State Government and Citizenship — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
State parks and highways are paid for by the federal government alone.
Corrected: State parks and highways are paid for mainly by the state government using tax money.
State parks and highways are funded mainly by the state government through taxes collected from its own citizens, not by the federal government alone.
2. Fix the sentence:
The governor decides the state budget without anyone else's approval.
Corrected: The governor proposes a budget, but the legislature must approve it.
The governor proposes a budget, but the legislature must review and approve it. This shared power is an example of checks and balances between branches.
3. Fix the sentence:
Public school teachers in a state are hired directly by the governor.
Corrected: Public school teachers are hired by local school districts, not by the governor.
Local school districts, not the governor, hire public school teachers. The governor helps set education policy, but day-to-day hiring happens at the district level.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Money collected from citizens by the government is called taxes.
Taxes are payments that citizens make to the government. The government uses that money to pay for public services like schools, roads, and emergency responders.
2. The state budget is a plan that shows how the state will spend its money.
A state budget is a detailed plan that shows exactly how the state will spend its money on things like education, roads, and public safety each year.
3. State governments use tax dollars to build and repair public roads.
Building and repairing public roads is one of the biggest ways state governments spend tax dollars, since highways connect communities and help the economy run.
4. Fire departments and police are examples of public safety funded by the state.
Fire departments and police protect people and property, which is why they fall under public safety. State and local governments fund these services with tax money.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Name two services that state governments provide using tax money.
Sample answer: State governments use tax money to fund public schools and maintain state highways. They also support state parks and emergency services.
State governments provide many services with tax money. Public schools and state highways are two common examples; others include state parks, libraries, and emergency services.
2. Why is it important for citizens to pay taxes?
Sample answer: Taxes pay for services everyone uses, like schools, roads, and police. Without taxes the government could not provide these public services.
Without tax money, the government could not pay for schools, roads, police, or firefighters. Taxes let everyone share the cost of services that benefit the whole community.