TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Government in the United States 4 CHAPTER 2 How Local Governments Work 10 CHAPTER 3 What It Takes to Do the Job 16 CHAPTER 4 A City Council in Action 22 THINK ABOUT IT 30 FOR MORE INFORMATION 31 GLOSSARY 32 INDEX 32
chapter 1 Government in the United States Citizens of the United States have certain rights and privileges that are protected by government bodies at three different levels federal state and local The federal government is the biggest and most powerful It resides and operates primarily out of our nation’s capital Washington D C and creates laws and maintains services that impact the country as a whole For example the federal government is charged with protecting America’s borders and fending off foreign invaders It makes treaties with other governments in hopes of maintaining peaceful and productive relations around the world Uncle Sam does a whole slew of other things too including printing money collecting taxes running the national parks and providing social services 4 21st century skills library
