Explains New Jersey’s traditional and Faulkner Act municipal charters, how power is divided between Mayor and Council, and which towns in the 21st District give residents initiative and referendum rights with strict petition timelines.
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Breaks down the Optional County Charter Law, the different county structures (Executive–Commission vs. Commissioners-only), and how counties handle regional work like roads, health, elections, courts, and jails that individual towns can’t do alone.
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Covers the Governor’s powers, key statewide offices, and how agencies turn laws into rules, then walks through the structure of the Senate and General Assembly, committees, how a bill becomes law, and the state budget cycle.
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Explains Type I and Type II school districts, how Boards of Education are chosen and what powers they have, and how the state funding formula, property taxes, and local decisions combine to shape school budgets.
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Uses a real Town Council meeting to show how agendas are structured under OPMA, clarifies the difference between ordinances and resolutions, and explains consent agendas, public comment, and how residents can track local laws and spending.
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Walks through a Board of Education agenda step by step, from call to order and OPMA notice to executive session, reports, voting procedure, and public comment, so residents can follow decisions and hold their district accountable.
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A practical guide to the Open Public Meetings Act: what counts as a public meeting, notice and agenda rules, the nine allowed reasons for closed session, common violations, and how residents can enforce OPMA through complaints and court action.
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