kristenjohnson1998
kristenjohnson1998 3d ago β€’ 0 views

Local vs. national government: What's the difference for 5th grade?

Hey there, 5th graders! πŸ‘‹ Ever wondered who makes the rules in your town versus the whole country? πŸ€” It's all about local and national government! Let's break it down so it's super easy to understand!
πŸ›οΈ Social Studies

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rachel.francis Jan 1, 2026

πŸ“š What is Local Government?

Local government is like the team that runs your town, city, or county. They make decisions about things that affect your everyday life right where you live!

  • 🏘️ Things like schools, parks, and libraries are usually managed by local government.
  • 🚦 They also take care of roads, traffic lights, and making sure your neighborhood is safe.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Local governments handle things like trash collection and recycling, too!

πŸ›οΈ What is National Government?

National government, on the other hand, is in charge of the whole country. It makes laws and decisions that affect everyone living in the United States.

  • πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ The national government is responsible for things like the military, protecting our borders, and dealing with other countries.
  • βš–οΈ They also make laws about things like taxes, healthcare, and the environment that apply to everyone.
  • πŸ“œ Important things like printing money and making sure everyone follows the same rules are also handled by the national government.

πŸ“ Local vs. National Government: A Comparison

Feature Local Government National Government
Area of Impact Your town, city, or county The entire country
Responsibilities Schools, parks, roads, trash collection Military, national laws, foreign affairs
Examples Mayor, city council, school board President, Congress, Supreme Court
Direct Impact on Citizens Daily life: schools, roads, safety Broad policies: taxes, laws, national defense

πŸ”‘ Key Takeaways

  • πŸ“ Local government affects your immediate surroundings and daily life.
  • 🌍 National government deals with broader issues affecting the whole country.
  • 🀝 Both local and national governments are important for a well-functioning society!

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