State Executive Branch STEP BY STEP. the State Executive Branch reading pages to each student.

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1 Teacher s Guide Time Needed: One to Two Class Periods Materials Needed: Student worksheets Overhead projections (optional) Access to internet for state research Copy Instructions: Reading (3 pages; class set) Activity (2 pages; class set) My State Activity (1 page, class set) State Executive Branch Learning Objectives. Students will be able to: Explain the functions of departments or agencies in the state executive branch Describe the roles of top state officials Explain how government agencies create, amend and enforce policies in local & state governments Identify executive departments and agencies in the student s own state Describe how the executive branch engages with the checks and balance system of state government ANTICIPATE DISTRIBUTE READ READ ASK DISTRIBUTE ASK REVIEW OPTIONAL STEP BY STEP by asking students to name some element of their state government, having them guess in which branch of the government it may belong. (It s likely they will mention a majority of executive branch elements, without knowing it.) the State Executive Branch reading pages to each student. through the first two pages with the class, discussing each section as needed. If you know your state minimum wage, discuss in context of the table. the introduction to the Spotlight on State Election Agencies with the class. You may project the national map at this time to facilitate discussion. students to use the map to complete the Spotlight Activity. You may complete as a class, or ask them to complete individually then review together. the State Executive Branch activity pages to each student. students to complete the worksheet page. the answers to the activities on the worksheet. Distribute the My State Worksheet and direct students to the internet, guiding them to your state s government website. Alternatively, you can pull up the state site and project for the class. Support the students as they search for the names and party affiliations of the governor and six additional members of the state executive branch. Then ask the students to address the agency-based questions below. Remind them that the government unit may be called an agency, department, commission, or something else! CLOSE by asking students to name the executive branch agency or department that they are most likely to come into contact with in the next year and why. Please note that there is a lesson that focuses completely on the job of the governor, which can found elsewhere in this unit. You may copy, distribute, or transmit this work for noncommercial purposes only. This copyright notice or a legally valid equivalent such as 2016 icivics Inc. shall be included in all such copies, distributions or transmittals. All other rights reserved. Find this lesson and more at

2 Not so lonely at the top... You may already know that the governor is the elected chief executive officer of a state government. But the governor doesn t run the state all alone. Each has a staff to handle the day to day demands of the office. Governors also depend on a large network of departments, agencies, and commissions to help execute the state laws. These people also help regulate and license state businesses, professionals, and various activities. When you add these departments to the governor s office, you end up with a fully staffed state executive branch. The Capitol Crew Sound familiar? Although no two states are alike, there are 13 executive offices that are found in most states. There s the governor, attorney general, superintendent of schools, treasurer, and secretary of state - just to name a few. The roles and responsibilities for these high level officials are usually stated in the state constitution or later statutes (laws). Another distinction between the federal and state governments is that many state officials are elected, rather than appointed by the chief executive. This means that the state cabinet can (and often does) consist of officials from opposing parties. Simplified version of a state executive organizational chart It should! Any time you look at state government, you are looking at a scaled down model of the federal government. The role of governor is similar to that of the president, and the collection of departments are modeled after the presidential cabinet and supporting agencies. When the states set up their structure, they looked to the federal example. But each state reserves the right to organize the government any way they d like. So, no two state executive branches look exactly the same. Some have simple organizational structures, while others have very complex and complicated systems. Cabinet Organizer We aren t talking about the new shelves you put in your locker. All of the state cabinet offices are a part of a larger organizational structure, or bureaucracy. Departments usually serve as the highest level, and are headed by a secretary (although they may have different titles). Within a department are the agencies, divisions, and offices that actually work directly in the state. There is also a good chance your state has additional boards, councils, and authorities that are part of an existing department or report directly to the governor. When you look at a state chart, the lower the agency or division is - the more likely you are to come into direct contact with the work they do on a day-to-day basis. Reading - Side A

3 State Executive Branch Executing Expertise The state is responsible for many different things, and it takes experts in diverse areas to make it all work. This is where the executive departments come in. The state legislature has to cover a lot of ground creating and amending state laws. They can t be expected to be experts in everything. Each department and agency is specialized so it can focus on a specific area, like teacher certification or traffic safety or medical providers. In addition to carrying out existing laws and regulations, agencies can help inform legislators by giving testimony during hearings. They are the part of government closest to the issues, so they have a lot of valuable information. How it all Works The executive branch executes by carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch. When the legislative branch passes a law about a certain subject, the executive department that deals with that subject is the one that will carry out the law. Laws may include new or changed rules the agency must enforce, data the agency must track, services the agency must provide, or many other things. Sometimes, the legislative branch makes it very clear what the agency is supposed to do. Other times, a law may give the executive agency the power to adopt its own set of rules, which are often called regulations. The legislative branch may give these executive agencies the power to adopt regulations, or rules, that are needed to carry out the state laws. These regulations have the same force as state laws, because the legislature called for them. The legislature doesn t just tell executive departments what to do it creates them! Most state executive departments were established by a state law, and, as time goes by, the state legislature may decide to add more. It may also establish new boards, councils, or other authorities to focus on even more detailed areas within an agency. Regulating Close to Home Here are two examples of executive agencies that you may interact with sooner than later $7.25/hour $11.50/hour $10.00/hour $8.22/hour $7.25/hour Department of Motor Vehicles: In order to get road ready, you will need to visit your state DMV. (The actual name varies from state to state.) These agencies provide services related to vehicle registration and licensing drivers. Some states have standalone agencies, others share this responsibility with other state departments or even delegate these tasks to the counties within the state. Department of Labor: Do you know what the minimum wage is for your state? The federal government has established a national minimum wage for all workers, but states can require higher minimum wages through legislation. The state departments of labor also regulate minimum ages and create special restrictions for minors in the workplace. For example, Florida limits 14- and 15-year-olds to working no more than 15 hours a week when school is in session. Reading - Side B

4 Each state has an agency or department that oversees the election process - from registration requirements, to ballot access, to compliance with federal voting laws and regulations. The majority of states, 38 total, places election responsibilities with the office of the secretary of state. Other states have separate agencies focused on administering elections within the state. These may be called boards of elections or election commissions. More than a third of the states also have commissions that focus on the ethics of elections. They make sure that rules are followed, and that campaign finance practices and communications are ethical. There are many laws and regulations out there that impact when you can vote, where you cast your ballot, and how that ballot needs to be filled in. One that has received a lot of press recently focuses on voter identification requirements. Once a state legislature passes a voter ID law, the state's agency in charge of elections must carry out that law and enforce it. The majority of states now enforce some kind of voter ID. Many call for a photo ID, like a driver s license or military ID card. Some states allow voters to present alternative forms of identification (like a current bill with your name and address). Each state enforces these requirements in different ways. Non-strict states do not prevent you from voting at the polls. Strict states only allow unidentified voters to cast a provisional ballot. These votes are not counted until the voter s identity and ability to vote is verified. So, future voter, what are the requirements in YOUR state? How is it enforced? *As of June 2016 Spotlight - Side A

5 A. Pro/Con. The decision by states to require various levels of voter identification is a hotly debated topic. Read through these common arguments for and against voter ID laws and label them as PRO or CON a photo ID. Then place a star* next to what you believe to be the strongest PRO and CON % % 1. How would you summarize the concerns and arguments of those who support voter ID laws? 2. How would you summarize the concerns and arguments of those who oppose voter ID laws? B. Executing the Election. Read each scenario and answer the question that follows. You are in charge of the election agency in State A, which has a strict voter ID law. List steps you could take to make sure as many eligible voters as possible are able to cast a ballot. You are in charge of the election agency in State B, which has no voter ID law. List steps you could take to reduce the risk of voter fraud in your state. Spotlight - Side B

6 A. Whose Job Is It? Select the role that best fits the job descriptions. 1. I am often the second highest executive office, and may succeed the governor if they can no longer serve. a. Attorney General b. Lieutenant Governor c. Chief of Staff 2. I usually oversee the administration of the state, keep state records, and can oversee state elections. a. Secretary of State b. Treasurer c. Lieutenant Governor 3. I usually keep track of the state s revenue, finances, and I act as the chief banker. a. Insurance Commissioner b. Secretary of State c. Treasurer or Controller 4. I am responsible for overseeing and coordinating the K-12 schools in the state. a. Labor Secretary b. Superintendent of Schools or Commissioner of Education c. Public Services Commissioner 5. Select one of the positions listed above and write it here: _ Think about the kind of expertise this position would require. List three qualifications you think a person should have in order to get the job. (Think about previous work experience, education, etc.) B. True or False Based on what you've learned about the state executive branch, decide whether you think each statement is true or false (circle your choice) and explain why. 1. Executive branches look the same in each and every state. It s true / false because: 2. Every state has a governor and attorney general in the executive branch. It s true / false because: 3. State agencies carry out both state and federal laws and regulations. It s true / false because: 4. Usually, the higher up you go in the state executive branch, the closer these positions work with the public. It s true / false because: Lesson Activities - Side A

7 C. To Split, Or Not To Split? 26 states elect their governor and lieutenant governor as a single ticket. 17 states have completely separate elections for these positions. Sort these statements into support for splitting the state ticket or for keeping them as one ticket. (Place an X in the correct column) Then challenge yourself to come up with an argument for both sides on your own. 9. There is no way officials from different parties could work together! Could you imagine the president and vice president from 10. People should elect who is best for each position, not elect one official and get the other one thrown in. 11. This is a great way to bring more checks and balances to the state executive branch. 12. If people elect a governor that belongs to one party, what happens when the Lt. Governor from the other party takes over? D. Making Connections. The state executive and legislative branches are constantly interacting with each other. Draw and label at least three ways the branches interact. Lesson Activities - Side B

8 Use the information you find on your state government site, and the information you receive from your teacher to complete this data sheet. The Executive Branch Governor Agency: _ Title: Agency: _ Title: Agency: _ Title: Agency: _ Title: Agency: _ Title: Agency: _ Title: Where would you get your drivers license or photo id issued? Agency or Department: List two additional things this agency does: Where would you get information about voting in an upcoming election (registering, polling places, etc.) Agency or Department: What services does this agency provide online? Where would you get information on the threat of infectious diseases, like Ebola or West Nile Virus? Agency or Department: What health issue seems to be of highest concern in your state right now? How is the state addressing it? My State Worksheet

9 ** TEACHER GUIDE ** A. Pro/Con. The decision by states to require various levels of voter identification is a hotly debated topic. Read through these common arguments for and against voter ID laws and label them as PRO or CON a photo ID. Then place a star* next to what you believe to be the strongest PRO and CON CON PRO CON % % PRO PRO PRO PRO CON PRO CON 1. How would you summarize the concerns and arguments of those who support voter ID laws? Answers will vary- prevent fraud, getting ID is not a hardship 2. How would you summarize the concerns and arguments of those who oppose voter ID laws? Answers will vary- disadvantages large voting groups, getting ID is a hardship B. Executing the Election. Read each scenario and answer the question that follows. You are in charge of the election agency in State A, which has a strict voter ID law. List steps you could take to make sure as many eligible voters as possible are able to cast a ballot. You are in charge of the election agency in State B, which has no voter ID law. List steps you could take to reduce the risk of voter fraud in your state. Answers will vary Answers will vary Spotlight - Side B

10 A. Whose Job Is It? Select the role that best fits the job descriptions. _B_ 1. I am often the second highest executive office, and may succeed the governor if they can no longer serve. a. Attorney General b. Lieutenant Governor c. Chief of Staff ** TEACHER GUIDE ** _A_ 2. I usually oversee the administration of the state, keep state records, and can oversee state elections. a. Secretary of State b. Treasurer c. Lieutenant Governor _C_ 3. I usually keep track of the state s revenue, finances, and I act as the chief banker. a. Insurance Commissioner b. Secretary of State c. Treasurer or Controller _B_ 4. I am responsible for overseeing and coordinating the K-12 schools in the state. a. Labor Secretary b. Superintendent of Schools or Commissioner of Education c. Public Services Commissioner 5. Select one of the positions listed above and write it here: _ Think about the kind of expertise this position would require. List three qualifications you think a person should have in order to get the job. (Think about previous work experience, education, etc.) Answers will vary 3. B. True or False Based on what you've learned about the state executive branch, decide whether you think each statement is true or false (circle your choice) and explain why. 1. Executive branches look the same in each and every state. It s true / false because: Answers will vary- each state has the power to create their own structure and organization 2. Every state has a governor and attorney general in the executive branch. It s true / false because: Answers will vary- these positions are found in each state 3. State agencies carry out both state and federal laws and regulations. It s true / false because: Answers will vary- the state election agencies are tasked with making sure the elections are in compliance with federal laws 4. Usually, the higher up you go in the state executive branch, the closer these positions work with the public. It s true / false because: Answers will vary- the agencies and sub-departments are more involved in the day-to-day work of the government and are closest to the people Lesson Activities - Side A

11 ** TEACHER GUIDE ** C. To Split, Or Not To Split? 26 states elect their governor and lieutenant governor as a single ticket. 17 states have completely separate elections for these positions. Sort these statements into support for splitting the state ticket or for keeping them as one ticket. (Place an X in the correct column) Then challenge yourself to come up with an argument for both sides on your own. 9. There is no way officials from different parties could work together! Could you imagine the president and vice president from 10. People should elect who is best for each position, not elect one official and get the other one thrown in. 11. This is a great way to bring more checks and balances to the state executive branch. 12. If people elect a governor that belongs to one party, what happens when the Lt. Governor from the other party takes over? 13. Answers will vary 14. Answers will vary D. Making Connections. The state executive and legislative branches are constantly interacting with each other. Draw and label at least three ways the branches interact.. Answers will vary Lesson Activities - Side B

12 *As of June 2016 Map Projection