THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

•  There are three different levels of government: local, state, and federal. Each level of government has its own elected officials who have specific jobs to do. As an American citizen, you have a voice in all three levels of government when you vote.

• Local government is the level that is closest to the community. People in the neighborhood elect a mayor and city council members. Town meetings allow the people to bring their concerns to their elected leaders. The mayor and city council members pass laws that affect the city and the people who live there.

• State government is in charge of writing and enforcing laws for all the people within one state. The people of the state elect a governor and representatives who handle business for the state. Special state departments handle issue like how to organize public education, and how to protect the health and safety of state citizens.

• Federal government is in charge of writing and enforcing laws for the people in our entire nation. The people of the United States elect a president, senators, and representatives to handle business that affects the whole country. The federal level of government is the only level that can print money, negotiate with other countries, or declare war.

• Each level of government has specific officials and duties.  We, the people, entrust our power to our leaders. It is their responsibility to make sure that our interests and safety are protected.

 Name:__________________________________

Answer the following questions based on the reading passage. Don’t forget to go back to the passage whenever necessary to find or confirm   your answers.

1)   What are the level levels of government?

2)  How does the average person have a voice in government?

3) Which level of government has the ability to print money? 

4)  Which level of government is in charge of organizing public schools? 

5)  Which level of government is most likely to have meetings where you can meet your elected officials? Why?