How do state governments work? THE GREAT STATE How do state governments work?

YES OR NO? Check your understanding!

Check your understanding! 1. Do state governments have anything in common with the federal government? YES NO They both have three branches of government.

Check your understanding! 2. Do all states have a bicameral legislature? YES NO Nebraska’s is unicameral, with only one house.

Check your understanding! 3. Do state lawmakers represent citizens from a certain area of the state? YES NO Those areas are called districts.

Check your understanding! 4. Can a state governor veto bills passed by the state legislature? YES NO

Check your understanding! 5. Does a state’s executive branch only include the governor? YES NO It also includes many departments.

Check your understanding! 6. Does a state’s high court handle small issues like misdemeanors? YES NO It reviews decisions from lower courts, supervises other courts, and interprets the state constitution.

Check your understanding! 7. Does each state have its own constitution? YES NO

Check your understanding! 8. Is a state’s legislature the only place or way laws can be adopted? YES NO In many states, citizens can put laws on the ballot through the initiative process.

Check your understanding! 9. Can states always afford all the services they need to provide? YES NO Often they receive money from the federal government in the form of grants.

Check your understanding! 10. Do local governments provide any services? YES NO They provide things like schools, libraries, police, water, and many others.

WORKSHEET ACTIVITIES

Word Search C M B X S Q J F O V K L N I U T G D E Y H R W A P Z Use this slide if you’d like to have individual students show where the words are.

Word Search C M B X S Q J F O V K L N I U T G D E Y H R W A P Z Click to show the answers. (The extra click is a failsafe so you don’t accidentally show the answers while you’re on the previous slide.)

That’s incorrect! What’s wrong? 1. Unlike the federal government, state governments only have one branch of government. Like the federal government, state governments have three branches of government.

That’s incorrect! What’s wrong? 2. States are divided into districts, and citizens in each district elect a governor to be head of their district. States are divided into districts, and citizens in each district elect representatives to serve in the state legislature.

That’s incorrect! What’s wrong? 3. A state’s executive branch includes many departments that handle thousands of small issues such as misdemeanors. A state’s executive branch includes many departments that carry out laws passed by the state legislature.

That’s incorrect! What’s wrong? 4. States can afford to provide citizens with all necessary services and do not usually need any financial help. States usually cannot afford to provide citizens with all necessary services and often accept grants from the federal government.

That’s incorrect! What’s wrong? 5. Local governments are independent and have the power to do anything they want to. Local governments get their power from the states and can only do what the states say they can do.

        Licensed… or Not?             Which of these jobs usually require a state license?     m Architect m Cashier m Dentist m Interpreter m Veterinarian m Real Estate Agent m Exterminator m Private Investigator m Car Salesperson m Software Developer m Office Manager m Massage Therapist m Fitness Instructor m Electrician m Hair Dresser m Event Planner m Teacher m Nail Technician m Embalmer m Actor          Answers are revealed one click at a time, starting with the left row (Architect) and moving down.       

        Licensed… or Not?             WHY do you think the state regulates these jobs?     m Architect m Cashier m Dentist m Interpreter m Veterinarian m Real Estate Agent m Exterminator m Private Investigator m Car Salesperson m Software Developer m Office Manager m Massage Therapist m Fitness Instructor m Electrician m Hair Dresser m Event Planner m Teacher m Nail Technician m Embalmer m Actor          Focus on what people in that profession are responsible for and any safety issues that might arise. For example… A poorly designed building might collapse (architect). Anyone working on the human body could potentially harm someone if they don’t know what they’re doing (dentist, massage therapist, hair dresser, nail tech). (Hair dressers and nail techs could spread disease if their instruments aren’t sterilized properly.) Teachers are responsible for children. Veterinarians prescribe drugs, and they are entrusted to diagnose illness and prescribe remedies or perform surgical procedures. Exterminators work with harmful chemicals. Electrical wiring can be a fire hazard if not installed properly. Real estate agents deal with property sales, which can involve large amounts of money and complicated laws, and require special knowledge. Embalmers are entrusted with human bodies and work with strong chemicals. Private investigators engage in activities very similar to those of law enforcement investigators and may collect sensitive information about people.       