Our Government
Marsh
Study Guide
Vocabulary
Election- the process in which a citizen votes for people to
represent them
Tax- money paid to the government
Council- a group of people elected to make rules and solve
problems
Mayor- a person who heads the government or community
County- an area of the state or country that includes
several communities
Capitol- the building where leaders of the state meet to
make laws
Governor- the head of the state whose main job is to carry
out state laws
Legislative Branch- branch of the government that makes
laws (Congress)
Executive Branch- branch of the government that signs
laws ( President)
Judicial Branch- branch of the government that enforces
laws (Supreme Court)
Separation of Powers- power divided between the 3
branches of government
Monument- a building or statue that helps people remember
a person or event
Direct Democracy- a system in which all citizens meet
together to govern themselves
Representative Democracy- a system in which citizens elect
leaders to represent them in government
There are 3 different levels of the government:
-Local
-State
-National
Local Government
What do they do?
The local government makes laws and provides
services you use every day.
- ex.) Bike riders must wear helmets
Taxes are collected on land, houses, and things
we buy to pay for may things in our community.
- Local taxes help pay for schools, police and
fire protection and library services
How do they get their leaders?
The citizens in a community vote for
people to represent them.
The leader of a local government is a MAYOR
County
Government
-Citizens vote
for sheriffs and
commissioners
-Commissioners
run county
government
3 Branches of
Local Government
1. City council - group of officials who
make rules or laws
2. Mayor - works with
the council to make
decisions
Mayor of Springfield
Jeff Ambrose
3. Courts - decides if a law has been
broken
State Government
What is a state government?
Citizens elect people to lead their state government
-That person is called the governor
Those leaders work in the state capitol.
-Our state capital is in Atlanta Georgia.
3 Branches of the
State Government
1. Lawmakers- make laws 
Governor of
Senate and House of Representatives
Georgia
2. Governor- signs laws, carries out laws
Nathan Deal
A governor can Veto a law- this means stop it.
3. Judges- make sure state laws follow the state and national
constitutions
Also decided punishment when laws are broken
State Government
Taxes and Services
Taxes
State government collects taxes too.
Tax money is used to pay for new state roads, schools, and
hospitals.
Services
Departments that make sure our land and water are clean
Departments that hire police officers
Departments that pick what we learn in school!!!
National Government
•National government leaders meet and work in
Washington, D.C.
•The nation’s government is made up of 3 branches.
•The main role of the national government is to protect
citizens’ rights.
3 Branches of the
National Government
*Each branch of the government has a job to do*
1. Legislative Branch- also known as Congress
Congress is divided into two parts
oSenate
o House of Representatives
Their job is to MAKE LAWS!
2. Executive Branch- CARRIES OUT LAWS
The president is the head of this branch
He either approves or rejects laws made by Congress.
Barack Obama
44th
United States
President
3. Judicial Branch- DECIDES WHAT THE LAW MEANS and if the law
obeys the Constitution.
The head of this branch is the Supreme Court
United States
Supreme Court
Judges
Government Buildings
Many United States government buildings were made to look like building
from Athens, Greece.
They did this because Athens was home to the first DEMOCRACY!
This means they voted for their leaders like we do.
Things we copied from ancient Athens:
oColumns
The
oCarvings
Parthenon
oMarble steps
Supreme
Court
Building
National Monuments
Washington
Monument
-550 ft tall.
Lincoln
Monument
Two Kinds of Democracy
Direct Democracy- citizens vote directly for leaders and on issues.
oCitizens in Athens had a direct democracy
Representative Democracy- citizens choose other citizens to
represent them.
oThe United states is a representative democracy
Brace Map of the
Levels and Branches
of Government