Levels of Government
Grade 4 California history lesson on the three levels of government — state, county, and city — and the services each provides, from Pengi Social Studies Chapter 8. Students learn how government responsibilities are divided between state highways, county health services, and local police and parks.
Key Concepts
Government services are handled at different levels.
State Government : Manages big things like state highways, universities, and driver's licenses (DMV).
County Government : Runs public health, jails, and elections.
Common Questions
What are the three levels of government in California?
California has three main levels of government: state government (managing highways, universities, and driver's licenses), county government (running public health, jails, and elections), and city government (providing police, fire departments, and local parks).
What does state government do in California?
California's state government manages large-scale services that affect the whole state, including state highways and freeways, the University of California and Cal State university systems, the DMV, and statewide environmental regulations.
What services does county government provide?
County governments handle public health clinics and hospitals, jails and courts, elections and voter registration, property records, and social services. California's 58 counties each have their own board of supervisors.
What does city government control?
City governments provide the most local services including police and fire departments, local parks and recreation, city streets and sidewalks, building permits, and zoning laws that determine how land in the city can be used.