03 February 2010

State and Local Government

 

The speaker of the state’s house of representatives in Massachusetts delivers his annual address to citizens.

The speaker of the state’s house of representatives in Massachusetts delivers his annual address to citizens.

This article is excerpted from the book American Citizenship, published by the Bureau of International Information Programs. View the entire book (PDF, 4.57MB).

Americans are citizens not only of their country but of their states and local communities as well. In addition to the federal government, seated in Washington, D.C., governments are established in each of the 50 state capitals and in thousands of cities, towns, and counties across the country.

Each level of government holds responsibility for certain needs of its citizens. The federal government, of course, is responsible for national security and for ensuring the fair treatment of all Americans. At the state level, officials handle the unique concerns of their own population: matters involving industries located in the state, transportation networks, natural resources, and social services needs. Local officials primarily perform such day-to-day functions as maintaining public schools and libraries, providing fire and police protection, and ensuring reliable provision of water and utilities.

Tens of thousands of Americans serve on local government bodies, including school boards, city and town councils, public works commissions, planning boards, and election commissions. Outside of government structures, millions more are involved in volunteer activities in their neighborhoods.