1. State and Local Government Vocabulary List

2. Districts The legislative sections that each state is divided into; contains approx. the same number of citizens.

3. Governor The head of a state’s executive branch Rick Scott, Florida Governor

4. Departments Sections within the Executive Branch that carry out the day to day jobs of the state. Ex: education, transportation, health, etc.

5. Initiative Process that allows citizens to draft laws they would like to see adopted

6. Referendum Process works like an initiative but is used to let citizens vote on a law already passed by the state’s legislature

7. infrastructure The basic support structures that support a geographic area; transportation, communication, power systems

8. grants Federal money given to states that are designated for a certain purpose

9. Regulating Making rules about many activities

10. county The next smallest unit of government below a state

11. Unfunded mandates Services a county must provide (told to by the state or federal gov.) but the co. does not receive any money to pay for these services.