Essay Qs For Local Gov Exam 1

Front 1

+2. discuss the process you would need to go through to be elected to public office

Back 1

campaigns used to be very different from how they are now—more sophisticated now (have campaign staffs), work the media (paid media—paid ads), free media (gimmicks, press conferences, create newsworthy event to get into papers)
door-to-door campaigns are very effective (members of own party and independents, better to do it on election year)
negative campaigning/paid attack ads (mudslinging) does move voters, even though people say they don't like it lol
people pay their campaign staffs. Used to be volunteer campaign staff but now most people have at least a few paid staff. [jobs: political consultants, polling—target focus groups with “push questions” and then identify to whom send target mailings (identify the independents), direct mail, fundraising, advertising,

Front 2

*3. set forth the elected county-wide officials and their respective duties..What terms do each of them serve

Back 2

Freeholders: 3 year term: adopts budget of the county.

Surrogate: 5 year term: handles adoptions, wills, estates, juvenile trust funds

Clerk: 5 year terms: oversees elections, passports, records

Sheriff: 3 year term: oversees county jail, county buildings, assist local police when needed.

County Executive: in 5 counties: 4 year term: governs the counties. appoints all department heads. prepares the budget to be adopted by the freeholders. day to day operations.

Front 3

+4. you are mayor. The sewer system is outdated and money is needed to correct it. In addition to funding the project

Back 3

-blame the predecessor
-quantify and see what is the problem
-bring in engineers to find out what's wrong and determine the price it will cost to fix
-tell council (governing body) and keep them informed, tell the public because they will have to pay
- figure out how to finance it, design it so that the user fees pay for it (those who use it)
-issue revenue bonds and spread the cost out over the next 30 years, go get publicity to get it done, council votes, bid the project, find someone to do it]

Front 4

5. discuss the organization of a school board: how are they elected? Who runs the administrative stuff? How does the budget get approved?

Back 4

Budget: proposed by superintendent, goes to school board and they adopt and submit it to the voters, if the voters approve it then yes, if not then it goes to governing body, the governing body can affirm or cut it, if they cut it it gets appealed to commissioner on the state level]

Election:
By Board of Education (9 members/3 year terms)
During April Elections for Superintendent
Non Partisan Principals
Votes on Budget Teachers
No Primary
No Ticket
Annual reorganization meeting: the members select the president/VP
President appoints committee heads.

administrative: Superintendent: chief administrator of the board and school system. he is hired by the school board. 3-5 year contract with no tenure. Contract must be approved by the state Department of Education. all board action has to be recommended by the superintendent including hiring of principals and teachers.
Board secretary/administrator: eligible for tenure. keeps the records of the school board. sets up the elections. does all financing and p