State and Local Governments

State and Local Governments

Students will explore the concept of federalism, from the powers held by the federal government to the powers reserved for the states. They will also learn about state government structures and functions, the state-level lawmaking process, and discover local governments, including county, municipal, and tribal governments.

State government resources were created with support from the State Government Affairs Council. Local government resources were created with support from the National Association of Counties.

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Lesson Plan

Counties Work Extension Pack (Texas)

Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for Counties Work (Texas). This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you! Extension Packs are designed for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards.
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Lesson Plan

Counties Work Extension Pack

Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for Counties Work. This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you! Extension Packs are designed for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards.
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Lesson Plan

County Contributions (Infographic)

Meet the departments doing the important jobs that make your county work!
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Lesson Plan

State Power: Got a Reservation?

Students discover that states have their own governments and powers separate from the federal government. They learn what those powers are, how they’re different from the federal government’s powers, and that state governments also give power to smaller, local governments. Students critique a set of fictional state laws, create a story involving state powers, and look at some differences between state and local power. We recommend teaching our lesson The "Federal" in Federalism right before this lesson.(Please note: This lesson replaces our old "On the Level" lesson plan. The Venn diagram…
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Lesson Plan

The State Governor

In this lesson, students discover the roles and responsibilities of a governor. Through a reading and board game, students identify the source of a governor's power and how that power is best used in a variety of situations.
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WebQuest

Who Represents Me?

Do you know who represents you in the federal, state and local government? Do you know how to get in touch with them? Follow this WebQuest to find answers to these questions and more!
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Lesson Plan

The Great State

What do state governments do? In this overview lesson, students learn about state government structure, functions, lawmaking, and relationship with local government.Got a 1:1 classroom? Download fillable PDF versions of this lesson's materials below!
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WebQuest

County Basics

You probably know you live in a county (or the equivalent of a county), but do you know what county governments do? Find in this webquest!
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Lesson Plan

The Capable County

County governments provide us with valuable services. In this lesson, students explore the many roles filled by their county government and the role of county governments in our federalist system.
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Game

Counties Work

Running a county is a lot of work! Manage things well, and try to get re-elected.
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Lesson Plan

Comparing Constitutions: Ohio (HS)

Compare and contrast the U.S. and Ohio constitutions in this hands-on lesson using excerpts from both documents. Dig into how they structure the government, address individual rights, outline the amendment process and more.
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Lesson Plan

Comparing Constitutions (WA)

How does Washington’s state constitution compare and contrast with the U.S. Constitution? Look no further for the answer! Guide your class through some basic similarities and differences as well as side-by-side text analysis with this lesson’s integrated reading/activity format.
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Lesson Plan

Counties Work Extension Pack (Texas)

Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for Counties Work (Texas). This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you! Extension Packs are designed for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards.
View
Lesson Plan

Counties Work Extension Pack

Make your students’ game play more meaningful by using our activity and assessment set designed specifically for Counties Work. This easy-to-use Extension Pack helps you give context and purpose to the game, as well as reinforce and assess the game concepts. That means deeper learning for students, and best practices around game-centered learning for you! Extension Packs are designed for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards.
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Lesson Plan

Crisis Collaboration: COVID-19 Mini Lesson

What do you know about the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic? Explore the actions and relationships between different levels of government as they figure out what to do in response to COVID-19.
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Lesson Plan

County Contributions (Infographic)

Meet the departments doing the important jobs that make your county work!
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Lesson Plan

Initiative & Referendum (WA)

Washington’s initiative and referendum powers let regular people participate directly in lawmaking! This lesson presents the initiative and referendum powers as tools and shows students how to use them.
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Lesson Plan

Governing Washington Communities

Local government has lots of layers, and Washington's is no different. In this lesson, students learn the structure and function of local government in Washington and how they can “harness the power” of local government to address issues of concern.
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Lesson Plan

Tribal Government (HS)

As sovereign nations, American Indian and Alaska Native tribes develop and manage their own governments. This lesson examines the varied structures and functions of tribal government as well as the relationship these nations have with the United States.
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Lesson Plan

Municipal Government (HS)

What's the closest form of government to the American people? Why municipal government, of course! In this lesson, students will explore the varied functions and structures of local government as well as explore the services provided in their own municipality and beyond.
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State and Local Governments

Choose Grade Level:

Counties Work Extension Pack (Texas)

Counties Work Extension Pack

County Contributions (Infographic)

State Power: Got a Reservation?

The State Governor

Who Represents Me?

The Great State

County Basics

The Capable County

Counties Work

Comparing Constitutions: Ohio (HS)

Comparing Constitutions (WA)

Counties Work Extension Pack (Texas)

Counties Work Extension Pack

Crisis Collaboration: COVID-19 Mini Lesson

County Contributions (Infographic)

Initiative & Referendum (WA)

Governing Washington Communities

Tribal Government (HS)

Municipal Government (HS)

See how it all fits together!