Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

government and politics

239

GOVERnMEnT SERVICES

More than 21 million people in

the United States are employed by the

government, making it the nation’s

largest employer. The government

employs people in all sorts of

occupations, from astronaut to

zoologist, policeman to nurse. One

government worker familiar to all

Americans is the mail carrier.

EMERGEnCy SERVICES

Local governments are responsible for providing

emergency services for their communities.

Firefighters provide safety for the people who

work and live in the area. Many fire departments

also provide medical care in other, nonfire

emergencies, giving immediate assistance to

a victim before he or she goes to a hospital.

LOCAL GOVERnMEnT

Cities, towns, and counties are served by

local governments, usually headquartered

in a city hall (right). Many cities elect a

mayor, who works with local officials in the

city council to run the city government.

The local government ensures safety for

city residents through fire departments and

police forces, and maintains local parks and

roads. It is also responsible for hospitals.

One of the most important, and costliest,

jobs of local government is administering

the public school system.

ShAREd pOwERS

The government of the United States

is a federal system, in which powers

are shared between the national

government and state and

local governments. The federal

government, headed by the

president, works for all Americans.

Under its umbrella are state

governments, which in turn

share their powers with the local

governments of cities, towns,

and villages.

STATE GOVERnMEnT

State governments are organized

in the same way as the federal

government, with an executive

branch headed by the governor, a

legislative branch (state congress),

and a judicial branch (state

courts). Each state has its own

constitution, but state laws must

not conflict with the Constitution

of the United States. State

governments are responsible for

education policy, public works

(such as road repairs), welfare,

and public safety.

Presidential

seal

Jennifer Granholm, governor

of Michigan from 2002 to 2011

GOVERnOR

The chief executive of a state is

called the governor. Most

governors have the power to

appoint state officials, direct

the state’s budget, veto bills

from the state legislature,

command the state militia,

and grant pardons. A

governor is elected by popular

vote to a two- or four-year term.

State capital of

Vermont in Montpelier

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