| A | B |
|---|
| local | close to home; nearby; having to do with a city, county, town village or other small government. |
| country board | small group of people elected to make laws for and run the government of the county |
| assessor | a local official who decides how much tax people must pay on their land, houses, buildings, and other things they own |
| district attorney | a lawyer who works for the government and brings accused persons to trial |
| prosecute | to take legal action again someone in court |
| city council | small group of people elected to make laws and run a city's government |
| mayor | a person elected as chief executive of a city |
| city manager | a person who works for a city government as the to administrator |
| city commission | small group of people elected to make laws for a city and run city government; each person on it is also the head of the local department |
| community services office | office that helps people find out what services they can get from county, city, or town government |
| community group | a group run by private organizations to help people in need |
| property | the things that someone owns, such as land or buildings |
| disturbing the peace | to creat trouble in a community or neighborhood |
| trespass | to enter or go onto a person's property without permission |
| vandalism | the destruction of a person's property |
| municipal court | the name of the local court in most cities |
| justice court | county court that handles criminal cases |
| misdemeanor | a small crime for which the sentences is a fine or less than one year in a local jail |
| fine | money paid after breaking a local law, such as a traffic law; sometimes people can pay fines instead of going to jail |
| arrest | taken to jail by a law officer |
| arraignment | a hearing before a judge during which a person accused of a crime hears the charges against her or him |
| bail | money paid by a person to get out of jail before the trial; bail money pays for a bond, or written promise, that the accused witll appear for trial |
| obligation | a duty or responsibility |
