Government and Utah
Chapter 15: Government for and
by the People
Check under your
desk for gum.
 Take
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
Bell Activity
out your response paper.
Think about what you have learned about the
government and its branches (legislative,
executive, and judicial). Which branch do you
think is the most powerful and why? What are
some ways the other two branches can prevent
that branch from becoming too powerful.
Where should your backpack be?
Check under your
desk for gum.
 Take


Bell Activity
out your study guide.
Work on your study guide for 5 minutes. Try to
answer at least 10 questions.
Where should your backpack be?
Today we will learn
about…
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History Objective - We
will describe the system
of checks and balances in
state and federal
government, the different
levels of government in
the United States and
Utah. We will be able to
describe the roles of
county and city
governments.
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Language Objective
– We will listen and
write important
information.
Behavior Objective –
Work Ethic: Stay on
task.
So which branch is the
most powerful?
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The framers of the
U.S. Constitution
feared one branch
of government
becoming more
powerful than the
others so they gave
each branch ways
to control the
power of the other
two.
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This system is
called checks and
balances.
Utah copied this
system in its state
constitution.
Take out your
checks and balance
organizer and let’s
fill it out together.
Levels of Government in Utah
Levels of Government
County Government
City Government
Tribal Government
Taxes
Levels of Government
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No matter where you live in our
country, you have to live under the
rules and laws of the national
government.
You also live under smaller
governments.
– State
– County
– City or Town
Levels continued…
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The National Government,
called the federal
government, rules everyone
in the country.
The state government rules
only the people in the state.
County government applies
to smaller regions of the
state.
City government is
government closer to home.
Levels in Logan
Federal
County
State
City
County Government
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Utah is divided into
smaller regions called
counties.
The county government
is headed by a county
board of
commissioners.
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Each county has a
county seat, which is
where the offices of the
county government are
located.
– What is the county we
live in?
– What is the county seat
of that county?
County Government
Services
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These are some of
the services that are
part of county
government:
– County court
– Driver’s license
– Copy of your birth
certificate
– Marriage license
– Pay taxes on a car
County Government
Services
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Counties:
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Hold elections
Levy taxes
Carry out laws
Buy property & raise
buildings
Deal with public
health and welfare
Business licenses
Schools
Libraries
City Government
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The type of government
that a town has depends
in part on how big it is.
When a town is created,
the citizens choose what
type of government that
city will have.
– Large towns typically have
a mayor and a council.
– Small towns often have a
town board or manager.
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Town leaders direct city
affairs, make ordinances,
and decide how to spend
taxes.
Kinds of Cities
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Cities are classified according to size
and population. These are the main
kinds:
– FIRST CLASS CITY – population over 100,000
– SECOND CLASS CITY – population from 60,000
– 100,000
– THIRD CLASS CITY – population below 60,000
– TOWN – 100 people or more until incorporated
to become a city.
City Government Services
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The main role of city government is to offer
services such as:
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Build and maintain roads
Parks
Water
Sewage
Garbage disposal
Snow removal
Fire and Police departments
Libraries
Cemeteries
Public programs: 4th of July, recreation programs.
Tribal Governments
Navajo Tribal Council
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American Indians
who live on
reservations also
live under a tribal
government.
They are separate
nations under the
national
government.
What do you think?

Some people think we
have too much
government. Others
think that we need to
have the different levels
of government. Think
about the ways the
levels are the same and
different. Do you think
that we need both
county and city
governments?
Check under your
desk for gum.
Bell Activity
 Take
out your response paper
and spend 4 minutes answering
these questions.

What do you think it means to be a good
citizen?
What kinds of rights do we have as citizens?
What are our responsibilities as citizens?

Where should your backpack be?


Today we will learn
about…
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Content Objective We will be able to
describe how taxes
are used by the
federal, state, and
local government.
We will also
examine the rights
and responsibilities
of being a good
citizen.
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Language Objective We will read taxes
and our rights and
responsibilities, and
answer questions
about them.
Behavior Objective –
Collaboration: We will
help each other finish
our study guides.
Taxes
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The U.S. and Utah Constitutions give
our federal, state, counties, and cities
the power to collect taxes.
– Taxes come in many forms. Look at the
pink sheet for a list of where taxes are
collected.
– Write down three places where taxes are
collected.
Taxes Pay for Services
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What is local tax money used for?
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Federal taxes?
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Making and fixing streets.
Plowing the snow in winter.
Libraries
Schools
Clean water
Garbage collection
Recreation like parks, sports, swimming pools,
etc.
– Paying public employees (teachers, police, etc.)
– Military protection
– Currency (money)
– And many more things
Taxes and you
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Public schools are a government service.
– No matter where you live in Utah, all the
working adults in the state help pay for your
education.
– Taxes pay for school buildings, teachers’
salaries, textbooks, and supplies.
Since both state and local tax money is used
to pay for your education, the state
legislature can require students to attend
school for a certain number of days each
year, and set the curricula that you study in
your classes.
– The voters have a say in what happens in
schools by electing members of the school board
of each school district.
– The board adopts policies to fit local needs.
Get Involved!
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Government affects your life in many ways,
but many people don’t see the point of being
active in their government.
Even students can get involved in the
process.
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Know who your elected officials are.
Visit city council meetings.
Write letters or emails to your representatives.
Volunteer in your community.
Register to vote when you turn 18 and learn about
the issues and candidates you will be voting on.
– When you are old enough, you can even
campaign for a candidate.
Be a Person of High
Character
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Our city, state, and country is only as
strong as its people.
– Be honest, moral, polite, and helpful.
– Help people when you can in your
community.
– You should obey all the laws.
– You should speak out against
discrimination or unfair actions of other
people.
– Make a difference in other people’s lives
by volunteering your time.