Local Governance
This elected official manages a city's day-to-day operations and represents the city at official events.
Who is the mayor?
This person is the head of the executive branch of a state and enforces state laws.
Who is the governor?
This body, made up of electors, ultimately decides who becomes President of the United States.
What is the Electoral College?
This official is often responsible for deciding how local budgets are allocated and can directly affect public services like schools and transportation.
Who is a city council member?
This group of individuals is responsible for creating local laws, approving budgets, and representing districts in a city.
What is the city council?
These lawmakers represent smaller districts within a state and serve in the state’s lower legislative chamber.
Who are state representatives?
This is the number of electoral votes a candidate needs to win the presidency.
What is 270?
While many focus on the presidency, this state-level official plays a key role in decisions about healthcare, education, and taxes that directly affect residents.
Who is the governor?
These officials oversee local public schools and make decisions about education policies and budgets.
Who are school board members?
A state’s chief legal officer, responsible for representing the state in legal matters, holds this title.
What is the state attorney general?
These states can swing either way in an election and are critical in deciding the outcome of a presidential race.
What are swing states?
These elections, often overlooked, are where voters have the most direct power to decide on local policies and community changes.
What are local elections?
This type of vote allows citizens to directly decide on local issues, such as funding or policy changes.
What is a referendum?
This term refers to a citizen-led initiative that proposes a new law or changes to a state constitution.
What is a ballot measure?
The initial vote held by each political party to choose their candidate for president is called this.
What is a primary election?
Many policies on issues like housing, policing, and infrastructure are shaped by this local executive who oversees city operations.
Who is the mayor?
In some areas, local judges are chosen by voters through this process.
What is an election?
These lawmakers represent larger districts in the upper chamber of a state legislature.
Who are state senators?
This is the term for unfairly drawing electoral district boundaries to weaken the voting power of a racial or political group.
What is gerrymandering?
Though the president is a national figure, laws about voting access, such as early voting or voter ID, are typically made at this level of government.
What is the state government?