Government of Sacramento, California facts for kids
The Government of Sacramento helps run the city. Sacramento is a special kind of city called a charter city. This means it has its own rules, or "charter," for how it's governed, instead of following general state laws for cities. The government is made up of the Sacramento City Council and the Mayor of Sacramento. They work together in a system where a City Manager helps manage daily tasks. Many departments also help, like the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) and the Sacramento Fire Department (SFD). As of December 11, 2012, Kevin Johnson was the mayor.
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How Sacramento is Governed
The Mayor's Role
The Mayor of Sacramento is the main leader of the city. The mayor is elected by the people for a four-year term. In California, elections for city leaders, judges, and school officials are nonpartisan. This means candidates don't run as members of a political party. Kevin Johnson was the 41st mayor of Sacramento.
The City Council
The Sacramento City Council is the group that makes important decisions for the City of Sacramento. The council has eight members. Each member is elected from a different area, or "district," of the city. They serve for four years. As of September 8, 2015, the council members were:
- Angelique Ashby, from district 1, who was also the Vice Mayor
- Allen Warren, from district 2
- Jeff Harris, from district 3
- Steve Hansen, from district 4
- Jay Schenirer, from district 5
- Eric Guerra, from district 6
- Rick Jennings II, from district 7
- Larry Carr, from district 8
City Departments and What They Do
Several departments help the city government run smoothly and provide important services to residents.
Sacramento Police Department
The Sacramento Police Department (SPD) is in charge of keeping the peace and enforcing laws in Sacramento. They work to keep everyone in the city safe.
Sacramento Fire Department
The Sacramento Fire Department (SFD) provides fire protection services. They also offer emergency medical services to help people in health emergencies.
Community Development Department
The Community Development Department helps manage how the city grows and changes. They review plans for new buildings, issue permits, and make sure construction follows rules. They also help with long-term planning for the city's future.
Other Governments in Sacramento
Sacramento is not only governed by its city leaders. It also works with the state of California and Sacramento County governments.
California State Government
The Superior Court of Sacramento County is part of California's state court system. Even though it's in Sacramento County, it's not a county department. These courts handle many legal cases for the state. Years ago, counties owned the courthouses. But now, the state government owns and manages them. This helps judges have more control over their workplaces. County police still help keep the courthouses safe.
Sacramento County Government
Sacramento is also part of Sacramento County. The County government provides services for the entire county, including Sacramento. These services include things like elections, voter registration, law enforcement, and public health. The County government is led by a five-member Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. There are also other elected officials like the Sheriff and the District Attorney. Many county departments work under a County Executive Officer.
