state government chapter -...

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Chapter 12 ResourcesState Government

Vocabulary Activity 12State Government 3

Chapter Skills Activity 12Using Library Resources 5

Cooperative Learning Activity 12Our State Executive Branch 7

Economics Activity 12Sales Taxes 9

Reteaching Activity 12State Government 11

Enrichment Activity 12State Governments: For the Common Good 13

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Name Date Class

DIRECTIONS: Complete the crossword puzzle by spelling out the terms called for

in the clues below.

State Government

Vocabulary Activity 12

ACROSS

4 type of veto available only to certain

governors that allows them to reject

parts of a bill

8 to divide voting districts based on

population

10 name for a person being sued in a

lawsuit

11 power of the governor to reduce a

criminal’s sentence

12 governmental powers that may be

exercised only by the states

DOWN

1 legislative system that consists of only

one house of lawmakers

2 name for a person filing a lawsuit

3 monetary awards from the federal gov-

ernment to state governments to help

pay for programs

5 system in which the central government

and the state governments share power

6 court in larger towns handling minor

traffic violations or civil cases involving

less than $1,000

7 governmental powers shared by federal

and state governments

9 power of the governor to allow for early

release of a prisoner with certain

restrictions

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5 6 7

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LEARNING THE SKILLUnderstanding how to use the wealth of print and multimedia

resources in your library is critical to your success as a researcher.

Newspapers, magazines, almanacs, abstracts, atlases, encyclopedias,

the card catalog, the Internet, and your librarian are all important

resources. Specific resources you might consult include:

• The Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature—for magazine articles

• The Statistical Abstract of the United States and Historical Abstract of

the United States—for political and economic data

• Atlases—for geographical information

PRACTICING THE SKILL

DIRECTIONS: Use the table below to list library resources you might use

to find information on the following topics. For each topic, also list one

specific source related to your topic.

APPLYING THE SKILL

DIRECTIONS: Identify a current issue facing your state legislature that

interests you. Use the resources in your library to find at least three

sources related to your topic. List the sources you find for your

teacher, and summarize in a brief paragraph the type(s) of information

contained in each source.

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Chapter Skills Activity 12

Using Library Resources

Topic Library Resource Source Title

Population of your state

Current issues being debated in your state legislature

A book about an important historical figure in your state

Names of the major rivers in your state

History of your state

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Our State Executive Branch

BACKGROUND

Each state government has an executive branch. The state executive

branch is made up of the governor, several top officials, and agencies

and departments that carry out the business of the state. Top officials

usually include the secretary of state, the attorney general, an auditor,

and a treasurer. Some of the departments that are often found at the

state level include a department of health, a department of highways,

and a state welfare board. These departments—along with many

others—play an active role in the day-to-day lives of the state’s citi-

zens. You can learn more about your state executive branch and

gather valuable information for your classmates by creating a bulletin

board resource center to educate people about your state government

officials and agencies.

GROUP DIRECTIONS

1. Use Chapter 12, library resources, and the Internet to learn more

about the state executive branch. Learn about the departments

and types of services that are usually offered at the state level of

government.

2. Use magazines and newspapers to learn more about the executive

branch of the state in which you live. Use what you find to create a

bulletin board resource center.

3. Think about the following government-related topics as you do

your research:

ORGANIZING THE GROUP

1. Decision Making Form a group with three or more people. Using

suggestions from the box above and ideas of your own, determine

the officials and departments that will be part of your bulletin

board. Decide how to divide responsibility for each topic within

your group.

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Cooperative Learning Activity 12

secretary of state department of health public works

auditor attorney general department of highways

governor treasurer state welfare board

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2. Individual Work Do research to learn as much as possible about

the official or department that you have chosen. Make notes and

collect photos and illustrations as you do your research. Find infor-

mation such as mailing addresses, telephone numbers, or e-mail

addresses that you can include as part of your bulletin board.

3. Group Work Share your information and illustrations with your

group. Give one another suggestions for improving content, gram-

mar, and spelling. Revise your information until you have one to

three concise paragraphs about your topic.

4. Additional Group Work Together, plan the overall organization and

layout of the bulletin board resource center. You may want to add

color or design elements to your bulletin board display to make it

more appealing. Group your photos, illustrations, and descriptions in

a way that those who view your display can easily locate information

concerning the state executive branch. Create a title for your display.

5. Group Sharing Present your bulletin board resource center to your

class. Each group member should describe and be able to answer

questions about the state official or department that he or she

researched.

GROUP PROCESS QUESTIONS

• What is the most important thing you learned about your state’s

executive branch from doing this activity?

• What was the most surprising thing you learned about the execu-

tive branch from doing this activity?

• Which part of this activity did you like the most? Why?

• What was the biggest problem you had in doing this activity?

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Cooperative Learning Activity 12 (continued)

1. Was the goal of the assignment clear at all times?

2. Were you satisfied with your work on the bulletin board resource

center? Why or why not?

3. Do you believe that people who view your bulletin board resource

center will be able to use the information they find there? Why or

why not?

QuickCHECK

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Sales TaxesWhen you buy a product, do you actually pay the amount shown on

the price tag? Usually not. Most state and local governments require you

to pay a sales tax. A sales tax is a rate or percentage of the item’s price.

When you pay for your purchase, the cash register adds the sales tax

automatically. You can calculate the dollar amount of the tax by hand.

Just multiply the price by the rate. To find the total cost of the item, add

the tax to the price.

Price 3 Tax Rate 5 $ Tax

Price 1 $ Tax 5 Total Cost of Item

Sales taxes apply to services as well as goods. For example, you pay

sales tax when you get a haircut. Most states do not tax groceries or

medicines, but some do. In most states you pay a tax on the food you

eat in a restaurant.

DIRECTIONS: Complete the chart below by calculating the missing per-

centages. Then answer the following questions on a separate sheet of

paper.

Name Date Class

Economics Activity 12

1. What is a sales tax?

2. How do you calculate the total cost of

an item, with tax?

3. You want to buy a concert ticket in

California. The ticket price is $40. What

is the total cost of the ticket with tax?

4. While traveling through Alabama, you

stop to buy a carryout sandwich. The

price is $5. How much will you pay the

clerk?

5. You are hungry again as you head into

New York. You stop at a grocery for

some cheese and crackers. The price tags

total $7. What total price will you pay at

checkout?

6. CRITICAL THINKING ACTIVITY Go to a

store in your area. Select eight items you

normally use. Include food and nonfood

items. Write down the price of each

item. Then go to the library or the

Internet. Find out the current sales tax

rate for your state and local area. Rates

change. The current rates may not be

the same as those shown in the chart

above. Calculate the total cost of each

item, with tax. Then calculate the total

cost of your basket of goods. Show your

results in table form.

State Tax Maximum Maximum Total Do Sales Taxes

State Rate Local Rate Sales Tax Apply to Groceries?

California 5.75% 2.50% 8.25% No

Alabama 4% 9% Yes

New York 4.5% 8.5% No

State and Local Sales Tax Rates, 2001

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State GovernmentThe United States Constitution was written with the goal of balancing

the state and national governments. State constitutions differ from state

to state but, in general, they model the setup of the national government.

The state legislature operates much like the U.S. Congress. Governors act

as the states’ chief executives as the president is the nation’s chief execu-

tive. The states’ legal matters are handled in a three-tiered system similar

in structure to the federal judiciary.

DIRECTIONS: Completing a Table In the table below, different areas of

the U.S. Constitution involving state rights are listed. Write the letter of

the description of parts of the Constitution under the correct heading.

A. Forbids states from taking away civil

liberties as it guarantees “equal pro-

tection of the laws”

B. Allows states to exercise all powers

not given to the federal government

or denied to the states

C. Forbids states from issuing their own

money

D. Establishes the supremacy clause that

gives federal powers precedence over

state powers when conflicts arise

E. Encourages interstate cooperation by

requiring states to give “full faith and

credit” to the laws of other states

F. Forbids states from imposing taxes on

imports

G. Requires states to have a “republican

form of government”

H. Forbids states from making treaties

with foreign counties or from declar-

ing war

I. Allows the federal government to

defend state governments if they are

being threatened

Name Date Class

Reteaching Activity 12

Article I Article IV Article VI

10th Amendment 14th Amendment

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Enrichment Activity 12

DIRECTIONS: Read the following passage about the California Department of Water

Resources and then answer the questions that follow in the space provided.

1. Why was the California Department of Water Resources created?

2. What is the main purpose of California’s State Water Project?

3. How does Southern California benefit from the State Water Project?

4. CRITICAL THINKING Write one sentence stating why the California Department

of Water Resources contributes to the common good of the people in

California.

5. CRITICAL THINKING Research a department of government in your state. Write

the department’s main purpose here. (Use another sheet of paper if needed.)

State Governments: For the Common Good

Much of what a state government does is for the benefit of all people in the state—for the com-mon good. Many states have unique situations that determine what type of departments, agencies,boards, and commissions will best benefit the people in the state. The California Department ofWater Resources is an example of a department within a state government that was created for thecommon good.

The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) was created by the California Legislature in1956 to plan and guide the development of water resources. DWR designed and constructed theState Water Project and maintains and operates it today.

The California State Water Project is a water storage and delivery system of reservoirs, aqueducts,power plants, and pumping plants. Its main purpose is to store water and deliver it where needed inthe state. For example, Northern California has more precipitation than Southern California.Southern California needs more water than the rainfall in that area provides for its large populationand for agriculture. Through the State Water Project, water can be collected in the northern part ofthe state and distributed to the south. About 70 percent of the water supply goes to urban users and30 percent goes to agricultural users.

Since 1956 the Department of Water Resources has grown in size and responsibility. It now hasa staff of approximately 2,700 and a $1 billion annual budget. In addition to the State WaterProject, it administers programs involving flood control, dam safety, water quality improvement, andmore. It also educates the public about California’s water resources and works with other govern-mental and wildlife agencies on environmental issues and projects.

Chapter 12Section Resources

Guided Reading Activity 12-1 15




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The Federal System

DIRECTIONS: Write an answer to each question below in the space provided.

1. Defining What is a federal system?

2. Analyzing According to the Constitution, what are states not allowed

to do?

3. Defining What are reserved powers?

4. Describing What is the supremacy clause?

5. Explaining How do federal grants-in-aid work?

6. Identifying How many states have to approve an amendment before it

can be added to the Constitution?

7. Comparing What do all state constitutions have in common?

Guided Reading Activity 12–1

Name Date Class

Before reading this section, think about the main topic of the reading. Whatwill you be reading about? Jot down what you think you will be reading, then review whatyou wrote after you have read the section. Were you right?

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The State Legislative Branch


1. Defining What does “unicameral” mean?

2. Identifying What are state lawmaking bodies called?

3. Identifying Who are the leaders in state legislatures?

4. Listing From where do ideas for state bills come?

5. Recalling How often is the national census taken?

6. Defining What is malapportionment?

7. Inferring What issues face state legislators today?


Name Date Class

When the reading becomes difficult, slow down and reread that paragraph.If you still do not understand the text, highlight it and ask your teacher for help.

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The State Executive Branch


1. Identifying Who is the chief executive in state government?

2. Listing What are the qualifications for governor in most states?

3. Recalling How long is a governor’s term?

4. Recalling What legislative powers does a governor have?

5. Defining What is a line-item veto?

6. Explaining Does every governor have a cabinet? Explain.

7. Describing What does a state auditor do?


Name Date Class

Set a goal for completing and understanding this reading assignment in lessthan one hour.

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The State Judicial Branch


1. Defining What are misdemeanors?

2. Describing What kinds of cases do magistrate courts handle?

3. Comparing What is the difference between a plaintiff and a

defendant?

4. Defining What are felonies?

5. Explaining Why do you think state supreme courts are called courts of

last resort?

6. Recalling How long are the terms for state judges?

7. Explaining How can state judges be removed from office?


Name Date Class

Take notes as you read the textbook. Then periodically review your notes. Donot wait until just before the test to review your notes!

state government chapter -...

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