Chapter 1 – Why Care About State & Local Government?

You should care about state and local government for three main reasons.

• First, it affects you directly because these governments make decisions about schools, roads, safety, and services you use every day.
• Second, you can influence it because your vote, voice, and participation carry more weight at the local level where fewer people are involved.
• And third, you have a civic responsibility to care about it because democracy depends on citizens who take part in shaping their communities and holding their leaders accountable.

This chapter explains these three reasons in more detail and concludes with information about how to register to vote.