State and Local Government
Grade 8 · Social Studies · Study Guide
How state and local governments are organized, what they do, and how they affect everyday life.
When most Americans interact with government on a day-to-day basis, it's usually not the federal government — it's state and local governments. Public schools, driver's licenses, police departments, city parks, water systems, and local roads are all managed at the state or local level. Understanding how these governments work is essential to being an informed citizen.
Each state has its own government modeled loosely on the federal structure. States have a governor (executive), a state legislature (most have two chambers like Congress), and a state supreme court. States have broad powers under the 10th Amendment, which reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states. This includes education, marriage laws, vehicle registration, professional licensing, and criminal law.
Local governments operate below the state level. Counties (called parishes in Louisiana and boroughs in Alaska) are the most common subdivisions, handling courts, property records, and sheriff departments. Municipalities — cities, towns, and villages — manage services within their boundaries. Cities typically have a mayor or city manager and a city council.
Special districts are another type of local government created for a specific purpose — like a school district, water district, or transit authority. You might vote for school board members without even realizing that's a form of local government participation.
Local governments depend primarily on property taxes for revenue. State governments use a mix of income taxes, sales taxes, and federal funding. This creates differences in services between wealthy and poor areas — a wealthy suburb might have newer schools and better roads than a poor rural county, even within the same state.
| Level | Examples | Key Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Federal | President, Congress, Supreme Court | Defense, foreign policy, currency, immigration |
| State | Governor, state legislature, state courts | Education, marriage law, driver's licenses, criminal law |
| County | County board, sheriff, county courts | Property records, courts, sheriff, some roads |
| City/Town | Mayor, city council | Police, fire, local roads, parks, water/sewer |
| Special District | School board, water district | Focused services within a defined area |
Key terms
- 10th Amendment
- Constitutional amendment reserving all powers not given to the federal government to the states and the people
- Governor
- The elected chief executive of a state government
- Municipality
- A city, town, or village that has its own local government
- Property Tax
- A tax on the value of real estate — the primary revenue source for local governments
- Special District
- A local government created for one specific purpose, like a school district or water authority
Flashcards
- 10th Amendment
- Reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states — basis of federalism
- Governor
- Elected chief executive of a state — the 'president' of the state government
- State Legislature
- State's lawmaking body — most states have two chambers (senate and house of representatives)
- Municipality
- A city, town, or village with its own elected government
- Property Tax
- Tax on real estate value — the main revenue source for local governments including schools
- Special District
- Local government for one purpose — school districts, water districts, transit authorities
Practice questions
Which amendment to the Constitution reserves powers not given to the federal government to the states?
- 1st Amendment
- 5th Amendment
- 10th Amendment
- 14th Amendment
Show answer
Answer: 10th Amendment
The 10th Amendment is the constitutional foundation of federalism. It ensures states retain significant power and don't become mere provinces of the federal government.
Local governments primarily fund their services through the federal income tax.
Show answer
Answer: False
Local governments primarily rely on property taxes — taxes on the value of homes and businesses within their boundaries. This is why property taxes vary so much from community to community.
The elected chief executive of a state government is called the ___.
Show answer
Answer: governor
The governor is the state's chief executive, similar to the president at the federal level. Governors can sign or veto state legislation, command the state National Guard, and appoint state officials.
Which of the following is typically a responsibility of state government, NOT the federal government?
- Declaring war
- Printing currency
- Issuing driver's licenses
- Managing foreign policy
Show answer
Answer: Issuing driver's licenses
Driver's licenses, marriage licenses, professional licenses, speed limits, and most criminal law are all state responsibilities. This is why laws vary significantly from state to state.
A school district is an example of a special district local government.
Show answer
Answer: True
School districts are special districts — local governments created specifically to run public schools. They have elected school boards, levy their own property taxes, and operate independently of city governments.
Fun facts
- There are approximately 90,000 units of government in the United States — federal, state, and local combined.
- Your school is almost certainly run by a special district (a school district) with its own elected board, budget, and taxing authority.
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