1. Government Study Guide
Rights and Responsibilities
Services Provided by Government
Taxes
Levels of Government
Branches of Government
KY Adventure book, pp

2. Basic Purpose of State Government
Establish and Maintain Order: Rules and laws make life run smoothly and help to keep us safe. Protect Rights: Our laws provide security by protecting our property rights and individual rights. Accomplish Common Goals: The state government is made up of people who live in KY. KY citizens vote for and elect leaders that they think will make laws that support what the citizens want.

3. With Rights… Come Responsibilities
You have the right to help make laws.
You have the right to worship as you wish, or not at all.
You have the right to express your opinion in newspapers, internet, etc.
You have the right to vote.
You have the responsibility to obey the laws.
You have the responsibility to respect others’ choices of worship.
You have the responsibility to respect others’ opinions.
You have the responsibility to learn about the candidates.

4. Some of the Services Provided by Our Government
Police Officers
Firemen
Road Repair
Ambulances
Public Parks
Libraries

5. How can the government provide all these wonderful services to us?
They get money from TAXES.
A tax is money citizens pay to the government in many different forms.

6. Four Types of Taxes
Sales Tax: The money added to something you purchase at a store. Kentucky sales tax is 6%. Property Tax: The money paid on property you own, such as a home, land, or a car. Income Tax: This is money you pay to the government on the money you earn. Tariff Tax: This is money paid on goods coming from another country.

7. Branches of Government
Levels of Government
Level
Place
What It Provides
Local
Cities and Counties
Police, Firefighters, City Parks, County Road Repair
State
Kentucky
State Land and Resources, State Roads, Driver’s License
National/ Federal
United States
Military, Printing Money, Relations with Other Countries
Branches of Government
Executive
Legislative
Judicial

8. Kentucky State Executive Branch
This branch includes the governor
Makes sure state laws are carried out
The governor is the leader of the state
The governor can veto a bill or sign it into law
Calls special sessions of the General Assembly
Pardons (excuses) criminals from punishments

9. Kentucky State Legislative Branch
Writes the bills that can become laws
People in Kentucky elect representatives to serve in this branch. These people make up the General Assembly
Two houses (groups): House of Representatives and Senate
138 Legislators:100 representatives and 38 senators
Meets once a year in regular session to vote on bills that can become laws
Decides how much money will be spent on state programs such as education

10. Kentucky State Judicial Branch
Decides what the laws mean, and makes sure they are fair (don’t go against the Constitution)
The courts make up this branch
KY Supreme Court has seven judges
Judges listen to cases and decide punishment of guilty people
A jury (a group of people) can also be asked to listen to help decide if a person is innocent or guilty

11. Balance of Power
Each of the three branches has the same amount of power, or control, over what happens in the government. This is sometimes called Checks and Balances. Each branch uses its power to check on the other two branches, making sure no one branch is becoming more powerful than the other two. We don’t want one branch to gain all the power and begin making decisions that are not good for our state’s citizens.