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STATE (Florida) Government Structure and Functions

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LOCAL Government Structure and Functions

Makes Laws	Interprets Laws	Enforces Laws
Makes Laws	Interprets Laws	Enforces Laws
Hosts town meetings, makes new laws/rules/ordinances for city/county pertaining to topics such as: zoning, taxes, licensing/registration	Handles civil & criminal cases, hears appeals of lower courts, determines the constitutionality of state laws	Provides strategic direction for city/county, oversees city’s main departments, leads city council meetings

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Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Agricultural Commissioner	State Legislature: House of Representatives and Senate	Florida Supreme Court, District Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts, County Courts
City Council/County Commissioners	Mayor or Manager	All local judicial matters handled by the State of Florida Judicial Branch
Makes and passes bills, sets state budget and tax legislation with the governor, power to initiate articles of impeachment	Sign/veto bills, fills Florida court vacancies, declares and coordinates state emergencies, oversees state department/agency assigned to them	Handles civil & criminal cases, hears appeals of lower courts, determines the constitutionality of state laws

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Additional Ways to Play

Match “state government” cards to their corresponding “local government” cards
Name people that hold the various offices on the cards (i.e. governor, mayor, local state senator and representative) and have your student try and hold up the match
Ask “Which card impacts your daily life the most?” “Why?” “Least?”
Identify which level and branch you would communicate with for a variety of scenarios (ex. There is a pothole in the road on my street that I want addressed)