State and National Leaders: Governors and Presidents: Second Grade Social Studies
State and national governments lead larger populations across entire states and the entire country, guided by governors and the President of the United States.
The Levels of American Government
To understand how our country is led, it helps to picture a set of three nesting boxes. The smallest box is local government (cities and towns). The medium box is state government (such as Texas, Ohio, or California). The largest box is national or federal government, which unites all fifty states into one country: the United States of America.
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| THE THREE TIERS OF U.S. GOVERNMENT |
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| LOCAL LEVEL | STATE LEVEL | NATIONAL LEVEL |
| (City / Town) | (Fifty States) | (Entire Country) |
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| Leader: Mayor | Leader: Governor | Leader: President |
| Meeting: City Hall | Capital: Statehouse| Capital: Capitol |
| Focus: Local roads | Focus: State parks,| Focus: Defense, |
| & neighborhood | state highways, | treaties, & trade |
| services | state universities | between states |
+--------------------+--------------------+-------------------+
Why Do We Have Multiple Levels?
Each level handles problems appropriate to its size. A broken streetlight in your neighborhood is best fixed by local municipal workers. A highway connecting five major cities across a state requires state-level planning. Defending our country against international threats or printing paper dollars requires national leadership.
State Government and the Governor
Every state in the United States has its own constitution, its own state capital city, and its own elected leaders.
The Role of the Governor
The governor is the top executive leader of a state, functioning like the president of that single state. The governor works in the state capital building, leads state agencies, signs or vetoes bills passed by the state legislature, and commands the state's National Guard troops during local emergencies such as floods or tornadoes.
[ THE GOVERNOR ]
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| | |
[ STATE POLICE ] [ HIGHWAY DEPT ] [ STATE PARKS ]
Patrols interstate Manages freeways Preserves natural
highways & assists & large bridges forests & lakes
State Legislatures and State Courts
Working alongside the governor is the state legislature, made up of state senators and state representatives elected by voters from districts across the state. They write state laws governing education standards, driver licensing, and wildlife conservation. The state supreme court is the highest court in the state, ensuring that state laws obey the state constitution.
National Government and the President
The national government, often called the federal government, oversees all fifty states, American territories, and the nation's capital city, Washington, D.C.
The President of the United States
The President is the chief executive of the nation, the commander-in-chief of all military armed forces, and the official representative of the American people to the rest of the world. The President lives and works in the White House in Washington, D.C., and is elected every four years by citizens across all fifty states.
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| THREE BRANCHES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT |
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| EXECUTIVE BRANCH | LEGISLATIVE BRANCH | JUDICIAL BRANCH |
| PRESIDENT | CONGRESS | SUPREME COURT |
| Carries out laws, | (Senate & House) | 9 Justices who |
| leads armed forces,| Writes & passes | interpret the |
| meets world leaders| national laws | U.S. Constitution |
+--------------------+--------------------+-------------------+
The Three Branches in Washington, D.C.
Our national government is divided into three separate branches to prevent any single person or group from having total power. This design is called the system of checks and balances.
The Executive Branch is led by the President, the Vice President, and Cabinet advisors. The Legislative Branch is Congress, which includes the Senate and the House of Representatives, meeting in the U.S. Capitol building to pass national laws. The Judicial Branch is the Supreme Court, consisting of nine justices who ensure that laws align with the United States Constitution.
How Leaders Serve the Public
Whether a leader serves as mayor, governor, or president, they hold a position of public trust. They are elected to serve the people, not themselves.
Working Together Across Levels
Often, leaders from all three levels must work together during major crises. If a powerful hurricane strikes a coastal town, the mayor coordinates local shelters, the governor mobilizes emergency supply trucks and state rescue teams, and the President sends federal assistance funds and disaster specialists to rebuild damaged homes and schools.
Exercises and Review
Exercise 1: Compare the duties of a state governor with the duties of the President of the United States.
Exercise 1 Solution: A governor is the head executive of a single state who oversees state highways, state parks, and state police, and works with the state legislature in the state capital. The President of the United States is the head executive of the entire country who leads the armed forces, works with Congress in Washington, D.C., enforces federal laws, and represents the nation in treaties and discussions with foreign countries.
Exercise 2: Explain why the United States government is divided into three separate branches at the national level.
Exercise 2 Solution: The United States government is divided into the executive, legislative, and judicial branches so that power is shared and balanced. This system of checks and balances ensures that no single leader or group becomes too powerful or acts like a dictator. Each branch has its own specific duties and checks the power of the other two branches to protect the freedoms and rights of all citizens.