Levels of Government
Learn what each level of government does and who is responsible for the services you use every day.
iN 1 mINUTE…
There isn’t just one government.
In the United States, responsibilities are shared between city, county, state, and federal governments.
Each level has different jobs.
Knowing who is responsible helps you know where to find information, who to contact, and who makes the decisions that affect you.
think of it like this
Imagine you’re playing on a sports team.
Different people have different jobs.
- The coach makes game decisions.
- The captain leads the team.
- The trainer keeps players healthy.
- The equipment manager handles uniforms.
Everyone is working toward the same goal, but they have different responsibilities.
Government works the same way.
Different levels of government handle different problems.
the four levels of government
City
City government focuses on your local community.
Examples:
- Police
- Fire
- Parks
- Libraries
- Streets
- Trash collection
- Water
- Zoning
- Building permits
Example Question:
Who fixes potholes? Usually the city.
County
Counties provide services across multiple cities and unincorporated areas.
Examples:
- County courts
- Elections
- Property records
- Property appraisals
- County jail
- Public health
- Some roads
Example Question:
Who determines my home’s appraised value?
The county appraisal district.
State
States create statewide laws and oversee many large systems.
Examples:
- Public education
- Driver licenses
- State highways
- State courts
- Elections
- State parks
- Professional licenses
Example Question:
Who issues a driver’s license?
The state
Federal
The federal government handles national issues.
Examples:
- National defense
- Immigration
- Social Security
- Medicare
- Foreign policy
- National parks
- Federal taxes
Example Question:
Who issues passports?
The federal government.
You’ll learn more about each in the next lesson.
Who does what?
| Question | Usually Responsible |
|---|---|
| Who collects my trash? | City |
| Who repairs my street? | City |
| Who values my property? | County Appraisal District |
| Who issues drivers licenses? | State |
| Who builds interstate highways? | State & Federal |
| Who manages Social Security? | Federal |
What problems does government solve?
Government helps communities solve problems that affect everyone.
Examples include:
- Emergency services
- Roads and bridges
- Water systems
- Parks
- Libraries
- Traffic signals
- Trash collection
- Land use and planning
they work together
Many issues involve more than one level of government.
Example:
Housing
- Federal government may provide grants.
- State government may pass housing laws.
- City government decides zoning and permits.
- County government records property transactions.
The same issue can involve multiple governments working together.
why this matters
Understanding the different levels of government helps you:
- Know who makes decisions.
- Contact the right office.
- Understand the news.
- Participate more effectively.
- Avoid blaming the wrong level of government.
myth vs facts
Myth
Fact
The Mayor runs everything.
The mayor leads the city government, but many issues are handled by county, state, or federal governments.
Every problem is the city’s responsibility.
Different governments have different responsibilities.
Government is one big organization.
Government is made up of many separate organizations that work at different levels.
try it yourself
Who would you contact?
Examples:
- Broken basketball goal at your neighborhood park (City)
- Renew your driver’s license (State)
- Appeal your property’s value (County appraisal district)
- Apply for a passport (Federal)
take action
Find out who represents you at each level.
- Find your local Council member.
- Find your local County Commissioner.
- Find your State Representative.
- Find your U.S. Representative.
Understanding who represents you makes it easier to ask questions, stay informed, and participate in government.
Frequently asked questions
Can two levels of government work on the same issue?
Yes. Many issues like housing, transportation, and emergency management involve city, county, state, and federal governments working together.
Who collects property taxes?
Property taxes are billed and collected locally, but the money is distributed to different taxing entities such as cities, counties, school districts, and community colleges.
How do I know who is responsible for something?
A good first step is identifying the type of issue. Local services like parks and trash collection are usually city responsibilities, while driver’s licenses are handled by the state and passports by the federal government.
CONTINUE LEARNING
Learn how ideas become laws, policies, and public projects.
Meet the people and organizations that run government.
See these concepts in the Dallas community.
See the officials in every level of government.