The Three Types of US Governments

Local Government

     Local governments control towns or cities. In local governments the mayor is usually in charge but sometimes a city manager takes the job. A city manager is chosen by the city council because they think he or she would do a good job. If he or she doesn't do good it is easy to fire them. If there is a mayor it is harder to fire him or her because the citizens elected him. Did you know, that the government of New York is in charge of 8 million people! Pretty big responsibility, huh!!!  

State Government

     The state governments control the state. In this kind of government the Governor is in charge but he doesn't make the laws, the state legislature does that. The governor just approves the laws or vetoes ('veto' means not approved) them. Most of the state legislatures are bicameral meaning they have 2 houses (for the senate and the house of representatives) but Nebraska's state legislature is unicameral meaning it has 1 house. Nebraska is the only unicameral state in the US. The Government decides the speed limits for the roads, the state school standards, and gives out  all sorts of licences like marriage licences, doctor licences ect. Another part of the government is the state court where the jury decides if someone has broken the law.

Federal Government

Checks and Balances

     The federal government controls the US. This government has 3 branches and no one is incharge. They can all check each other and so the power is balanced. This is called Checks and Balances. The 3 branches are the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. 

The Executive Branch

The Executive Branch consists of the President and the Cabinet. The cabinet is made out of the Vice President and the head of 15 executive departments. The President chooses the cabinet and Congress approves the choices. The President also appoints the Supreme Court justices, and the Congress approves those choices. The President can veto bills (laws) made by congress. 

The Legislative Branch

The Legislative Branch (Congress) consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress makes all the laws and it also can declare war. Congress has the power to override a veto on a bill if 2/3 of Congress vote the law to pass the law passes. 

The Judicial Branch

The Judicial Branch consists of the Supreme Court. It is the highest federal court in the US and no other court may overturn its decision. It is also the largest balance to the Executive and Legislative Branch. The Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional and stop them from being passed. It can also declare presidential acts unconstitutional and then the president has to stop.

So this is my knowledge on the forms of US Governments.