Summary
The North Carolina onAir Hub is managed by students supporting North Carolinians to become more informed about and engaged in local, state, and federal politics while facilitating more civil and positive discussions with their representatives, candidates, and fellow citizens.
- North Carolina onAir is one of 50 state governance and elections hubs that the US onAir Network is providing to help reinvigorate US democracy. This post has short summaries of current state and federal representatives with links to their complete Hub posts. Students curate post content from government, campaign, social media, and public websites. Key content on the North Carolina Hub is also replicated on the US onAir nations Hub at: us.onair.cc.
- North Carolina students will be forming onAir chapters in their colleges and universities to help curate Hub content. As more students participate and more onAir chapters are started, we will expand to include more state and local content as well as increase the number of aircasts – student-led, livestreamed, online discussions with candidates, representatives, and the public.
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About
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State Representatives
The government of North Carolina is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. These consist of the Council of State (led by the Governor), the bicameral legislature (called the General Assembly), and the state court system (headed by the North Carolina Supreme Court). The Constitution of North Carolina delineates the structure and function of the state government.
North Carolina is located in the Southern region of the USA with Raleigh as its capital. Roy Cooper (D) is Governor. The North Carolina legislature has 56 Senate members and 180 House members.
For more information, see Wikipedia entry at end of this post.
Office | Name | Party | Assumed office | Next election | Term limited | Maximum term length | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Governor | Roy Cooper | Democratic | January 1, 2017 | 2024 | Yes | Two consecutive terms | |
Lieutenant Governor | Mark Robinson | Republican | January 3, 2021 | 2024 | No | Two consecutive terms | |
Secretary of State | Elaine Marshall | Democratic | January 3, 1997 | 2024 | No | No limits | |
Attorney General | Josh Stein | Democratic | January 1, 2017 | 2024 | No | No limits | |
Treasurer | Dale Folwell | Republican | January 1, 2017 | 2024 | No | No limits | |
Auditor | Beth Wood | Democratic | January 10, 2009 | 2024 | No | No limits | |
Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Commissioner | Steve Troxler | Republican | February 8, 2005 | 2024 | No | No limits | |
Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshal | Mike Causey | Republican | January 1, 2017 | 2024 | No | No limits | |
Labor Commissioner | Josh Dobson | Republican | January 2, 2021 | 2024 | No | No limits | |
Superintendent of Public Instruction | Catherine Truitt | Republican | January 2, 2021 | 2024 | No | No limits |
Governor Roy Cooper
Current Position: Governor since 2017
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): Attorney General from 2001 – 2017; State Senator from 1991 – 2001; US Representative from 1987 – 1991
Featured Quote:
Business is thriving in North Carolina, and it’s not hard to see why — our talented workers, welcoming communities and nationally-ranked universities and community colleges continue bringing more companies to our great state.
Featured Video:
Coronavirus Briefing: NC Gov. Roy Cooper (07/21/21)
For more information, go to this post.
US Representatives
Senator Richard Burr
Current Position: US Senator since 2005
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): US Representative from 1995 – 2005
Other Positions:
Ranking Member, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Featured Quote:
One of the ICA’s most important conclusions was that Russia’s aggressive interference efforts should be considered ‘the new normal.’ That warning has been borne out, as Russia and its imitators increasingly use information warfare to sow societal chaos and discord.
For more information, go to this post.
Senator Thom Tillis
Current Position: US Senator since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2022 US Senator
Former Position(s): US Representative from 2007 – 2015; Accounting consultant from 1986 – 2007
Featured Quote:
Today, I joined my colleagues to talk about the Democrats’ reckless tax and spending spree and the consequences of the rising costs facing Americans.
For more information, go to this post.
North Carolina’s 13 US House members are shown in the US House Members “Top Posts” slider.
G. K. Butterfield
Current Position: US Representative for NC District 1 since 2004
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 2001 – 2003
Featured Quote:
Starting today, over 90% of children in my district will begin receiving monthly #ChildTaxCredit payments of up to $250/child between the ages of 6-17 or up to $300/child under the age of 6.
For more information, go to this post.
Deborah Ross
Current Position: US Representative for NC 2nd District since 2021
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): Lawyer from 1990 – 2013
Featured Quote:
Republicans want to pick their voters rather than have voters pick their politicians. Honored to join @TheRevAl
to discuss how we can combat GOP-led voter suppression efforts in legislatures across America. We must use every tool at our disposal to protect the right to vote.
For more information, go to this post.
Greg Murphy
Current Position: US Representative for NC 3rd District since 2020
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): State Delegate from 2015 – 2019; Surgeion from 1991 – 2019
Other Positions:
Ranking Member, Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee – Education & Labor Committee
Featured Quote:
After throwing out the first pitch at the @mhcmarlins game tonight, I was proud to honor @USMC veteran Sergeant Andrew Anthony with a certificate of congressional recognition for his exceptional valor and service. Words cannot express our gratitude.
For more information, go to this post.
David Price
Current Position: US Representative for NC 4th District since 1997
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): US Senator
Other Positions:
Chair, Subcommittees Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Featured Quote:
#ICYMI: I hosted a roundtable on the importance of child care w/ 4th district leaders. The #AmericanFamiliesPlan tackles generational inequities by investing in high-quality child care, helping youth thrive & their families participate in the labor force.
For more information, go to this post.
Virginia Foxx
Current Position: US Representative for NC 5th District since 2005
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): State Senator from 1995 – 2005
Other Positions:
Ranking Member, House Committee on Education and Labor
Featured Quote:
LIFE is the fundamental component to both liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It’s quite clear that Speaker Pelosi fails to recognize that. Absolutely shameful!
For more information, go to this post.
Kathy Manning
Current Position: US Representative for NC 6th District since 2021
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): US Senator
Featured Quote:
Today is my 100th day as your Congresswoman! Here in #NC06 my team and I have been hard at work for you. If you need assistance with a federal agency, please call my office at (336) 333-5005. For more updates, sign up for my newsletter at http://manning.house.gov.
For more information, go to this post.
David Rouzer
Current Position: US Representative for NC District 7 since 2015
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): State Senator from 2009 – 2013
Featured Quote:
Not long ago, President Biden supported the Hyde Amendment. But now, Democrats want to eliminate it. We must protect this long-standing, bipartisan policy that has saved nearly 2.5 million lives and stops taxpayer money from being used to fund abortion. #HydeSavesLives
For more information, go to this post.
Richard Hudson
Current Position: US Representative for NC 8th District since 2013
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): Congressional staffer from 1999 – 2011
Featured Quote:
140 Members & I are calling on the ATF to withdraw its rule on stabilizing braces. This rule jeopardizes #2A rights of law-abiding gun owners & disabled veterans across the country, and could make millions of citizens felons overnight.
For more information, go to this post.
Dan Bishop
Current Position: US Representative for NC District 9 since 2020
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): State Senator from 2017 – 2019; State Delegate from 2015 – 2017
Featured Quote:
Can you imagine @SpeakerPelosi’s reaction if Donald Trump had sent a letter like this? Pelosi is out of her damn mind if she thinks the Capitol Police are her own private army.
For more information, go to this post.
Patrick McHenry
Current Position: US Representative for NC District 10 since 2005
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): State Delegate from 2003 – 2004
Featured Quote:
Today I joined Whip @SteveScalise, @RepJamesComer, and @RepBlainein a letter calling out @SecYellen
for failing to appear before Congress to answer important questions about pandemic relief. Click here to read the letter.
For more information, go to this post.
Madison Cawthorn
Current Position: US Representative for NC 11th District since 2021
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position(s): Other
Featured Quote:
BREAKING: I introduced legislation to BAN the use of taxpayer dollars to fund door to door vaccinations. Joe and Kamala can stay OFF my property
For more information, go to this post.
Alma Adams
Current Position: US Representative for District 12 since 2015
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position(s): State Delegate from 1994 – 2013
Other Positions:
Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations – Committee on Agriculture
Chair, Subcommittee on Workforce Protections – Committee on Education and Labor
Featured Quote:
#12YearChallenge The last time Congress increased the federal minimum wage, I was a North Carolina state representative who had just passed an increase in our state minimum wage. I also had fewer hats. Needless to say, 12 years is too long. It’s time to #RaiseTheWage!
For more information, go to this post.
Ted Budd
Current Position: US Representative for District 13 since 2017
Affiliation: Republican
Candidate: 2022 US Senator
Former Position(s): Farmer and gun store owner from 1996 – 2017
Featured Quote:
Taxing everyday #crypto investors & innovators like this will undermine U.S. leadership in this industry. Totally self-destructive.
For more information, go to this post.
See Also
Democracy promoting Nonprofits
League of Women Voters of North Carolina – Making Democracy Work
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.
NC Common Cause – Strengthening Democracy
Together, we can build a democracy that’s fair, vibrant and inclusive for all.
Our strength comes from people across North Carolina standing together to hold power accountable.
Free news sources
PBS North Carolina
For the past 66 years we’ve educated, entertained and evolved, from black and white screens in living rooms to glowing screens in pockets, from broadcast to everywhere. Now we’re no longer a traditional channel but an innovative multimedia platform, embodying everything you love about PBS and connecting North Carolinians to their communities and the world at large.
As your statewide public media network, we harness the energy of the UNC System to spark lifelong curiosity; inform communities in times of crisis; engage with complex local and national issues; offer opportunities to learn, and raise the level of discourse around science, arts and humanities for all North Carolinians.
We offer trusted PBS news, programming and resources and we’ll always represent our state’s people, stories and culture.
We’re still educating, still entertaining, still evolving, with you. We are PBS North Carolina. Find out more about us and what we offer.
As North Carolina’s only statewide public media network, PBS North Carolina’s 12 stations provide all 100 counties with four full-time, unique broadcast program channels:
- PBS NC
- The Explorer Channel
- Rootle PBS North Carolina’s 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel
- North Carolina Channel Stories with a Local Accent
NC Policy Watch – Stories and Voices that Matter
NC Policy Watch, a project of the North Carolina Justice Center, is a news and commentary outlet dedicated to informing the public — including elected officials as they debate important issues — and ultimately to improving the quality of life for all North Carolinians.
Wikipedia Government Entry
Contents
The government of North Carolina is divided into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. These consist of the Council of State (led by the Governor), the bicameral legislature (called the General Assembly), and the state court system (headed by the North Carolina Supreme Court). The Constitution of North Carolina delineates the structure and function of the state government.[1][2][3]
Executive branch
North Carolina‘s executive branch is governed by Article III of the state constitution. The first North Carolina Constitution in 1776 called for a governor and a seven member Council of State elected by the legislature. Currently, the ten-member Council of State of North Carolina includes the following members elected by voters:[1][2][3][4][5][6]
The Council of State as a collective body is accorded little responsibility by the state constitution, though some statues grant it authority in certain cases, particularly in the acquisition of property by the state.[7]
The nine North Carolina Cabinet departments, headed by department secretaries, plus the Department of Administration, are appointed by the Governor are as follows:[4]
- Department of Administration,
- Department of Commerce,
- Department of Natural and Cultural Resources,
- Department of Environmental Quality,
- Department of Health and Human Services,
- Department of Information Technology
- Department of Revenue,
- Department of Public Safety,
- Department of Military and Veterans Affairs,[8]
- Department of Transportation.
The North Carolina Register includes information about state agency rules, administrative rules, executive orders and other notices, and is published bimonthly.[9][10] The North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) contains all the codified rules.[9]
Legislative branch
The legislature derives its authority from Article II of the North Carolina Constitution.[3] The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature. Like all other states except for Nebraska, the legislature is bicameral, currently consisting of the 120-member North Carolina House of Representatives[11] and the 50-member North Carolina Senate. The lieutenant governor is the ex officio president of the state Senate. The Senate also elects its own president pro tempore and the House elects its speaker. Its session laws are published in the official North Carolina Session Laws and codified as the North Carolina General Statutes.[9][12][13]
Judiciary
North Carolina’s current judicial system was created in the 1960s after significant consolidation and reform.[14] The judicial system derives its authority from Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution.[15] The state court system is unified into one General Court of Justice.[16] The General Court is composed of a District Court Division, a Superior Court Division, and an Appellate Division.[17] The Administrative Office of the Courts oversees all clerical and financial aspects of the state judicial system.[16]
At the helm of the General Court of Justice and one of the two components of the Appellate Division is the Supreme Court of North Carolina.[18] The Supreme Court consists of one chief justice and six associate justices, all popularly-elected to serve eight-year terms.[19] The primary function of the tribunal is to decide questions of law that have arisen in the lower courts and before state administrative agencies,[20] and its docket is typically dominated by cases concerning interpretation of the constitution, major legal questions, and appeals of criminal cases involving capital punishment.[15] The North Carolina Court of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate court and consists of fifteen judges who rule in rotating panels of three. Together, the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals constitute the appellate division of the court system.
The trial division includes the Superior Court and the District Court. The Superior Court is the state trial court of general jurisdiction; all felony criminal cases, civil cases involving an amount in controversy in excess of $25,000, and appeals from the District Court are tried (de novo review) in Superior Court. A jury of 12 hears the criminal cases.
The District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. It has original jurisdiction over family law matters (divorce, child custody, child support); civil claims involving less than $25,000; criminal cases involving misdemeanors and lesser infractions; and juvenile cases involving children under the age of 16 who are delinquent and children under the age of 18 who are undisciplined, dependent, neglected, or abused. Magistrates of the District Court may accept guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors, accept guilty pleas for traffic violations, and accept waivers of trial for worthless check and other charges. In civil cases, the magistrate is authorized to try small claims involving up to $10,000 including landlord-tenant and eviction cases. Magistrates also perform civil marriages. District Court only conducts bench trials, with no jury.
Local government
Overview
The General Assembly’s authority to create local governments comes from Article VII of the Constitution of North Carolina.[21] Local governments in North Carolina primarily consist of counties, cities, and towns.[22] The state makes no legal distinction between a town and a city.[23] North Carolina has 100 counties and more than 552 municipalities.[24] There are also special purpose governments, most of which concern either soil and water conservation or housing and community development.[25] Some local governments are joined in regional councils with others to improve coordination and cooperation.[26]
Counties
All counties in the state are led by an elected board of commissioners who employ a county manager.[27] Boards of commissioners vary in size from three to 11 members. In addition to the manager, the commissioners usually hire the county’s clerk, attorney, assessor, and tax collector. Unlike in municipal council-manager governments in the state, the board of commissioners usually must approve all of the manager’s hiring decisions unless they explicitly delegate sole hiring authority to the manager.[28] County government in North Carolina is also more fractured than municipal government, due to the presence of other elected officials such as sheriffs and registers of deeds, who have control over their own staff.[29] The office of county sheriff is established by the constitution, and sheriffs are not subject to the oversight of the state government.[30] County government is largely funded through local property taxes.[31]
County governments in North Carolina include the following officials:[22]
- Sheriffs
- County commissioners
- Register of deeds
- Clerk of court
- Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
- Board of Education
- Board of Elections
- Public Health Board
- Mental Health Board
- Social Services Board
Municipalities
North Carolina is a Dillon’s rule state,[32] and municipalities are only able to exercise the authority that the General Assembly or state constitution explicitly gives them.[24] All municipalities in North Carolina operate under either mayor-council governments or council-manager government,[24] with most using the latter.[23] All have an elected general governing board known variously as a city or town council, the board of commissioners or the board of aldermen.[24] Some of these municipalities have mayors, who preside over the elected city council, which determines local government policy and creates the city budget. Most mayors are popularly elected and do not typically vote in council meetings. The council hires the city manager and, depending on the municipality, may directly hire a few other officials, such as the city attorney. In cities with a manager, the manager acts as the head executive officer of the city and is responsible for municipal employees and implementing policy.[33] Smaller municipalities are more likely to not employ a manager.[34]
See also
References
- ^ a b “North Carolina Constitution of 1776”. Yale Law School. 1776. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- ^ a b “The 1868 constitution”. Learn NC. Retrieved March 5, 2017.
- ^ a b c “Constitution of North Carolina, 1971”. North Carolina General Assembly.
- ^ a b “Executive Branch”. NCPedia.org. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Marshall, Ellaine F. (2001). North Carolina Manual. North Carolina Secretary of State.
- ^ “Article III of the North Carolina State Constitution of 1971”. 1971. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Orth, John V. (2006). “Council of State”. NCPedia. North Carolina Government & Heritage Library. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ “NC Governor Roy Cooper”. governor.nc.gov. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ a b c “N.C. State Statutes, County and Municipal Ordinances”. University of North Carolina Kathrine R. Everett Law Library. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ “North Carolina Register”. www.oah.nc.gov. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ called the House of Commons until 1868 when it was change in the North Carolina Constitution
- ^ “North Carolina Government”. NC.GOV. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ “Session Laws”. ncgovdocs.org. Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
- ^ Fleer 1994, p. 132.
- ^ a b “Judicial Branch”. nc.gov. The State of North Carolina. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ a b Williams, Wiley J. (2006). “Judiciary, State”. NCPedia. North Carolina Government & Heritage Library. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
- ^ Orth & Newby 2013, p. 128.
- ^ Orth & Newby 2013, pp. 130, 133.
- ^ Orth & Newby 2013, p. 130, 138.
- ^ Brinkley, Martin H. “Supreme Court of North Carolina: A Brief History”. North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Archived from the original on March 21, 2008. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
- ^ Orth & Newby 2013, pp. 169–170.
- ^ a b Whittaker, Gordon (June 2012). Local Government in North Carolina (PDF) (4th ed.). Chapel Hill: UNC School of Government and the North Carolina City and County Management Association. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ a b Stick, David (2006). “Towns and Cities”. NCPedia. North Carolina Government & Heritage Library. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c d “How NC Cities Work”. North Carolina League of Municipalities. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
- ^ Cooper & Knotts 2012, pp. 214–215.
- ^ Cooper & Knotts 2012, p. 215.
- ^ Cooper & Knotts 2012, pp. 209, 213.
- ^ Cooper & Knotts 2012, p. 213.
- ^ Cooper & Knotts 2012, pp. 213–214.
- ^ Orth & Newby 2013, p. 170.
- ^ Nagem, Sarah (July 7, 2022). “Scotland County lowers property tax rate, but it’s still the highest in North Carolina”. Border Belt Independent. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ^ Cooper & Knotts 2012, p. 216.
- ^ Cooper & Knotts 2012, pp. 209, 211–212.
- ^ Cooper & Knotts 2012, p. 209.
Works cited
- Cooper, Christopher A.; Knotts, H. Gibbs, eds. (2012). The New Politics of North Carolina. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 9781469606583.
- Fleer, Jack D. (1994). North Carolina Government & Politics. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 9780803268852.
- Orth, John V.; Newby, Paul M. (2013). The North Carolina State Constitution (second ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199300655.
External links
- “North Carolina Government”. NC.gov. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- Media related to Government of North Carolina at Wikimedia Commons