State and Local Government
Session 6: Relationship of State and Local Governments

Materials

• Internet access

Instructional Activities

1. Review with students the content covered to this point in the unit.
   
   
2. Remind students that governments operate under authority granted by the people or a higher government elected by the people.
   
   
3. Review the article on Dillon’s Rule and discuss its significance with students. Students may access the following Web site for information: <http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/omb/fcpos/dillon.pdf>.
   
   
4. Explain that local governments assist the state in the implementation of state laws and programs. Provide examples of how they do this.
   
   
5. Encourage organized debate on what students think the role of government should be. Require students to state their reasons for their opinions. Record some of their responses to guide discussion.
   
   
6. Instruct students to develop a one-page paper that identifies the form of government they think should exist. Their paper should address the role that government should play in the everyday life of its citizens. Remind students that government is not free and that if they require their government to provide services, they have to determine how those services will be paid for. Explain that they will need to present their ideal government in a two-minute presentation the following session.