Chapter 2 – Purpose of Government & How It’s Organized
2.3 How Our Government Is Organized
The United States has three levels of government: federal, state, and local.
- The federal government addresses broad national and international issues that affect the entire country, such as defense, foreign policy, immigration, interstate commerce, and managing the nation’s monetary system. It operates through three branches: the legislative branch (Congress), the executive branch (led by the President), and the judicial branch (headed by the Supreme Court).
- State governments handle matters specific to their state, such as overseeing public education systems and managing transportation infrastructure like highways. Like the federal government, they have legislative, executive (headed by a governor), and judicial branches.
- Local governments, including municipalities and counties, focus on services tailored to their communities. These include police and fire protection, local roads and public transportation, zoning and building codes, and parks and recreation.
While all levels of government play important roles, the federal government has a much broader scope and handles many issues that state and local governments cannot address independently.
It’s important to understand how different levels of government operate within our system of federalism. Federalism is the division of power between the national government and the states. Our federal government was created when the states came together and ratified the Constitution, which applies to the entire nation. The Constitution outlines the powers of the federal government, and federal law is the highest law in the country. However, states are not just parts of the federal government; they are independent entities that retain all powers not specifically given to the federal government by the Constitution, as stated in the Tenth Amendment. In contrast, local governments are subdivisions of the states and operate under the authority granted to them by the state government.
While we focus on the state and local levels throughout this book, knowing the basic structure of American government helps you understand who to turn to when you have issues or questions. It also makes it easier for you to get involved in your community and make informed decisions when voting or participating in civic activities. By knowing how each level of government works, you can better understand how policies and laws affect your daily life.
Foundational Facts
The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, all of whom played key roles in shaping the U.S. Constitution—particularly Madison, often called the “Father of the Constitution.” The essays offer insights into what the framers intended and the key principles behind America’s system of government. The Federalist Papers help us understand the ideas and debates that shaped how our government is structured and the protections it offers.
In Federalist No. 45, James Madison describes federalism as a system that divides power between the national and state governments, each responsible for different areas of governance. While the federal government addresses national priorities, states like Ohio focus on issues that directly impact residents’ daily lives. This structure allows Ohio to shape policies on matters such as local education standards and public safety.
However, over time, the balance Madison envisioned shifted, as the federal government took a more active role in matters ranging from regulating interstate commerce to protecting civil rights and funding education.
The Iroquois Confederacy, also known as the Haudenosaunee or “People of the Longhouse,” was a powerful alliance of six Native American nations: the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and later, the Tuscarora. It is considered one of the oldest participatory democracies in the world and is often cited as an influence on the development of American federalism.
Their system of government, known as the Great Law of Peace, created a way for these diverse groups to work together while still allowing each nation to govern itself. The Great Law of Peace can be understood as a constitution in a broad sense, though it differs significantly from the written constitutions familiar in Western political traditions. It served as the foundational framework for the governance of the Iroquois Confederacy by providing guidelines for maintaining peace, unity, and collective decision-making among the member nations.
Some historians suggest that this confederacy inspired the framers of the U.S. Constitution, particularly the concept of federalism, where power is shared between a central authority and individual states. In a 1751 letter, Benjamin Franklin admired how the Iroquois united under a single framework and maintained autonomy. He argued that the American colonies could learn from their example.
