OHIO’S GOVERNMENT

OHIO’S GOVERNMENT IS LOCATED IN OUR STATE’S CAPITAL CITY, COLUMBUS.

THIS IS THE CAPITAL BUILDING LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS.

THIS IS WHERE THE LAWS FOR THE STATE OF OHIO ARE MADE.

THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT FOR OUR STATE IS THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

HERE IS A COPY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF OHIO WRITTEN IN 1803, SO WE COULD BECOME A STATE IN 1803.

OUR STATE GOVERNMENT HAS 3 PARTS OR BRANCHES. THEY ARE: THE LEGISLATIVE THE EXECUTIVE THE JUDICIAL

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH IS CALLED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WRITES THE LAWS FOR THE STATE. THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

THE SENATE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- TIVES

THIS IS WHAT THE SENATE CHAMBER IN THE CAPITAL BUILDING LOOKS LIKE.

HERE IS WHAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CHAMBER LOOKS LIKE.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE WRITE BILLS, PROPOSED LAWS. THEY VOTE ON THE BILLS. IF THE BILLS ARE PASSED BY A MAJORITY VOTE IN BOTH THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THE BILLS ARE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR’S JOB IS TO EXECUTE OR CARRY OUT BILLS THAT HE OR SHE SIGNS INTO LAW. THE GOVERNOR MAKES SURE THE LAWS ARE ENFORCED IN THE STATE.

THIS IS THE CURRENT GOVERNOR, TED STRICKLAND, OF OHIO (DURING THE YEARS )

AFTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES A BILL, THE GOVERNOR SIGNS THE BILL INTO LAW AND ENFORCES THE BILL. THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO MAY HAVE TO JUDGE OR INTERPRET THE LAW. THE JOB OF THE SUPREME COURT IN OHIO IS TO JUDGE OR INTERPRET LAWS IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

THE NEXT PICTURE IS OF THE MEMBERS OF OHIO’S SUPREME COURT IN THE YEAR 2008.

THESE 3 BRANCHES OR PARTS OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT IN OHIO, MAKE, EXECUTE, ENFORCE AND JUDGE OUR LAWS FOR OUR STATE. THE WAY THE GOVERNOR, SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES AND JUDGES ARE MADE A PART OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT IS THROUGH ELECTIONS.

AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE YEAR ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN OUR STATE. IT IS ONE OF THE GREAT PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES AND OHIO. WE GET TO DECIDE WHO WILL BE OUR LEADERS DURING THE NEXT YEAR OR NUMBER OF YEARS. THE PERSON RECEIVING THE MAJORITY OF VOTES FROM THE VOTERS BECOMES THE GOVERNOR FOR 4 YEARS, OR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE FOR 2 YEARS, OR JUDGE FOR 4 YEARS.

HERE IS A CLOSE UP PICTURE OF THE KIND OF VOTING BOOTH AND MACHINE I HAVE USED DURING ALL MY YEARS IN OHIO.

SOME VOTERS USE PAPER BALLOTS AND NOT VOTING MACHINES. THE NEXT SCENE SHOWS WHAT A PAPER BALLOT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

WHEN WE SELECT OUR LEADERS, WE WANT THEM TO HAVE AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES: HONESTY COURAGE WISDOM

HONESTY IS TELLING THE TRUTH. IT IS ALSO ACTING IN A WAY THAT IS NOT DECEITFUL, DOES NO TRICKERY AND DOES NO CHEATING.

WE KNOW WHAT COURAGE IS!!! IT WHAT THE COWARDLY LION IN THE WIZARD OF OZ DIDN’T HAVE… BUT LATER…GOT!!!

COURAGE IS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT …REGARDLESS OF HOW FRIGHTENED WE MIGHT BE OR HOW MUCH DOING THE RIGHT THING WILL COST US PERSONALLY.

WISDOM IS USING YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO DO THE RIGHT, GOOD AND HELPFUL THING FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO VOTE, YOU WANT TO BE SURE YOU VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THESE QUALITIES TO SERVE AS LEADERS IN OUR STATE, IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR NATION.

THIS IS THE GREAT SEAL OF OHIO. IT REPRESENTS OUR STATE. WE WANT LEADERS OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO BE HONEST, WISE AND COURAGEOUS.

HERE IS OUR OHIO STATE FLAG. PERHAPS YOU WILL BECOME A LEADER IN OHIO IN THE YEARS TO COME. BE A PERSON KNOWN FOR THEIR HONESTY, COURAGE AND WISDOM. START DEVELOPING THESE QUALITIES IN YOUR LIFE NOW!!!