Local, State, and National Government - Third Grade Social Studies
Have you ever wondered who decides how many firefighters work in your town, who pays to repair the state highways you drive on during summer vacation, or who prints the paper dollar bills in your piggy bank? In the United States, all of these important responsibilities are divided among three distinct tiers: local government, state government, and national (federal) government. This system of dividing and sharing authority between different levels of leadership is known as federalism. By distributing powers across three levels, our government ensures that decisions are made by the leaders closest to the problems being solved.
What Is Federalism?
Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided and shared between a central national government and regional state and local governments.
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| THE THREE TIERS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT |
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| [ NATIONAL / FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ] --> Washington, D.C. |
| Leader: The President |
| Scope : Entire United States; military, currency, treaties |
| | |
| v |
| [ STATE GOVERNMENT ] --> 50 State Capitals |
| Leader: The Governor |
| Scope : Single state; state police, driver's licenses, schools |
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| v |
| [ LOCAL GOVERNMENT ] --> City Halls & County Seats |
| Leader: The Mayor / City Manager |
| Scope : Hometown/City; trash collection, fire, parks, local roads |
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Why We Have Three Levels
Imagine if the President of the United States had to personally approve every pothole repair in your neighborhood, decide where each stop sign was placed in every small town, and check library cards in every city! The national government would become hopelessly overwhelmed with tiny local issues. Dividing tasks allows local leaders to handle hometown needs, state leaders to handle regional needs, and national leaders to handle matters affecting the entire country.
Local Government: Caring for Your Hometown
Local government is the level of government that is closest to your everyday life. It operates in your specific town, city, village, or county.
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| RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
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| - Municipal Police and Local Fire Departments |
| - Public Parks, Playgrounds, and Community Swimming Pools |
| - Residential Trash and Recycling Collection |
| - Clean Drinking Water and Sewer Pipes |
| - Paving Town Streets and Plowing Snow from Neighborhood Roads |
| - Operating Public Elementary and High Schools |
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Leaders of Local Government
The chief executive of a city or town is typically the Mayor. Working alongside the mayor is the City Council or Town Board, a group of elected citizens who pass local ordinances (town laws) and set the annual municipal budget.
State Government: Managing the Fifty States
Each of the fifty individual states has its own state government headquartered in its state capital city, such as Austin for Texas, Albany for New York, or Sacramento for California.
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| RESPONSIBILITIES OF STATE GOVERNMENT |
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| - Building and Maintaining State Highways and Turnpikes |
| - State Police / Highway Patrol for highway safety |
| - Issuing Driver's Licenses and Professional Certifications |
| - Overseeing State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Areas |
| - Setting Curriculum Standards and Funding Public Colleges |
| - Administering Statewide Health and Welfare Programs |
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Leaders of State Government
The leader of a state government is the Governor, who is elected by the citizens of that state to serve as the chief executive. The state's laws are drafted and passed by the State Legislature, which is composed of elected state representatives and state senators. State courts and the State Supreme Court handle legal disputes involving state laws.
National (Federal) Government: Leading the Whole Country
The national government, often called the federal government, oversees issues that affect all fifty states and all American citizens. It is located in our nation's capital, Washington, D.C.
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| RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT |
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| - Printing and Minting Paper Money and Coins |
| - Operating the United States Military (Army, Navy, Air Force, etc.) |
| - Declaring War and Negotiating Peace Treaties with Foreign Countries |
| - Operating the United States Postal Service and Delivering Mail |
| - Regulating Trade Between States and with Other Countries |
| - Managing National Parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon |
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Leaders of the National Government
The chief executive of the entire United States is the President, who lives and works in the White House. Laws for the nation are debated and voted on by the United States Congress (the Senate and House of Representatives) in the U.S. Capitol building. The highest court in the land is the United States Supreme Court.
Comparing Powers Across the Three Levels
To understand federalism, practice categorizing which government level handles specific community situations.
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| PROBLEM / TASK | LEVEL RESPONSIBLE | KEY LEADER IN CHARGE |
+------------------------+-------------------+-----------------------------+
| Pothole on Main Street | Local Government | Mayor / City Road Dept |
| Driver's License Test | State Government | Governor / Dept of Vehicles |
| Military Defense | National Gov | President / Congress |
| Building New Town Park | Local Government | City Council / Parks Dept |
| Printing 20 Dollar Bill| National Gov | U.S. Treasury / President |
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Working Together as Partners
While each level has unique powers, they often collaborate as partners. For example, during a natural hurricane disaster, local emergency teams rescue residents, the state governor mobilizes the National Guard, and the federal government sends financial aid and emergency supplies through FEMA!
Chapter Practice Exercises
Question 1: What is federalism, and why does the United States divide governmental powers into three distinct levels?
Question 2: Who is the leader of a local city government, and what are two public services managed at the local level?
Question 3: Name the leader of a state government, where state government is located, and two services managed by states.
Question 4: What are two exclusive powers that belong only to the national (federal) government in Washington, D.C.?
Solutions and Explanations
Solution 1: Federalism is a system of government where authority is divided and shared between a central national government, state governments, and local governments. It divides power so that decisions are handled efficiently: local leaders solve neighborhood problems, while national leaders focus on defense and foreign affairs without overwhelming one single central authority.
Solution 2: The leader of a local city government is typically the Mayor. Two public services managed at the local level include city fire and police protection, and residential trash and recycling collection.
Solution 3: The leader of a state government is the Governor, and the government is located in the state capital city. Two services managed by state government are maintaining state highways and issuing official driver's licenses.
Solution 4: Two exclusive powers belonging only to the national government are printing and minting paper currency and coins, and maintaining the United States military to protect the nation and declare war.