| A | B |
| Governor | Head of the state executive branch |
| Lieutenant Governor | Elected position, like a state's Vice President |
| General Assembly | Name for NC Legislature |
| Leandro | recent NC court case about school funding |
| charter | Local version of a Constitution |
| County Commissioners | Group that governs the affairs of county government |
| Manager | Person hired to run the day-to-day operations of county or city government |
| Sheriff | Local law enforcement officer for a county |
| Coroner | Local medical official - established cause of death. |
| Clerk | Person responsible for keeping all county records. |
| D.A. | In charge of prosecuting criminal cases on the local level. |
| ordinances | Local laws, sometimes called "blue laws" |
| incorporation | When a state recognizes a local government's power. |
| annexation | When a city or town adds more land to itself. |
| Mayor Council | Type of city government - all elected leadership. |
| Council Manager | Type of city government - an elected council makes law and a hired official carries it out. |
| Zoning Boards | Group which determines which buildings and the uses of buildings allowed in certain areas. |
| Property Taxes | It is very stable and is based on a person's belongings |
| User Fees | Charge to use a service |