Editing Hancock County, Indiana (section)

==Government==
{{See also|Government of Indiana}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
|agencyname = Hancock County Sheriff's Department
|subdivtype = County (United States)
|subdivname = Hancock County, Indiana
|divtype = State
|divname = Indiana
|country = United States
|legaljuris = opsjuris
|police  = yes
|local  = yes
|stations  =
|lockuptype  = Jail
|chief1name = Michael Shepherd
|chief1position = Sheriff
|chief2name =
|chief2position =
}}
The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the [[Constitution of Indiana]], and by the [[Indiana Code]].

'''County Council:''' The legislative branch of the county government; controls the county's spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve staggered four-year terms. They 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=IN.gov}}</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=IN.gov}}</ref>

'''Board of Commissioners:''' The executive body of the county. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners carry out the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.<ref name=inc3623/><ref name=inc2102/>

'''Court:''' The county maintains a [[small claims court]] that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court 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 also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level [[circuit court]].<ref name=inc2102/>

'''County Officials:''' The county has several other elected offices, including [[sheriff]], [[coroner]], [[auditor]], [[treasurer]], [[Recorder of deeds|recorder]], [[Surveying|surveyor]], and circuit [[court clerk]]. They are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare [[political party|party]] affiliations and to be residents of the county.<ref name=inc2102/>

Hancock County is part of [[Indiana's 5th congressional district]]; [[Indiana Senate]] district 28;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm|title=Indiana Senate Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref> and [[Indiana House of Representatives]] districts 29 and 53.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm|title=Indiana House Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=July 14, 2011}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Hancock County, Indiana|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 17, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|29,288|14,312|984|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|28,996|12,895|1,129|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|25,074|8,904|2,490|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|22,796|9,319|728|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|22,008|11,874|371|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|20,771|6,912|184|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|15,943|6,503|504|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|12,907|6,123|2,398|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|11,072|4,752|4,815|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|13,374|5,355|51|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,880|4,550|74|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,093|5,124|921|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|10,072|6,191|164|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|11,019|3,069|62|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|7,516|3,902|1,948|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,370|6,573|50|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|7,543|4,930|55|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|6,962|4,600|55|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|6,964|4,539|116|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|4,721|4,948|157|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|5,139|4,652|147|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|5,283|5,417|85|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,174|5,962|44|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,055|5,836|190|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,788|3,626|62|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|4,063|4,364|168|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|4,422|4,958|199|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,138|2,779|227|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|738|2,594|1,666|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,472|3,040|171|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|2,633|2,806|237|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,295|2,930|109|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,236|2,886|51|Indiana}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,932|2,329|269|Indiana}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|1,986|2,376|83|Indiana}}