Unit 4: State and Local Government

Unit 4: Midway Check In

Mr. C

• Identify the origins and purposes of constitutions.

• Compare state and US constitutions.

• Describe how different states create laws.

• Analyze the purpose, process, implementation, and consequences of the government's decision making and public policies at the state level.

• Define and explain roles of different local governments.

• Identify services provided by local government.

• Analyze decision making and public policies at tribal and local levels.

• Identify an issue or position on a local level.

1. Stay on task
2. Be nice to other classmates and help classmates – Treat others how you want to be treated
3. Participate
4. Pay attention
5. Be respectful to teachers and classmates
6. Stay focused on what’s need to be done.
7. No cuss words
8. Have fun!

Norms Learning Intentions

Civicate Video

The legislative branch of the federal government is bicameral(two-chamber legislature). These are the Senate and the House of Representatives. Forty-nine states have bicameral legislatures. Nebraska, however, is unicameral(having only one chamber or house).

Lesson 16: State Governments

Multiple Choice

Why do we have both federal and state constitutions?

• The federal constitution is a plan for how the federal government interacts with each state, and the state constitutions are plans for how each state interacts with the federal government.

• The federal constitution is for the whole country, but each state constitution is based on the state’s needs and circumstances.

• The federal constitution is for the country, but each state constitution can overrule the federal constitution. 

Multiple Choice

Why can the US and state constitutions be amended? 

• because they were not strong enough at the time they were written 

• because state and federal borders have changed

• because the situations and the needs of citizens change over time

• because they were both written long ago and are no longer relevant

Bills are received and debated in the federal and state legislative branch. New laws can be proposed in many ways at both the federal and state levels. Citizens may approach their state representative with a proposal. Members of Congress or a state legislature often identify a problem and propose a new law to solve it. Even special interest groups(a group that politically represents a specific industry or cause) propose new laws to federal and state lawmakers. These groups lobby lawmakers to push legislation that will benefit their cause.

16.2- State Lawmaking

Fill in the Blank

______ can introduce an idea for a bill

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	Executive	Legislative	Judicial
	President	US Congress	US Supreme Court and Federal Courts

​​Federal Government

	Executive	Legislative	Judicial
	Governor	State Leg	State Courts

State Government

	Executive	Legislative	Judicial
	Mayor	City Council	Local Courts

Local Government

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Position	Elected or Hired	Responsibility
mayor	elected	chief executive of a city; chief of police may answer to the mayor
city council members	elected	make policies for a city; run the police and fire departments; chief of police may answer to city council
city manager	hired	oversees the operations of a city
parks and recreation director	hired	manages public facilities involving exercise and social opportunities for residents
public works director	hired	responsible for streets, water, and sewers
county commissioners	elected	make policies for a county
sheriff	elected	leads law enforcement such as police in a county; may answer to mayor or city council members
superintendent	hired	runs a school district; creates educational policies.

​

Federal Governments	State Governments	Local Governments
interstates military social security foreign treaties Medicare Medicaid postal service	highways food assistance professional licensing, including teachers food safety Medicaid	clean water sewer electricity public libraries and parks local streets police and fire departments schools public records for births, deaths, marriages, and land deeds

Multiple Choice

What is local government?

• public administration of towns, counties, cities, and specific districts

• public organization and administration of a nation

• laws and policies created and enforced by states

• managing public companies, nonprofits, and club

17.2- Local Lawmaking

​Areas of Responsibility

Federal Governments	State Governments	Local Governments
federal taxes federal law enforcement federal laws and policies	state taxes state law enforcement elections state laws and policies education	local taxes local law enforcement elections local laws and policies utilities, such as water and electricity libraries and public parks fire departments

Common issues that local governments of every size deal with include

• getting financial support from state and federal governments

• funding city services

• having enough tax revenue to support local services

• recruiting qualified workers

• creating a budget that supports important programs

• providing a portion of new housing that is affordable for all income levels

• providing recreational opportunities

• providing infrastructure for water, sewer, and electrical systems

• proving road maintenance

• providing equal educational opportunities to all students

17.3- Take Local Action

17.3 Tribal Governments

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Issue	Potential Consequences
control of environmental resources	greater use of natural resources by the tribe control of access by nontribe members preserve the environment
funding tribal programs	tribe can choose how to use its money may have limited funds to use
access to and quality of education	tribes can teach about their culture may not have as many resources as nontribal schools
quality of health and safety programs	tribes can create programs that fit their specific needs limited access to quality healthcare

Multiple Choice

An issue is?

• • an important unsettled matter

• • a point of view on a topic 

Multiple Choice

A position is?

• • an important unsettled matter

• • a point of view on a topic 

Any ?'s