The working of local governments
OF THE UNITED STATES
(1) Local government is a system responsible for local affairs of a state, a city, a town or district providing the majority of public services people use in their everyday life. There are several levels of local governments in the USA to govern their inhabitants: the state as a top level, the county (which is the basic governmental structure) and the municipal one.
(2) The state governments are like the federal government. They have a constitution of their own and three branches of power: executive, legislative and judicial. The administrative apparatus of the states is controlled by governors but the ultimate authority rests with the legislatures. The state legislatures usually consist of two houses: the upper house and the lower one. In most states the members of the upper house are elected for a four years term while those in the lower house are elected for two years. In general, the states exercise predominant responsibility over at least three governmental services: the police, public education and controls over lands use.
(3) Counties are found in all states except Connecticut and Rhode Island, though the number and size of counties may vary greatly from state to state. A county is typically governed by an elected board or commission. Counties have traditionally performed a wide variety of functions in the area of healthcare, education, welfare, criminal justice and maintenance of roads.
(4) Below the county level there are municipal forms of government – municipalities, which are governing bodies of small towns, districts or villages. Most of the local municipal units are granted a state charter, which declares their right to govern themselves, though they still remain subject to the general law of the United States. Municipalities often have a board of supervisors composed of townships, hamlets or village representatives. Their function is to decide such local issues as police force, traffic, street lightening and cleaning, water supplies, protection and replacement of old trees, school budget as well as building and maintaining of schools. The boards usually make local laws within the restraints set by county and state governments. Most cities have a city manager or a city chairman at their head, a city council or a board of aldermen or commissioners. A city chairman who is also known as the Mayor is usually elected while the city manager is hired by the city council to carry out its decisions.
(5) Side by side with these forms of government, there also exist special districts – government units created to perform particular functions, such as, for example, sanitary, fire protection or drainage. Special districts are frequently established to meet some short-range goals. In most states a small board governs them, but often there is little access to decision - making of board members. The US policy of having many local governments has certain advantages: local governments in the USA respond to the diversity of conditions prevailing in different parts of the country.
СЛОВАРЬ АКТИВНОЙ ЛЕКСИКИ:
state (n) штат, самая крупная единица административно-
территориального деления США
Governor (n) губернатор (штата)
rest (v) возлагать на, основываться, оставаться
county (n) округ (административное подразделение штата в
США). Не смешивать с брит.county графство.
board совет, комитет, правление
county commission выборный окружной орган управления
maintenance (n) содержание, поддержание, техническое обслуживание
charter (n) хартия самоуправления, привилегия (пожалованная
верховной властью).В США предусмотрена для
городов, округов и тауншипов как возможность
самоорганизации и саморегулирования при осуще
ствлении власти на местах
subject to подлежащий чему-то, ограниченный чем-л
general law общий закон
board of supervisors наблюдательный (контрольный) совет
township (n) поселок, городок, тауншип
hamlet (n) деревушка
city manager представитель городской администрации;
управляющий городом (невыборная должность,
назначается городским советом)
city chairman председатель городского совета
alderman (n) олдермен, член городского совета в Соединенных
Штатах, представляющий определенный район в
некоторых американских городах
commissioner (n) член комитета, совета или комиссии; заведующий
отделом органа муниципального управления,
руководитель отдела городского совета
Mayor мэр. В США обычно избирается из кандидатов двух
основных политических партий, В крупных городах
обычно обладает огромной властью, большей, чем
губернатор штата.
special district специальный округ (местный орган самоуправления;
выходит за пределы одного муниципального образования;
по функциональному признаку выделяют пожарные,
санитарные, транспортные округа)
short-range (adj) кратковременный, непродолжительный
access (n) доступ; право доступа
board members члены комитета
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