State and County Government

Government Levels

A government is something that makes the law of the land and ensures that all the people in that nation or community are treated fairly by those laws.

Learning Intention:

I am learning to describe the basic structure of government in the local community, state, and nation.

Why DO We Need a Government?

Since Govrnment makes the Laws of the Land. We need to Government to make sure the laws are being followed and everyone is treateed fairly.

How Many Levels of Government are There?

• There are 3 levels of Government

• The first is the National Government

• The Second is the State Government

• The third is- The Local Government

National Government

• Executive branch is the part of the government that enforces the law. The President, who is the leader of the executive branch. The President is also the leader of the Armed Forces.

• Judicial branch is made up of federal courts: the United States Supreme Court; appellate (appeals) courts, and district courts. The Judicial branch interprets the laws. This means that if there is a question about what a law means, or whether something is illegal, these courts decide.

• Legislative branch is the part of the government that makes laws. The legislative branch is called Congress. Congress is divided into two "houses."

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State Government

• Executive branch The head of the government in each state is the governor. Other parts of the executive branch may include the lieutenant governor, attorney general, and the secretary of state.

• Judicial Branch is similar to the Federal system where there is a State Supreme Court and then lower courts below them that handle the day-to-day cases.

• Legislative Branch Just like with the federal government the states have legislatures that make up the state laws, handle the budget, and levy taxes. Every state but Nebraska has two houses similar to the federal government. This is called a bicameral legislature. Nebraska just has a single house.

  
  

  
  

Local Government

• Executive branch Local level – mayor and/or city manager at the municipal level. At the county level are county commissioners who are elected by the people and work together to govern the local community.

• Judicial branch Local level – municipal court adjudicates misdemeanors, levies fines, and designates jail time; presided over by a municipal court judge. Each county has a county court with a county judge elected by the people.

• Legislative branch Local level – city council members make city ordinances, develop a city budget, and approve expenditures. County commissioners act in much the same way for county government.

Multiple Choice

How many levels of government are there?

• 1

• 3

• 2

• 4

Multiple Select

Pick all the levels of governments.

• Legilative Branch

• Executive Branch

• Judicial Branch

Multiple Choice

True or false. The Executive Branch is where all the leaders are.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

What city, state, and country do we live in?

• San Antonio

• Dallas

• Texas

• Houston

• United States

Multiple Choice

What branch of the government writes the laws?

• Judicial

• Legislative

• Executive

Multiple Select

What and who is part of the Judicial Branch?

• Court

• Judge

• mayor

• president

Multiple Choice

True or false. The Govenor is the leader of the State.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a service most likely provided by a local government?

• Maintaining the highways

• Sending an ambulance to accidents

• Providing free meals to school children

Multiple Choice

What is the name of the person who serves with the mayor and city manager of a city government?

• City Coucil Member

• A Judge

• The president

Multiple Choice

In a school setting, who is like the president, the leader of the school?

• teacher

• principal

• counsler