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2nd grade · Social Studies · Unit 14 of 14

Who Runs Our Community?

Leaders, laws, voting and taxes

What your child practices

Mayors, city councils, judges and the governor of New York, why communities have laws, voting in elections, and services paid for by taxes.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 2.3b; 2.3c; 2.3d; 2.4a; 2.4b · community leaders who make and enforce laws, voting in elections, symbols of democracy and laws for the common good

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. A governor leads a state. A legislature, like Congress, makes laws.
  2. Taxes pay for parks, libraries and fire stations.
  3. The common good is what helps everyone.

Example: What pays for parks, libraries and fire stations? These places serve everyone. People pay taxes to fund them. Answer: taxes

Who Runs Our Community? in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 14 of 14 in 2nd grade Social Studies, after Reading Maps.

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: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

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

    Which is a symbol of American democracy?

    • a lunch box
    • a ballot box
    • a soccer ball
    • a toolbox

  2. Question 2

    Why do communities have laws?

    • to keep people safe and fair
    • to make people sad
    • to stop all fun

  3. Question 3

    A park is dirty. Who can help?

    • everyone in the community
    • no one
    • only the mayor

  4. Question 4

    In Mexico and the United States, people choose leaders by…

    • voting in elections
    • waiting for a king
    • a coin toss
    • drawing names

  5. Question 5

    A judge decides…

    • where to build a park
    • what to cook
    • who wins a race
    • whether a law was broken

  6. Question 6

    People in New York choose their governor by…

    • voting in an election
    • a race
    • drawing straws
    • a coin toss

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