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6th grade · Social Studies · Unit 8 of 9

Local, Tribal & State Government

Boroughs, Tribal councils, the Legislature and you

What your child practices

How local, Tribal and state governments in Alaska are organized and what each does, boroughs and the Unorganized Borough, Tribal sovereignty, Alaska's three branches and its members of Congress, and the rights and responsibilities of people in the United States.

Alaska content standards learning standard: SS.6.4.6.1; SS.6.4.9.1; SS.6.4.10.1 · the components and roles of local, Tribal and state governments in Alaska, and the roles and responsibilities of people in the United States

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Alaska has boroughs and cities, Tribal governments that serve their members, and the state government.
  2. The state runs parks and highways. The Legislature makes laws; the Alaska Supreme Court is the highest court.
  3. Judges: a council picks nominees, the Governor appoints, and voters decide to keep them.

Example: Which level of government runs Alaska's state highways? They cross the whole state. So the state government runs them. Answer: state government

Local, Tribal & State Government in Alaska

In the Alaska content standards, this is unit 8 of 9 in 6th grade Social Studies, after Alaska's Resources & Economy and before Money Choices.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alaska Department of Education and Early Development

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    A recall election lets voters…

    • remove an official before the term ends
    • re-count ballots forever
    • choose a new state flag only

  2. Question 2

    Alaska's Legislature has how many members in all?

    • 60
    • 20
    • 100

  3. Question 3

    Who represents Alaska in the United States Congress?

    • two senators and one representative
    • fifty representatives
    • one senator only

  4. Question 4

    Much of Alaska's land outside boroughs is called the…

    • Capital District
    • Lower 48
    • Unorganized Borough

  5. Question 5

    A Tribal government…

    • runs another country
    • serves its members and makes decisions for the Tribe
    • is a business club

  6. Question 6

    How can a sixth grader take part in local government?

    • speak at a public meeting or write to leaders
    • vote for mayor
    • sign a law

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