Levels of Government
Mrs. Martin’s SS Class
SS3CG1 The student will explain the importance of the basic
principles that provide the foundation of a republican form of
government.
a. Explain why in the United States there is a separation of power
between branches of government and levels of government.
b. Name the three levels of government (national, state, local) and
the three branches in each (executive, legislative, judicial), including
the names of the legislative branch (Congress, General Assembly,
county commission or city council).
c. State an example of the responsibilities of each level and branch of
government.
1
What is Government?
A
government is a group of
people that sets laws or rules
and runs a community.
 Watch a video on government;
then answer…
 What kind of government do
we have?
2
What is the meaning of level?

Think of the levels or stories of a building.
Example: Some skyscrapers in New York
have more than 50 stories or levels.
3
Our country has 3 levels of
government. Let’s draw a building!

Think of a building with 3 stories or levels.
4
Levels of Government
Level 3: FEDERAL or NATIONAL
Level 2: STATE
Level 1 (the lowest level): LOCAL or
City/Town
5
Why do we have 3 levels of
government instead of one?

The powers or authorities are divided to
prevent (or avoid) one level
from becoming more
powerful.
6
Let’s Review our Map Skills
 Trace
the entire United States of
America. It is our nation or country
 Trace the state of Georgia. Which is
bigger—a country or a state?
 Can you find a city or town in Georgia?
How many cities or towns do you see?
 Which is the biggest— The country
(national or federal), the state, or the
town/city?
7
Cedartown does not have a Mayor but we have a City
manager!
Let’s
meet
our city
manager…
Bill Fann!
8
What does a mayor or a city
manager do?

Let’s learn about a mayor’s job! We will
watch an interview with a mayor.
9
Meet our Local
Government’s
City
Commissioners!
Cedartown City Commissioners are pictured above. They
are, left to right: Jordan Hubbard, Matt Foster, chairman Dale
Tuck, Gary Martin and chairman pro-tem Larry Odom.
10
Copy: Local Level Government
Local means in nearby area, usually small,
such as city or town.
 A local government is a group that
leads a town or a city
 Can you name cities in the state of Georgia?
 Our local or city leaders are the:
 Legislative Branch: City Council or the
City Commission
 Executive Branch: Mayor or City Manager

11
What does the local government
do?
1. The local government runs
the school system.
12
What does the local government
do?
2. The local
government runs the
city parks.
13
What does the local government
do?
3. keeps its citizens safe
by providing local
police and
firefighters
14
What does the local government
do?
4. makes sure that there is clean
running water
5. sets city ordinances or rules.
6. administers elections and driver
licenses.
15
Meet the Leaders of our State of
Georgia!
 Nathan
Deal—
Governor
16
He is the leader of Georgia General
Assembly
Our city’s very own, Representative
Trey Kelley

Cedartown’s Congressman
(16th District)
Georgia’s General Assembly or
State Legislature
17
Take Note!!!
 Both
state and national levels have
congressmen/congresswomen and
senators. There are 56 state senators in
Georgia; but only 2 U.S senators
representing Georgia.
 There are about180 members of the
House of Representatives in Georgia
General Assembly; while there are
only13 U.S. Congressmen
representing Georgia.
Georgia Supreme Court Justices

Chief Justice Hugh Thompson and the
Justices
19
The State Level of Government
A group of cities or towns makes up a
state. There are 50 states in our
country—the U.S.A.
 The leaders of the state of Georgia are:
 Legislative -The General Assembly (state
congressmen/congresswomen and the
state senators or representatives)
 Executive - The governor
 Judicial – Georgia Supreme Court
Justices

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What does the state government
do?
1. builds and maintains
roads that connect
communities across
the state
21
What does the state government
do?
2. protects state’s
environment
22
What does the state government
do?
3. manages public health and safety for
the state
4. develops educational systems
5. creates state laws.
23
To explain further…
Watch
a video about
the first 2 levels of
government—the
Local and the State
Levels.
24
Meet the Leaders in the Federal
Level!

Barack Obama—
President of the
United States of
America
25
The U.S.
representatives
make up the
Congress
We have 100 senators and 435
Congressmen
26
The U.S. Supreme Court’s
 Chief
Justice and Justices
27
The National or Federal Level of
Government
 National
or Federal involves our entire
country. What is the name of our
country?
 The leaders of this level of government are:
 Legislative – The U.S Congress (Senators
and Congressmen/congresswomen)
 Executive - The president of the U.S.A.
 Judicial – the Supreme Court which
consists of the Chief Justice and the
Justices.
28
What does the federal or national
government do?
1. prints currency or money
29
What does the federal or
national government do?
2. declares war
3. conducts foreign relations (or
deals with other countries)
30
Let’s create our 3 Levels of
Government Building!
Cut out the boxes.
 Put (do not glue yet) each item in the
corresponding level.
 Ask your teacher if all your answers are
correct.
 Glue the information on your
“government building”

31
Answer the following:
1. The government of the United States is divided into
three levels. These levels are
________________________________________
2. Which level (type) of government is made up of a
president and U.S Congress?
______________________________________
3. A city council belongs to which level of government?
________________________________
4. Which level of government takes care of fire
prevention and peace and order in your town?
_______________________________
5.Your class would like to have a bike path built
from your school to the park. Whom should you
talk to about this project?
_______________________________
6. Which level of government usually makes laws
for the whole country?
_______________________________
7. Most cities and towns have mayors and city
council that run the government. Cedartown,
Georgia has what instead?
_______________________________
8. Cities or towns are run by which level of
government?
_______________________________
9. Which level builds and maintains roads that
connect communities across the state?
_________________________________
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10. Which level prints our money and takes care
of foreign (other countries) relations?
________________________________
11. Which level is the highest level? Why?
___________________________________
___________________________________
12. Why do we have three levels of government?
____________________________________
____________________________________
35
Facts Every Citizen Should
Know:
1. What is your town or
city?___________
2. What is the name of your
state? ____________
3. What is your country’s name?
___________________
36
Review all 12 questions
and answers including the
3 facts.
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