How are Governments Organized?

You learned that laws are very important in a community. Laws help keep people safe. Laws help people get along together. Who makes the laws in a community? Read on to find out! Who makes the rules in your family? Who makes the rules in your classroom?

Who Makes the Laws in a Community? 

You learned that Lawless Town had a new law about garbage. Who made the law?
Interactive 4.5 Making Laws in Lawless Town Who made the garbage law? Click here to find out!

The people of Lawless Town held an election. They voted on five people to make their laws. Your community also has a group of people who make your laws. In many communities this group is called a council. A council is a group of people who make the laws in a community. Lawless Town has laws now! It needs a new name! Come up with a new name, then, make a welcome sign for the town! 

Who Makes Sure People Follow the Laws in a Community?

Communities have a group of people who make the laws. Is that enough to just make laws? What if people don’t follow them? 

You have rules in your classroom. Who makes sure you follow them? Your teacher! Your teacher reminds you about the rules. Your teacher enforces the rules. Enforce means to make sure people follow rules or laws. 

Communities have a leader who enforces the rules. In many communities this leader is called a mayor. A mayor is a leader who enforces the rules in a community. 

A mayor is in charge of the police department in a community. Police officers help the mayor enforce the rules. 

What Happens if People Don’t Understand a Law? 

The garbage law in Lawless Town was easy to understand: 

People in Lawless Town have to put their garbage in a garbage can. 

Sometimes laws in a community can be very hard to understand. 

Look at this law: It shall be unlawful for any person to accumulate or permit to accumulate upon any public or private property within the Municipality, any garbage, rubbish, bulky waste, or any other municipal or residual solid waste except in accordance with the provision of this Ordinance, and any Department rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Act 97 and Act 101. 

Wow! That law has a lot of big words. Who helps people in a community understand a law like this? Who interprets the law for them? Interpret means to explain what something means. 

Communities have courts. A court is a place where leaders interpret laws. They help people understand what laws mean. 

Courts have another important job in a community. A court is also a place where leaders decide the punishment for breaking laws.
Interactive 4.6 The Three Parts of Community Government Click here to review the three parts of community government. 

Why Do Community Governments Need Three Parts?

Why can’t one group do everything in a community? They could make the laws. They could enforce the laws. They could interpret the laws. 

Wait! Why can’t one person do everything? That person could make the laws. That person could enforce the laws. That person could interpret the laws.
What do you think? Why do community governments need three parts? 

Letting one person do everything would give that person a lot of power. That might be a problem. That person might become a bully. That person might make unfair laws. 

Letting one group do everything would give that group a lot of power. That might be a problem. That group might become a group of bullies. That group might make unfair laws. 

That is why community governments need three parts. People don’t want their leaders to become bullies! 

Class Activity
Work with your teacher and your class to find out how your community government is organized.