STATE GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 8, LESSON 2

LEARNING TARGET: HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS

BUILDING ON OUR SCHEMA!

There are 50 states in the United States. Each one has its own STATE GOVERNMENT. What state do you live in? Who leads your state government?

WHAT IS STATE GOVERNMENT?

Citizens elect a representative to lead our state government. These people meet at the ____________________ to make the laws.

State Government All state governments have 3 branches that work

together to run the state.

VOCABULARY

Capitol: the building where leaders meet to make laws

Governor: the leader of the state’s second branch

THREE BRANCHESLEGISLATIVE

(LAWMAKERS) Make laws, write new laws to help improve the state Men and women are elected by citizens to be our

representatives We give them the right and responsibility to act on our

behalf (They say what we want them to say!) We expect them to KNOW of the issues facing our citizens,

and do their best to lead us into the future

REMEMBER…

Think of each branch as a separate team; like 3 different teams that work together to work towards a common goal.

THREE BRANCHES

EXECUTIVE Headed by the GOVERNOR (leader)

Sets the agenda for the state government (Tells the state government what to do)

Solves problems Sets plans for the future

THREE BRANCHESJUDICIAL(Judges)

-Makes sure laws follow the state and national Constitution

-Decides punishments when laws are broken

STATES OFFER SERVICES!

Just like the local government, the state government gives us services, too!

The governor decides how to spend the tax money…

Hmm… do we need new roads, schools, or hospitals?

SERVICES PROVIDED

Each department is in charge of a special service.

SAFETYDEPARTMENT

ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT

EDUCATIONDEPARTMENT

STATES AND NATION WORK TOGETHER!

They create highways that go across many states.

Are the highways safe? Are the highways fixed?