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4th grade · Social Studies · Unit 6 of 8

Governing Maine

The Governor, the Legislature and the courts

What your child practices

The Constitution of Maine, the three branches of state government (the Governor, the 186-member Legislature and the Supreme Judicial Court), how a bill becomes a law, town meetings and select boards, the rule of law and the common good.

Maine Learning Results learning standard: Civics & Government 1; Civics & Government 2; Civics & Government 3; Civics & Government 4 · democratic ideals, the branches and levels of Maine's government, the Constitution of Maine, and how citizens work for the common good

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Maine’s government has three branches: the Governor, the Legislature and the Supreme Judicial Court.
  2. The Legislature has a 35-member Senate and a House with 151 voting members.
  3. Many towns decide things at town meetings with select boards.

Example: How many members are in the Maine Senate? The House has 151 voting members. The Senate is much smaller. Answer: 35

Governing Maine in Maine

In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 6 of 8 in 4th grade Social Studies, after Maine Timeline and before Maine at Work.

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: Maine Department of Education

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

    How long is a Maine Governor's term?

    • 6 years
    • 4 years
    • 2 years

  2. Question 2

    Legitimate power is power that…

    • belongs to the richest person
    • comes from laws and the consent of the people
    • is taken by force

  3. Question 3

    Who runs a Maine town between town meetings?

    • the select board
    • the President
    • the Governor

  4. Question 4

    How can a fourth grader help their community?

    • write a state law
    • vote for Governor
    • organize a food drive or clean up a park

  5. Question 5

    Maine's lawmaking branch is called the…

    • Supreme Judicial Court
    • Cabinet
    • Legislature

  6. Question 6

    How is the Constitution of Maine changed?

    • a judge rewrites it
    • the Governor writes a new one
    • two-thirds of the Legislature and a majority of voters approve

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