In Unit 2 you learned about our country′s climate, geography, economy, and government. Who decides what you have to learn in school? That′s a good question! Government isn′t just the President or Congress. It includes national, state, and local levels. Which level of government decided what you should learn about in the fourth grade? If you guessed the state, you are correct!
Write an article for your school newspaper that compares and contrasts the powers of state and national government. Here are some questions to think about:
How is the national government organized?
How are state governments set up?
Which powers are unique to the national government?
Do the states have any unique powers?
How are these governments alike? Different?
Are you ready? Begin by visiting the Web sites listed in Step 2. Look for answers to the questions above and record your notes in the boxes.
Step 2. Research
Once you′ve read about the national and state governments, write a description of each in the boxes. Think about the ways they are alike and different. Try to use some of these words and phrases: “like, similar to, also, unlike, compared to, in contrast, although, yet, but“ when comparing and contrasting the governments.
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