State government social studies lesson for kids

State government social studies lesson for kids -  social studies skills studied in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th grades. Even though the whole United States is governed by the federal government, there are also state governments that are in charge of each state on the map. This is because life in each state is very different, so some of the laws that are necessary in Alaska, for example, might not be needed in Vermont. For this reason, each state has its own government to take care of its specific needs. State governments take care of things like laws, schools, and police departments, among other things.

State governments look very similar to the federal government. Like the federal government, each state has a constitution that all its laws are based off of. The state government is also made up of an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Continue reading below>>>

The executive branch of a state government is headed by the governor. In the same way that the president is the highest authority in the whole country, the governor is the highest authority in his or her particular state. The governor is elected to his position by citizens of the state, along with the other members of the top level of the state government, such as the state attorney general and the lieutenant governor. Each state in the country is a little different in the way they formulate the government, but they all are headed by a governor.

The legislative branch of a state government consists of a number of state representatives. These men and women are in charge of deciding what laws to pass. These laws might be proposed by the governor himself, or they might be a suggestion from a member of the state legislature. This branch is also in charge of deciding what laws about taxes will look like in their state and how to use the state budget. This means that they have to decide how the whole state will spend its money, whether it be on building better roads or starting a program to help the citizens in a new way.

A fun game on the U.S. Legislative System

The judicial branch of a state government includes the state Supreme Court. This court is mainly responsible for hearing trials that are sent up to them from other courts in the state and helping them when they make mistakes. Sometimes, if a case is particularly difficult or the justices aren’t sure if it goes against the United States constitution, the case goes from the state to the federal Supreme Court, the highest judicial authority in the country.

Just as with a federal government, there are many parts to a state government. Some departments that might be part of it include motor vehicles, which issues drivers’ licenses, emergency management, which helps organize ambulances and other emergency protocols, agriculture, which manages how crops are grown and sold in the state, and education, which is in charge of deciding how schools should run. There are many more departments as well. All of them are important in helping a state run well and be a good place for its citizens.