State and Local Government
Session 1: Relationship Between the National, State
and Local Government

Materials

• Textbook
• Transparency: “Levels of Government” (Attachment A)

Instructional Activities

1. Explain that this unit will focus on the structure and powers of the state and local government. However, to understand these governments, students must understand how state and local governments relate to the national government.



2. Remind students that federalism is the sharing of power between the national and state (local) governments. Each level of government has some powers all its own (for example, the national government can coin money, wage war, write treaties; the state is responsible for education, voting) and some that are duplicated (both levels have a court system). Additional information on this topic is contained in the unit on “Our Federal System of Government.”
   
   
3. Display the transparency (Attachment A) and preview the unit by briefly discussing each level of government, as listed in the overview chart. Point out that students will study elected and appointed officials in the state and local levels of government that have similar powers to those at the national level.
   
   
4. Ask students to review the textbook section on the sharing of power between the state and national government for homework.