Editing Adams County, Indiana (section)

==Government==
{{See also|Government of Indiana}}
[[File:Decatur-indiana-superior-court.jpg|thumb|left|Adams County superior court, Decatur (2006)]]
The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the [[Constitution of Indiana]] and the [[Indiana Code]]. The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms and are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes and service taxes.<ref name=inc3623>{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|author-link=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html|title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=Government of Indiana|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005194234/http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html|archive-date=October 5, 2008}}</ref><ref name=inc2102>{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf|title=Title 2, Article 10, Section 2|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=Government of Indiana|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029030838/http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf|archive-date=October 29, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2010, the county budgeted approximately $2.2&nbsp;million for the district's schools and $2.8&nbsp;million for other county operations and services, for a total annual budget of approximately $5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|author=State of Indiana Department of Local Government Finance|title=2010 Budget Order (Adams County, Indiana)|url=http://in.gov/dlgf/files/BudgetOrder_2010_AdamsCounty.pdf|access-date=September 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917000201/http://www.in.gov/dlgf/files/BudgetOrder_2010_AdamsCounty.pdf|archive-date=September 17, 2010}}</ref>

A Board of Commissioners forms the county's executive body. They are elected county-wide, in staggered four–year terms. One commissioner serves as board president. This board executes the acts of the council, causes necessary revenues to be collected, and manages day-to-day functions of the county government.<ref name=inc3623/><ref name=inc2102/>

The county maintains a [[small claims court]]. This court's judge is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level [[circuit court]].<ref name=inc2102/>

The county has other elected offices, including [[sheriffs in the United States|sheriff]], [[coroner]], [[auditor]], [[treasurer]], [[recorder of deeds|recorder]], [[surveying|surveyor]] and circuit [[court clerk]]. Each of these serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare [[political party|party]] affiliations and be residents of the county.<ref name=inc2102/>

Each township has a [[Indiana Township Trustee|trustee]] who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief, and manages cemetery care.<ref name="trustee-duties" /> The trustee is assisted by a three-member township board. The trustees and board members are elected to four-year terms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unitedtownships.org/?page_id=95|title=Government|publisher=United Township Association of Indiana|access-date=January 6, 2011}}</ref>

Adams County is part of [[Indiana's 3rd congressional district]]; [[Indiana Senate]] district 19;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm|title=Indiana Senate Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115070750/http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm|archive-date=January 15, 2011}}</ref> and [[Indiana House of Representatives]] district 79.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm|title=Indiana House Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=January 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115070752/http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm|archive-date=January 15, 2011}}</ref>

Politically, Adams County is heavily [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. It has voted for the Republican presidential nominee in all but one election since 1940.

{{PresHead|place=Adams County, Indiana|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 14, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|10,528|3,179|279|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|10,686|3,236|317|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|9,648|2,805|741|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|8,937|3,806|289|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|8,404|4,928|207|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|9,734|3,512|94|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,555|3,775|260|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|6,960|4,247|1,430|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|6,078|3,708|2,922|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|8,137|3,811|49|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|7,958|3,923|71|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|6,368|4,673|937|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|6,280|4,908|118|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|7,549|3,971|52|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,774|4,667|818|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,230|6,637|106|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,972|4,338|99|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|7,079|3,520|109|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,204|3,744|460|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,832|4,640|173|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,648|3,804|149|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,247|4,382|101|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,249|5,822|137|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,910|5,892|111|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|4,045|4,066|28|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,330|4,300|425|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,144|3,653|201|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,796|2,875|205|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|917|2,961|927|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,726|3,404|159|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|1,967|2,973|247|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,688|3,337|101|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,613|3,340|73|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,247|2,906|314|Indiana}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|1,277|2,936|150|Indiana}}