1. Levels of Government through Current Events
From the Headlines
Levels of Government through Current Events

2. Our Federal System of Government
Our Federal system distributes power between the local, state, and federal governments.
Federal
National government handles things on the largest scale. These things include military, emergency relief efforts, and national parks.
State
State government handles things on a larger scale effecting all residing in the state. Examples include education, health care, and recreation .
Local
Local government handles things that are close to the people and communities. Examples include police, water, and building permits.

3. Our Federal System of Government
Each level is given certain powers and certain programs/tasks/services they are responsible for.
This system helps maintain order while providing flexibility to determine who is best suited to address certain issues.
On a daily basis, we see issues arise in the news that involve these different layers of government…
…but how do we know which level of government is responsible?
Federal
State
Local

4. Can you classify the current event?
In your group, use the signs to identify what level of government is involved in the following headlines.
Once your group has identified the level of government, select your local, state, or federal sign. Place the sign face down on your table.
If you think more than one level of government might be involved, select multiple signs.
Write the summary of the article and the level of government on your From the Headlines handout.
When instructed to do so, turn over your sign and hold up the answer that correctly classifies the current event.
Note to teacher: as long as the students can provide documented support for their response, students can argue different levels of government. For example, on the voter turn out current event, students may argue that voter turn out could be classified as a federal issue as it does have a national impact. However the specific article cited primarily relates to local/state issues.

5. LOCAL Local, state, or federal?
The ordinance will ban pants or skirts that expose underwear or skin more than 3 inches below the waistline. It will only be enforced on streets, sidewalks and other designated city property. The first written citation would come with a civil fine of $25, following an initial verbal warning.
LOCAL
Local, state, or federal?
Gunnerson, Scott. "Cocoa Cracks down on Saggy Pants; Enforcement Begins in January."FLORIDA TODAY. Florida Today, 24 Oct Web. 02 Nov <

6. STATE Local, state, or federal?
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is putting the state's universities on notice: He wants to keep tuition rates down and he plans to tie their money to how well they do on helping students get a job.
Local, state, or federal?
Associated Press. "Gov. Scott Tells Colleges: No More Tuition Increases." TBO.com. Tampa Tribune, 07 Nov Web. 08 Nov <

7. LOCAL Local, state, or federal?
The Pensacola City Council and Escambia County Commission are weighing new ways of paying for and managing the West Florida Public Library System, which has been at the center of tense discussion for weeks.
LOCAL
Local, state, or federal?
Monroe, Nate. "Tax District Eyed to Provide Funding Source for Libraries." Pensacola News Journal. Gannett, 7 Nov Web. 08 Nov <

8. FEDERAL Local, state, or federal?
FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said the disaster relief agency has several hundred mobile homes in its inventory of emergency supplies and has started moving some of them into areas in New York and New Jersey that were hit hardest by Superstorm Sandy. He said it is unclear yet if FEMA will need to order more of the temporary homes.
FEDERAL
Students may say state as FEMA can distribute funds to the state to administer in emergency situations.
Local, state, or federal?
Caldwell, Alicia A. "FEMA to Use Manufactured Housing in Sandy Zones." Boston.com. Boston Globe, 8 Nov Web. 8 Nov <

9. LOCAL STATE FEDERAL Local, state, or federal?
LAND O' LAKES --Voter turnout in Pasco County dropped slightly from 2008, with 69.2 percent of registered voters casting ballots during this general-election cycle, the supervisor of elections office reported. That's down from 73.7 percent during the presidential election four years ago, and Elections Supervisor Brian Corley acknowledged he was somewhat disappointed.
STATE
FEDERAL
Local, state, or federal?
Blair, Ronnie. "Pasco Voter Turnout Falls from 2008." TBO.com. Tampa Bay Online, 8 Nov Web. 08 Nov <

10. STATE Local, state, or federal?
Forced to wade through a historically long ballot with 11 legislatively drawn constitutional amendments, voters defeated an effort to give beefier property-tax breaks to new- and second-home owners and businesses. Three amendments providing property tax breaks to poor seniors, veterans and their spouses had narrowly exceeded the 60 percent necessary for passage.
STATE
Local, state, or federal?
Deslatte, Aaron. "Most of Florida's Constitutional Amendments Fail." South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com. Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov Web. 08 Nov <

11. LOCAL Local, state, or federal?
A Bonita Springs resident asked the City Council Wednesday to rescind its Oct. 17 decision to approve Cafe of Life's proposal to build a park in the Leitner Creek Neighborhood it will use to feed the poor on weekday mornings.  The nonprofit organization, which serves meals by the banyan tree in downtown Bonita Springs, has been looking for a permanent location for years.
LOCAL
Local, state, or federal?
Cepero, Christina. "Bonita Springs Resident Asks City Council to Overturn Approval of Soup Kitchen Park." News-press.com. Gannett, 7 Nov Web. 8 Nov <

12. FEDERAL Local, state, or federal?
WASHINGTON—The fiscal cliff would drive the U.S. economy back into recession next year and result in a jump in the jobless rate to 9.1% by the end of 2013, a new report from the Congressional Budget Office said.
FEDERAL
Local, state, or federal?
Boles, Corey. "CBO: ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Could Trigger Recession." Online.wsj.com. The Wall Street Journal, 8 Nov Web. 8 Nov <

13. Question for Discussion:
How did your group decide which current events were local, state, or federal…or a combination of the different layers? What key words did you look for?