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3rd grade · Social Studies · Unit 8 of 11

Rules, Laws & Government

Local, state and national government

What your child practices

How local, state and national government are set up, how officials are chosen, the services each level provides, the purposes of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and consent of the governed.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: 3.7(A); 3.7(B); 3.7(C); 3.8(A); 3.8(B) · the structure, officials and services of local, state and national government, founding documents and consent of the governed

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. There are local, state and national governments.
  2. Three branches: legislative makes laws, executive carries them out, judicial decides what they mean.
  3. Government gets its power from the people. Good citizens are honest and fair.

Example: Which branch of government makes laws? Executive carries out laws. Judicial decides what they mean. The lawmaking branch is legislative. Answer: the legislative branch

Rules, Laws & Government in Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 8 of 11 in 3rd grade Social Studies, after Land & People and before Money, Business & Voting.

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: Texas Education Agency (TEA)

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 service does a city government usually provide?

    • printing money
    • trash pickup and parks
    • making treaties
    • national defense

  2. Question 2

    Who leads many cities?

    • a principal
    • a president
    • a mayor
    • a king

  3. Question 3

    Which is a way citizens take part in local government?

    • Hide
    • Speak at a city council meeting
    • Litter
    • Ignore all rules

  4. Question 4

    A city law that sets the speed limit near schools is a…

    • national law
    • local law
    • school rule
    • family rule

  5. Question 5

    The legislative branch…

    • makes laws
    • enforces laws only
    • runs schools
    • decides court cases

  6. Question 6

    Some officials, like many judges, are appointed. Appointed means…

    • picked at random
    • chosen by a race
    • chosen by a leader, not by voters
    • born into the job

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