which they may turn for drafts of bills.

(Find Source Here) Citizens Lobbying- It is a form of advocacy that focuses on educating or influencing representatives in our government. You do not need money or power to lobby. You need only a voice (Find Source Here) Lobbying - an attempt to influence government action through either written or oral communication. (Find Source Here) Public Commenting- is a public meeting of government bodies which set aside time for public comments, usually upon documents. Such documents may either be reports such as Draft Environmental Impact Reports (DEIR’s) or new regulations. There is typically a notice which is posted on the web and mailed to lists of interested parties known to the government agencies (Find Source Here)

• BYP 100 - Durham www.byp100.org/durham-chapter • SpiritHouse Inc. www.spirithouse-nc.org • A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) www.apri.org/apri-chapters.html • National Forum for Public Administrators Triad Chapter www.nfbpa.org/ncnctriadchapter/abouttriad-chapter • Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People www.dcabp.org • Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association • Wake County Voter Coalition • Charlotte Black Political Caucus • Eastern North Carolina Civic Group • Black Workers for Justice

501(c)(4) STRUCTURE

Targeted Voter Guides

Candidate Endorsement

Unlimited Lobbying

Targeted Distribution of Voting Records

Independent Expenditure Campaigns

Candidate Focused Materials

County Table Organizing Political Accountability Local, State, Federal Endorsements www.AdvanceCarolina.org| 13

H OW T HE UNITE D S TAT ES G O V ERNM ENT IS OR GANIZE D The United States government is organized into three branches of government -- legislative, executive and judicial.

• The legislative branch includes Congress, which encompasses the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives.

• The executive branch includes the President, Vice President, the Cabinet, and executive departments.

• The judicial branch evaluates laws and includes the United States Supreme Court and other federal courts.

There are checks and balances for each branch of government. The President can veto bills passed by Congress, and Congress can confirm or reject appointments made by the President. In addition, Congress can impeach or remove the President from office in certain circumstances. The United States Supreme Court Justices can overturn laws in their decisions, and they are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Our three levels of government include federal, state, and local. The federal government runs the entire country, while State governments have all powers not given to the federal government. Finally, the local government has the power to deal with issues on a local level.

There are checks and balances for each branch of government. The President can veto bills passed by Congress. Congress can confirm or reject appointments made by the President. In addition, Congress can impeach or remove the President from office in certain circumstances. The United States Supreme Court Justices can overturn laws in their decisions.

They are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Our three levels of government include federal, state, and local. The federal government runs the entire country. The state government has all powers not given to the federal government.

The local government has the power to deal with issues on a local level.

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Three Branches of Government FEDERAL LEVEL

L E V E L S O F G OV E R N M E N T

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P O S I T I O N S O F G OV E R N M E N T

FEDERAL POSITIONS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

The Vice President of the United States

Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, limited to 2 terms

Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, limited to 2 terms

Requirements: Natural born citizen, 35 years of age, and must have been a United States resident for at least 14 years.

Requirements: Natural born citizen, 35 years of age, and must have been a United States resident for at least 14 years.

Elected or Appointed: Not directly elected by the citizens of the United States, he is elected by members of the Electoral College.

Elected or Appointed: Not directly elected by the citizens of the United States, he is elected by members of the Electoral College.

Duties: The President is head of government in the United States of America and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

The President directly oversees all agencies of the executive branch of government.

The primary duty of the President is to ensure that all U.S. laws are carried out and that the federal government is being ran effectively. The President has the power to veto bills that are approved by the legislature, oversee foreign policy by making treaties with foreign nations, and appoint ambassadors. The President appoints members of the Cabinet, United States Supreme Court, and federal judges.

Duties: The Vice President is the second highest executive officer of the Unites States government. The Vice President has the duty to take over as President of the United States if the President dies, resigns or is impeached. The Vice President also presides over the Senate, and can vote if necessary to break a deadlock. The Vice President presides over joint sessions of Congress. The Vice President has a permanent seat on the National Security Council.

Impact on your life: The United States Supreme Court Justices and federal judges appointed by the President of the United States can affect the outcome of court cases with controversial issues or constitutional rights. The President’s actions can impact our relationships with other countries and our safety in the United States.

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Impact on your life: Influence national security policy and foreign policy. The Vice President of the United States could help either influence decisions of the law or help make the law.

Presidential Cabinet Member Term or term limit: Cabinet members hold their positions during the president’s administration.

Requirements: A cabinet member cannot be a member of Congress. There are no age or birthplace requirements Elected or Appointed: The President must appoint the head of 15 executive departments and then they must be confirmed by the Senate.

Duties: The Cabinet is an advisory board for the President of the United States. The cabinet members run the federal agencies and are responsible for the enforcement and administration of federal laws.

Impact on your life: The Secretary of State’s decisions can impact the prices that consumers pay for goods. The Secretary of the Treasury influences our banking system and tax policies.

United States Senator Term and Term Limit: 6 year terms, None Requirements: 30 years of age, US citizen for at least 9 years, resident of the state in which one is elected.

Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: A senator has the power to introduce bills and resolutions and considers legislation proposed by the United States House of Representatives. A committee of the Senate is responsible for examining and discussing bills to accept or reject. The entire Senate votes on accepted bills. If the bill is approved by the entire Senate, then the bill is sent to the House for consideration. If the House accepts the bill without any changes the bill is then sent

to the President where he/she can either sign the bill or veto it. The Senate is also responsible for confirming the appointments of Cabinet members, the United States Supreme Court Justices, and other federal judges. The Senate must also approve treaties that the executive branch makes with a two-thirds vote and hold impeachment trials to determine whether a government official is guilty of such charge.

Impact on your life: Senators impact the laws that are enforced and treaties that are approved. Senators decide which cabinet members, supreme court justices, and federal judges are confirmed or rejected.

United States House of Representative Term and Term Limit: 2 year terms, None Requirements: 25 years of age, U.S citizen for at least 7 years, resident of the state in which one is elected.

Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Congress. The House has 435 representatives. House members represent specific geographic districts within their state.

House members are responsible for passing federal legislation. The bills approved by the house must also be approved by the Senate and signed by the President of the United States before becoming law. The House members have the power to initiate revenue bills, to impeach officials, and to elect the President of the United States if there is no majority in the Electoral College.

Impact on your life: House members impact the laws that are enforced and impeach the President of the United States.

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UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT JUSTICE Term and Term limit: Life term, unless impeached

P O S I T I O N S O F G OV E R N M E N T

Requirements: There are no specific requirements according to the Constitution, however every Justice must be licensed attorney.

Elected or Appointed: Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Duties: There are nine Supreme Court Justices and they hear and decide cases.

The justices have the power to check the actions of the President and Congress. In addition, they are responsible for reviewing emergency applications from the federal circuit courts of appeals.

Impact on your life: Due to a life term, the Supreme Court Justices impact law and society long after the President’s term is over. Justices decide on disputes between the executive and legislative branch.

Justices determine the outcome of cases that have controversial or constitutional issues.

FEDERAL JUDGE Term and limit: Life term, unless impeached.

Requirements: There are no specific requirements according to the Constitution, however members of Congress, who typically recommend potential nominees, and the Department of Justice, which reviews nominees’ qualifications, have developed their own informal criteria.

Elected or Appointed: Appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Duties: Federal judges are responsible

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for interpreting the law, determining the constitutionality and applying it to individual cases. Federal judges hear cases involving the laws and treaties of United States ambassadors and public ministers, disputes between two or more states, admiralty law, and bankruptcy cases.

Impact on your life: Federal judges decide how laws should be interpreted. Federal judges also decide on disputes between different states.

S TAT E POSITIONS UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT JUSTICE Term and Term limit: Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, Varies (some states are 2 terms) Requirements: 30 years of age, U.S. citizen for at least 5 years , resident of North Carolina for at least 2 years Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: A governor is a leader who is elected by residents of a state. The Governor appoints state leaders, manages state funding, enforces new state laws and programs, and works to improve their state’s overall well-being. The governor’s specific duties and responsibilities are mandated by the state constitution and legislative statutes. They include directing all phases of the state budget, from initial preparation through execution; serving as commander in chief of the state militia; chairing the Council of State; convening special legislative sessions; faithfully executing the laws of the state; granting pardons, commuted prison sentences, and issuing extradition warrants; joining interstate compacts; reorganizing and consolidating state agencies under his or

her direct control; exercising final authority over state expenditures and administering funds and loans from the federal government; and delivering the annual state-of-the-state address to a joint session of the legislature.

Impact on your life: The governor is the Chief Executive Officer of the state. Governors have the ability to sign bills into law and veto them.

As state managers, governors are responsible for implementing state laws and overseeing the operation of the state executive branch. As state leaders, governors advance and pursue new and revised policies and programs. The governor can issue executive orders, use executive budgets, and enact legislative proposals.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, varies Requirements: 30 years of age, U.S. citizen for at least 5 years, resident of North Carolina for at least 2 years Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: High officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a “second-in-command”. In North Carolina, the Lieutenant Governor acts as the President of the North Carolina Senate. By the office (Ex officio), the lieutenant governor is a member of The North Carolina Council of State, The North Carolina Board of Education, The North Carolina Capital Planning Commission, and The North Carolina Board of Community Colleges, and serves as the Chairman of The Learning Commission.

Impact on your life: Lieutenant Governor performs the duties of the Governor in the event of the Governor’s death, impeachment, or disability. The Lieutenant governor is the president of the senate and has the final vote if there is a tie.

Attorney General Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, None Requirements: Must be authorized to practice law in North Carolina Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The Attorney General of North Carolina is elected a head of the State’s Department of Justice. The North Carolina constitution stipulates that the Attorney General’s duties include providing legal representation and advice to all state agencies, government department and commissions. The Attorney General also provides legal opinions at the request of other public officials and handles all criminal appeals from state trial courts.

When the state’s public interests are at stake, the Attorney General can take legal action on behalf of North Carolina’s citizens.

The Attorney General: • Consults with and advises judges, district attorneys, magistrates and municipal and county attorneys when they request assistance and when permitted under the Rules of Professional Conduct • May intervene in proceedings before any courts, regulatory officers, agencies or bodies, either state or federal, on behalf of the State • May institute court proceeding on behalf of the State, its agencies or its citizens in any and all public interest matters The Office does not: • Have the authority to prosecute specific crimes unless requested to do so by the local district attorney • Have authority over local district attorneys, local law enforcement, or courts • In most instances, cannot provide legal advice to individuals or private organizations

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P O S I T I O N S O F G OV E R N M E N T

Impact on your life: Chief legal advisor and law enforcer for the state. Represents the people(state) in civil and criminal matters in all state and federal courts. The attorney general provides legal opinions and representation to all state departments.

This office gives citizens the power to have more clarification on matters of the law. The Attorney General can be a very powerful tool if a big court case were to arise in the life of a North Carolina citizen.

Secretary of State Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, None Requirements: Qualified North Carolina Voter and at least 21 years of age.

Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The North Carolina Secretary of State is an elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina, heading the Department of the Secretary of State, which oversees many of the economic and business-related operations of the state government. Unlike many states, the North Carolina Secretary of State does not oversee state elections in North Carolina. The position of Secretary of State is the oldest government office in the state of North Carolina, dating back to 1665 as the record keeper for the Province of Carolina.

The duties of the Secretary of State are to receive and keep all conveyances and mortgages belonging to the State; distribute annually the statutes and the legislative journals, issue charters and all necessary certificates for their incorporation, domestication, suspension, reinstatement, cancellation, and dissolution of corporations as may be required by the corporation laws of the State; administer the Securities Law of the State regulating the issuance and sale of securities; grant, receive, and keep all oaths of public officials required by law to be filed in the Secretary’s office; regulate the solicitation

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of contributions pursuant to Chapter 131F of the General Statutes; and apply for and accept grants from the federal government and its agencies and from any foundation, corporation, association, or individual to effectuate the purposes of the Nonprofit Corporation Act, Chapter 55A of the General Statutes, and to further aid in the operation and development of nonprofit corporations. The Secretary shall comply with the terms, conditions, and limitations of grants applied for and accepted and shall expend grant funds pursuant to Chapter 143C of the General Statutes, The State Budget Act. Impact on your life: The Secretary of State is a relevant position to North Carolina citizens because this is the person who keeps record of past land mortgages, and other important records. This office acts as the enforcer to counties and making sure that they uphold state regulated expectations of record-keeping and newly administered laws. One very important function that this office has is the ability to apply and accept grants from the government and any of its agencies. If the state were to need extra money, this office can go apply for funding in order to obtain it.

Commissioner of Agriculture Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, None Requirements: Qualified North Carolina Voter and at least 21 years of age.

Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The Commissioner directs the implementation of more than 75 different laws and programs. The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ divisions have responsibilities in regulatory and service areas covering agronomy; animal health; weights and measures; gas and oil inspection; crop and livestock statistics; USDA commodity distribution;

state farm operations; food, drug and cosmetic testing for purity; agricultural marketing and promotion; agricultural marketing grading; international agricultural crop and livestock marketing; operation of the North Carolina State Fair and North Carolina Mountain State Fair; operation of four state farmers markets; research station operations; seed and fertilizer inspection; nursery and plant pest eradication activities; regulation of the structural pest control industry; agricultural environmental issues; soil and water conservation; forest promotion and protection; state and federal agricultural legislation; and agricultural economic analysis.

In addition, the Commissioner works with the General Assembly to promote the enactment of legislation beneficial to agriculture and other matters important to the well-being of citizens of North Carolina.

Impact on your life: The Commissioner of Agriculture influences how the State fair and farms in North Carolina are operated, and ensure that food grown and harvested in the state are safe for citizens to consume.

Commissioner of Insurance Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, None Requirements: Qualified North Carolina Voter and at least 21 years of age.

Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The Department of Insurance provides valuable services to the people of North Carolina by regulating the insurance industry, licensing insurance professionals, educating consumers about different types of insurance, handling consumer complaints, and more. The Department regulates insurance companies and agents. Any insurance business in this state first must be approved by the Commissioner, and companies and agents must meet rigorous standards before they receive a license to do business.

Some of the duties of commissioner of insurance are: • licensing bail bondsmen • overseeing motor clubs and collection agencies • protecting consumers from fraud and illegal behavior with a staff of sworn law enforcement officers in our Investigations Division • educating North Carolinians about safety issues such as child safety seats, fire protection, natural disaster preparation and other family safety issues • interpreting the state’s building codes and suggesting new and improved codes to further protect citizens • obtaining and maintaining insurance coverage for all state-owned buildings, including such items as the Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington and the campuses of the state university system • assisting the elderly and others with Medicare and Medicaid questions through our nationally recognized Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program Impact on your life: The Insurance Commissioner regulates insurance companies and approves any insurance company in North Carolina before they can do business.

The commissioner helps citizens to obtain and works to protect them from insurance fraud. If insurance companies are having any difficulties, the commissioner’s job is solve the issue and communicate the problem to the citizens.

Commissioner of Labor Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, None Requirements: Qualified North Carolina Voter and at least 21 years of age.

Elected or Appointed: Elected every four years concurrently with the governor

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P O S I T I O N S O F G OV E R N M E N T

Duties: The Commissioner of Labor of North Carolina is the head of the State’s Department of Labor and serves as a member of the North Carolina Council of State. The department is divided into three divisions: Administration, Occupational Safety and Health, and Standards and Inspections.

Some of the administrations duties are: • The Communications Division provides information to media outlets and the general public • The Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program seeks to provide assistance to low-income individuals toward attaining self-sufficiency. The program is designed to help lowwealth individuals build assets for the startup of new businesses, postsecondary educational investments or the purchase of a home.

establishments (except federal buildings) and private places of employment.

• REDA also protects those employees who are sickle cell anemia/ hemoglobin C carriers. Employees involved in National Guard service, the juvenile justice system, domestic violence or genetic testing are protected from discrimination.

Impact on your life: The Commissioner of Labor Office ensures fair and safe workplace conditions for workers by enforcing labor laws and conducting safety and health inspections.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, None

Some of the Occupational Safety and Health Division duties are: • The Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau of OSH conducts preoccupancy inspections of migrant housing pursuant to the Migrant Housing Act. All housing providers must register with the bureau within 45 days of occupancy.

• The East and West Compliance bureaus conduct about 4,500 safety and health inspections a year. The division investigates work-related accidents and deaths and conducts randomly scheduled and follow-up inspections with firms previously cited for OSH violations.

Requirements: Qualified North Carolina Voter and at least 21 years of age.

Some of the standards of the Inspection division are: • To oversee the safe installation and operation of all elevators, escalators, workmen’s hoists, dumbwaiters, moving walks, aerial passenger tramways, amusement rides, inclined railways and lifting devices for people with disabilities that operate in public

Some of the Superintendent’s duties are: • Enforcing North Carolina’s state education laws • Implementing State Board of Education policies and procedures • Managing public school funds totaling approximately $8 billion in state and federal funds

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Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction is head of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and oversees the public-school systems of the state. The Superintendent also serves as a member of the North Carolina State Board of Education. In this role the Superintendent manages the daily operations of the state’s entire public school system. The department has a staff of nearly 750 people that are directly involved in the education of North Carolina’s students.

• Licensing the almost 120,000 public school teachers and administrators • Collaborating with the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching, the NC Teacher Academy, the NC virtual Public School, the nine Regional Education Service Alliances/Consortia, and the state’s 115 local education agencies

preserve our ability to access the funds; and issuing and managing all of the state’s debt with bond sales that finance major projects, certificates of participation that help state agencies and local governments purchase equipment, and guaranteeing school bonds.

Impact on your life: The superintendent holds a tremendous amount of authority by managing public school funding and enforcing NC State Education laws.

Impact on your life: The Treasurer also administers retirement plans and other benefit programs for public workers; and oversees more than 90 billion dollars in pension investments for more than 900,000 teachers, firefighters, and public employees.

State Treasurer

State Auditor

Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, None

Term and Term Limit: 4 year terms, None

Requirements: Qualified North Carolina Voter and at least 21 years of age.

Requirements: Qualified North Carolina Voter and at least 21 years of age.

Elected or Appointed: Elected

Elected or Appointed: Elected

Duties: The North Carolina State Treasurer is a statewide elected office in the U.S. state of North Carolina responsible for overseeing the financial operations of state government.

The State Treasurer provides guidance for the management of long-term debt and investments as a member of a number of boards and commissions including the State Investment Board. The Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) is a voluntary investment vehicle operated by the State Treasurer. The LGIP lets local governments use the State Treasurer’s resources to safely invest their funds while enjoying the economies of scale available from a $7-11 billion pooled fund investment portfolio. Local governments that are eligible to join are: cities and towns, counties, special taxing districts, federally recognized tribe, municipal corporations, community and technical colleges, and fouryear universities.

Duties: The State Auditor is responsible for overseeing and reviewing the financial accounts of all state government agencies.

The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) performs an array of work, including financial statement audits, financial related audits, performance audits, information technology audits, and investigative reports. They examine all facets of state government, including education, health, transportation, computer systems, regulatory processes, and public safety. They conduct special studies as requested by the Legislature and audit federal grant programs to ensure North Carolina can continue to receive federal money. Their work helps improve the efficiency of state government and helps the state retain its coveted AAA bond rating. They do not audit individuals for tax compliance or examine individual tax returns. They focus on improving state government and uncovering waste and abuse of state tax dollars by state agencies or private entities that receive state funds. The state auditor protect the interests of taxpayers and others who provide financial resources to the State of North Carolina.

Some of the State Treasurer’s duties include managing cash flow of all major state accounts; investing the state’s operating cash in short-term, interest bearing accounts that

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P O S I T I O N S O F G OV E R N M E N T

Specifically, they provide objective information to interested parties about whether state resources are properly accounted for, reported, and managed; as well as whether publicly-funded programs are achieving desired results.

Impact on your life: Citizens can initiate requests to the auditor to audit any agency within statutory authority. The Office of the Auditor acts as a watchdog for the state government and provides citizens, legislators, and government officials with professional and independent evaluations of North Carolina’s financial records and performance reports.

North Carolina Supreme Court Term and Term Limit: 8 year terms, None Requirements: Licensed attorney, under the age of 72, Judges must retire the last day of the month that they turn 72.

Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state’s highest court, and there is no further appeal in the state from its decisions. This Court has a chief justice and six associate justices who sit together as a panel in Raleigh. The Supreme Court has no jury, and it makes no determination of fact; rather, it considers error in legal procedures or in judicial interpretation of the law. The primary function of the supreme court is to decide questions of law that have arisen in the lower courts and before state administrative agencies, including Court of Appeals cases that are reviewed upon petition.

Impact on your life: The NC Supreme Court impacts residents when the court reviews cases in NC communities and when there is a question of the validity of NC law and/ or how it has been used. (In order to have a court case be reviewed by the North

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Carolina Supreme Court the case is filtered by the court of appeals as well as the discretion of the court.)

North Carolina Court of Appeal Term and Term Limit: 8 year terms, None Requirements: Between the ages of 21 and 72, licensed attorneys, registered to vote, resident of the state Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The Court of Appeals is North Carolina’s intermediate appellate court.

Fifteen judges hear cases in panels of three. The Court of Appeals reviews the proceedings that occurred in the trial courts for errors of law or legal procedure; it decides only questions of law - not questions of fact. All cases appealed from the Superior and District courts in civil and criminal cases, except capital murder cases in which the Superior Court pronounces a judgment imposing the death penalty, are heard by the Court of Appeals. In addition, direct appeals from certain state administrative agencies are heard by the Court of Appeals.

Impact on your life: This court specifically handles cases where the law has been questioned and someone involved in the cases is not content with the verdict.

This court searches for mismanagement and misinterpretations of the law and its statutes. This court can hear certain types of motions and operations, including petitions to seek avatar of a lower court decisions and petitions to seek review of a lower court decision that is not otherwise immediately appealable. The unanimous panel of the Court of Appeals generally has the last word resolving any appeal or petition.

North Carolina Senator Term and Term Limit: 2 year terms, None Requirements: Each Senator, at the time of their election, shall be not less than 25 years of age, shall be a qualified voter of the State, and shall have resided in the State as a citizen for two years and in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately preceding his election.

Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: This position is part of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Senate is made up of 50 members and each member represents a Senatorial District in North Carolina. The presiding officer of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of the state. The General Assembly meets in regular session beginning in January of each odd-numbered year, and adjourned to reconvene the following even-numbered year for a shorter session.

Impact on your life: As a member of the State Senate, their job is to represent the people living in his or her district in North Carolina. The legislature has the power to redraw all districts, Congressional and County; change any county law; and pass the State Budget, which includes the ability to increase or decrease teacher pay, increase or decrease Social Services; like Medicaid, food stamps, etc., and increase or decrease Revenue sources (i.e. Taxes.)

North Carolina House of Representative Term and Term Limit: 2 year terms, None Requirements: Each Representative, at the time of his election, shall be a qualified voter of the State, and have resided in the district for which he is chosen for one year immediately preceding his election.

Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: This position is part of the North Carolina General Assembly. There are 120 North Carolina representatives. Each of these members represents a House district in North Carolina.

The House of Representatives is presided over by a Speaker, elected from its membership.

The General Assembly meets in regular session beginning in January of each odd-numbered year, and adjourned to reconvene the following even-numbered year for a shorter session.

Impact on your life: As a member of the House of Representatives, their job is to represent the people living in his or her district in North Carolina. The legislature has the power to redraw all districts, Congressional and County; change any county law; and pass the State Budget, which includes the ability to increase or decrease teacher pay, increase or decrease Social Services; like Medicaid, food stamps, etc., and increase or decrease Revenue sources (i.e. Taxes.)

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COUNTY POSITIONS County Commissioner

P O S I T I O N S O F G OV E R N M E N T

Term and Term Limit: Staggered 4 years and 2 year terms, none Requirements: Over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days

specifically handles adopting an annual budget, establishing the property tax rate,conducting public hearings and meetings, establishing fees and comprehensive use plans. Each County Commissioner is responsible for setting policies, goals and objectives to direct county growth, entering into written contractual or legal obligations on behalf of the county, adopting ordinances, rules and regulations necessary for the general welfare.

County Manager

Elected or Appointed: Elected

Term and Term Limit: None

Duties: North Carolina counties are legal entities capable of holding and managing property and possessed of many powers conferred on by law. Through its board of commissioners, the county exercises its powers and discharges its responsibilities.

By law, each county in North Carolina has a board of commissioners. These boards vary in size, term of office, method of election, method of selecting the chairperson, and administrative structure. These variations bear no correlation to the population of the county or any other objective criteria.

Different counties have different methods for electing their county commissioners.

Some commissioners are elected at large, some are elected at large with residence requirements, while some are nominated and elected by district. All county commissioners are elected at the same time as members of the General Assembly and other state officers, in elections held in the month of November in even-numbered years. Because boards have staggered four-year terms and two-year terms, about half of the state’s county commissioners are elected at each general election.

Requirements: 4-year degree or master’s degree supplemented in Public Administration, Political Science or other related fields

Impact on your life: Each power, right, duty, function, privilege and immunity of the county is exercised by the board of commissioners. The County Commissioner 26 | BLACK POLITICAL TRAINING TOOLKIT

Elected or Appointed: Appointed Duties: The County Manager is the chief administrator of county government. He is appointed by the Board of Commissioners and is responsible for supervision of county operations in accordance with whatever laws, regulations, policies, direction and guidance the Board of Commissioners authorize. The Manager is responsible for preparing and submitting an annual budget and capital program to the Board as well as advising the Board on financial matters, services and other issues.

Impact on your life: Manages the daily operations of the county services and government. The county manager’s control over the budget gives his or her position a very important job that can affect how funds are administered. The manager works to ensure that the policies and guidelines mandated by both federal and North Carolina State statutes are implemented.

Sheriff Term and Term Limit: 4 years, none Requirements: 4 year degree in Criminal justice or public administration, 2-6 years of experience, resident of North Carolina

Impact on your life: Register of Deeds is responsible for issues concerning public property and public records. The local government property tax base is made possible from the records contained in their office.

District Court Judge

Elected or Appointed: Elected

Term and Term Limit: 4 years, none

Duties: Throughout the nation the Sheriff continues to exercise vitally important responsibilities in all three branches of our criminal justice system: law enforcement, jail/ corrections and court duties. In the State of North Carolina, Sheriffs are Constitutional Officers elected by the people of their counties. On call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, their responsibilities include: Patrolling and enforcing the law; maintaining and operating jails; properly serving civil process papers; and providing security for North Carolina’s courtrooms.

Requirements: Must be under the age of 72, a district resident and licensed to practice law in North Carolina, must reside in the district they are running for.

Impact on your life: The Sheriff is responsible for the safety and well-being of the citizens in their respective county. He or she has the ability to enact or change certain police procedures relevant to your county to make citizens more comfortable.

Register of Deeds Term and Term Limit: 4 years, none Requirements: High school diploma /GED, Resident of North Carolina, certified by the NC Association of Register of Deeds Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The Register of Deeds Office performs a wide range of services to the professional community and to the general public. The most important records in the county are stored in this office. The Register of Deeds issue marriage licenses, maintain birth and death records, issue notary oaths and maintain notary commissions.

Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina designates one of the judges as Chief District Court Judge. This judge has administrative duties, including assigning the judges to sessions of court, handling matters of custody, child support, equitable distribution, and divorce. The District Court also handles civil actions that amount to $25,000 or less.

In criminal cases, District Court has original jurisdiction over misdemeanor cases and most traffic offenses.

Impact on your life: This court controls how civil actions such as child support, child custody, divorce, equitable distribution, and juvenile matters are interpreted county wide.

Clerk of Superior Court Term and Term Limit: 4 years, none Requirements: 21 years of age, registered voter, must be eligible to vote for the office in which you are intended to file, must reside in the district you intend to file Elected or Appointed: Elected

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P O S I T I O N S O F G OV E R N M E N T

Duties: The Clerk of Superior Court is elected for four years and must be a resident of the county in which he or she is elected.

Unlike clerks of court in other states, the Clerk of Superior Court in North Carolina has numerous judicial functions. As judge of probate, the Clerk has exclusive original jurisdiction over matters relating to the probate of wills, and the administration of estates, including appointing personal representatives, auditing their accounting, and removing them from office if necessary. Unlike Clerks of Court in other states, the Clerks of Superior Court in North Carolina are judges. A Clerk of Superior Court in North Carolina has four main responsibilities: Judge, record keeper, administrator, and controller. The Clerk also presides over many other legal matters including adoptions, incompetency proceedings, condemnation of private lands for public use, and foreclosures.

Impact on your life: The Clerk is responsible for all clerical and record-keeping functions of the district and superior court, receiving, investing, and disbursing millions of dollars for the state each year which come from court fees, traffic citations, and fines, The Clerk is responsible for filing, processing, indexing, and maintaining every piece of paper filed each year. The Clerk also provides public access to court records.

cooperation with law enforcement, and file criminal charges or bringing evidence before the Grand Jury. The district attorney supervises a staff of assistant district attorneys (ADA), victim witness legal assistants (VWLA), investigators, and other administrative employees. A district attorney’s primary responsibility, with his or her assistants, is to prosecute all criminal cases filed in District and Superior Courts.

North Carolina is separated into 44 separate prosecutorial districts. Each district has it’s own individual district attorney.

Impact on your life: The District Attorney’s office prosecutes criminal and traffic matters and is prohibited from giving legal advice to someone who is charged.

County School Board Term and Term Limit: 4 years terms, none Requirements: 21 years of age, registered voter, must be eligible to vote for the office in which you are intended to file, must reside in the district you intend to file Elected or Appointed: Elected

Elected or Appointed: Elected

Duties: The County School Board provides statewide public school governance.

They set policy for the school system that is implemented by the superintendent and administrative staff. The board also adopts an annual budget proposal that includes its request for local funding from the Board of Commissioners as well as its plan for using state and federal funds. The North Carolina State Board of Education is legislated by the North Carolina General Assembly.

The General Assembly is responsible for the majority of the school board’s funding review of the academic curriculum.

Duties: The District Attorney is the lawyer of a state/district. They are a government employee that manages the prosecutor’s office, investigates alleged crimes in

Impact on your life: The Board of Education provides statewide public school governance by setting policy for the school system.

District Attorney Term and Term Limit: 4 years, none Requirements: 21 years of age, registered voter, high school diploma, 4-year college degree, and Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-approved law school

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Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors

commissions handle general county problems but hold very powerful offices. They vote on array of different issues that affect the county.

Term and Term Limit: 4 years, none

C I T Y + TOW N POSITIONS

Requirements: 21 years of age, registered voter, must be eligible to vote for the office in which you are intended to file, must reside in the district you intend to file Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: District Supervisors construct, improve, operate, and maintain structure works and projects. They develop comprehensive plans for the conservation of soil resources, control and prevention of soil erosion, and utilization and disposal of water.

Impact on your life: The Soil and Water Conservation Commission works to improve and protect water quality as well as natural resources. This elected office has the power to change how soil and water in the county is regulated. They also have an important obligation to the citizens of their counties to educate people on the status of their soil and water.

County Board and Commissions Term and Term Limit: County Board and Commissions Term and Term Limit: 2-4 years, none Requirements: Must be over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days Elected or Appointed: Appointed Duties: Each County appoints Commissions and Boards dealing with different issues of the city. These commissions and boards have authority given by the County, to do different duties. Example: The Planning Commission helps determine zoning restrictions, etc.

Impact on your life: The county board of

Mayor Term and Term Limit: 2-4 years, Varies Requirements: Must be over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days Elected or Appointed: Elected by the public or selected by an elected governing council or board.

Duties: The Mayor presides at City/Town Council meetings and officially represents the City/Town at special ceremonies and events.

The Mayor is generally responsible for the execution of local laws. The Mayor and City/ Town Council are responsible for establishing the general policies under which the City/Town operates, appointing the City/Town Manager, City/Town Attorney, City/Town Clerk, and members of various boards and commissions.

The Mayor also enacts ordinances, resolutions and orders; reviews the annual budget; sets the tax rate; and approves the financing of all city operations.

Impact on your life: The mayor impacts the regulation of the city’s government.

Mayor Pro Tem Term and Term Limit: 2-4 years, Varies Requirements: Must be over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days Elected or Appointed: Elected by the City/ Town Council www.AdvanceCarolina.org| 29

Duties: The mayor pro-temp meets with City/Town staff and fulfills requests from the community. The mayor pro tem is responsible for anything that the mayor cannot execute. In addition, the mayor protemp acts as an at-Large Representative when necessary.

P O S I T I O N S O F G OV E R N M E N T

Impact on your life: The mayor pro tem can impact the decisions of the mayor and city council on the behalf of the city.

situations vary. The charters of some of these cities provide for appointment by the council. The charters of other councilmanager cities have been revised in recent years to specify appointment by the manager.

Impact on your life: Keeps all of the records regarding the city.

City/Town Manager

City/Town Council

Term and Term Limit: None

Term and Term Limit: 2-4 years, Varies

Requirements: Must be over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days

Requirements: Must be over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days Elected or Appointed: Elected Duties: The City/Town Council members make policy decisions that benefit the community as a whole and provide quality service to all of the cities districts.

Impact on your life: The City/Town Council influences the general policies that the city operates under.

City/Town Clerk Term and Term Limit: None Requirements: Must be over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days Elected or Appointed: Appointed by City/ Town Council Duties: The municipal clerk generally works directly for the city council, keeping the city’s records, giving notices of meetings, and performing various other functions as the council requires. In mayor-council cities, the clerk is almost always appointed by the council. In council-manager cities,

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Elected or Appointed: Hired to work or Appointed Duties: The Office of the city/town manager is the administrative center of a city/town’s organization. In addition to the coordination and oversight of activities of all city/town departments, this office provides direct staff assistance to Council members, including the Mayor and Council committees. The city/town manager leads the financial and budget management process for the city/town and directs the city/town’s efforts to plan for the future.

Staff members perform research, suggest public policy development and direction for city/town Council, and evaluate potential public programs.

Impact on your life: City/Town manager is responsible for reporting issues and helping the Mayor and Mayor Pro tem.

City or Town Police Chief Term and Term Limit: None Requirements: Must be over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days

Elected or Appointed: Hired to work or Appointed Duties: Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department. He or she is usually a municipal employee who owes his allegiance to a city or town. The duties of the police chief includes, but is not limited to planning, coordinating, supervising, and evaluating police department operations; Impact on your life: The Chief of Police is responsible for the safety of the citizens and works with the county sheriff to enforce safety.

City/Town Attorney Term and Term Limit: None Requirements: Must be over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days Elected or Appointed: Elected or Appointed Duties: The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality. In some small towns, the city attorney is usually a lawyer in private practice and handles only governmental matters. The city/town attorney reports to the city/town Council and is responsible for providing legal advice to the Mayor, members of the city/town council, manager, and to each of the city/town departments. The Council also assigns special projects to the city/town attorney, such as the preparation of special ordinances. The office advocates on the city/town’s behalf in federal and state courts, the General Assembly, and before quasi-judicial bodies.

Impact on your life: A city/town attorney generally handles all legal matters for the city, from traffic tickets to civil lawsuits to acting as a general counsel, giving legal advice for city departments. They also represent the city/ town’s interests in working with property owners, contractors, private citizens, and others who raise concerns about the city/town’s actions.

The city/town attorney also enforces certain

provisions of the city/town code.

City and Town Commissions and Boards Term and Term Limit: 2-4 years, none Requirements: Must be over 21, registered voter, and must reside in the district for at least 30 days Elected or Appointed: Appointment Duties: These commissions and board have authority given by the County, to do different duties.

• Planning Commission: The Planning Commission advises the City Council on future growth and development issues that affect the city/town. The Planning Commission reviews and makes recommendations to the Council on Comprehensive Plan items, redevelopment plans, changes in development regulations, requests to rezone property, and reviews preliminary site plans, group housing plans and subdivisions • Board of Adjustment: The Raleigh Board of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial body which acts on appeals for variances, special exceptions and interpretations in the zoning regulations. Its decisions are final but may be subject to court action. The Board consists of eight members: four regular members and two alternate members are appointed to two-year terms by the city/ town Council and must reside within the city/town limits; one regular member and one alternate are appointed by the County Commissioners and must reside within the city/town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Impact on your life: The Planning Commission helps determine zoning restrictions, etc. (Some notable boards and commissions: Housing Appeals, Housing Authority, Human Relations, Parks and Recreation and Planning) www.AdvanceCarolina.org| 31

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ United_States_House_of_ Representatives https://www.whitehousehistory. org/.../ev http://www.corker.senate.gov/ public/index.cfm/kidspage http://www.house.gov/content/ learn/

REFERENCES

POSITIONS OF G OV E R N M E N T

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Lieutenant_Governor_of_North_ Carolina http://www.ncdoj.gov/About-DOJ/ The-Attorney-General/Duties-andResponsibilities.aspx http://www.nclabor.com/agprogs. htm http://www.ncagr.gov/SWC/ districts/documents/Supervisor_ Orientation_Manual_-_5.16.12.pdf http://sogpubs.unc.edu/ electronicversions/pdfs/clerks.pdf

32 | BLACK POLITICAL TRAINING TOOLKIT

R E F E RE NCE S : P O S ITIO NS O F G O VERNMENT

http://www.ncdistrictattorney. org/yourDA.html

https://www.supremecourt.gov/ faq.aspx#faqg.1

https://www.nclm.org/resourcecenter/Pages/How-MunicipalitiesWork.aspx

https://www.usaaccounts.gov/ faqs-federal-judges

http://www.ncapb.com/courts/ north-carolina-court-of-appeals/ http://ncpedia.org/government/ local/commissioners http://research.lawyers.com/ your-state-attorney-general.html

http://education.mnhs.org/sites/ default/files/styles/nl_large_ image/public/images/nl/7-8_0. jpg?itok=36AfceZX http://education.mnhs.org/sites/ default/files/styles/research_item_ lg_image/public/images/nl/714_0.jpg?itok=BCnGVI7A

http://www.nga.org/cms/ home/management-resources/ governors-powers-and-authority. html https://ballotpedia.org/North_ Carolina_State_Auditor https://www.dummies.com https://usa.gov https://whitehouse.gov https://thoughtco.com https://constitutioncenter.org https://bankrate.com www.AdvanceCarolina.org| 33

Building Black Political & Economic Power in North Carolina www.AdvanceCarolina.org