Local Government

countries

town, cities and counties

states

all the people in Palo Alto

all the people in Santa Clara County

all the people in California

all the people of the United States

They collect taxes.

They trade with other cities or counties.

They sell food and clothes.

police departments

road repair

dog walking

fire departments

house cleaning

a governor

a president

a mayor

lead the city

deliver the mail

appoint people to lead city departments

be a judge in a court

the mayor

the city manager

the police department

the city council

to vote on it

to support it

to not allow it to pass

to change it in some way

The governor of the state appoints them

The mayor appoints them.

The citizens elect them.

They elect the city council members, who are the ones who pass the laws.

They can speak at city council meetings.

They can cancel laws after they have been passed.

They can call or write letters to their city council members.

a place where people vote

a place for deciding whether someone has broken the law

a place where a city council meets

a place where a county board meets