4th Grade Civics & Government — Rights and Responsibilities — Being a Good Citizen
Students will learn how state government works, including the roles of the governor, state legislature, and state courts.
Did you know that the United States has more than one level of government? We have the federal government in Washington, D.C., state governments in each of the 50 states, and local governments in our cities and towns.
Each state has its own government that follows a structure similar to the federal government. There is a governor (like the President), a state legislature (like Congress), and state courts (like the federal courts).
The governor is the leader of the state. He or she signs state laws, manages the state budget, and works to keep the people of the state safe. The state legislature is made up of elected representatives who write and vote on state laws.
State governments handle many things that affect your daily life: schools, roads, state parks, driver's licenses, and local police and fire departments. The Tenth Amendment says that powers not given to the federal government belong to the states.
The Founders designed our government this way on purpose. They believed that government closest to the people governs best. When leaders are close to the people they serve, they can better understand and meet the needs of their communities.
Proverbs 29:2 reminds us that righteous leaders make people rejoice. This is why it is important for citizens to be involved in choosing good leaders at every level of government.
Research your own state government. Find out the name of your state's governor, how many members are in your state legislature, and one law your state has that is different from other states. Present your findings to your family.