ShmoopTube

00:04

[Dino and Coop singing]

00:12

Have you ever seen a little kid that seemed exactly like a miniature adult? [Kid sat in school]

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You know, the one with mature-looking glasses, slick hair and shiny new shoes, who really

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look like they belong in a boardroom than a kindergarten class? [Student wearing a suit]

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Well just like how that kid is basically a little version of a grown-up, state governments are

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like little versions of the national government. [Uncle Sam wearing a 'State' name badge]

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Each of the 50 U.S. States has a government consisting of three branches: Executive, Legislative [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

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and Judicial.

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Each state's Executive Branch is run by a government that is elected by the citizens [Dino pointing at a blackboard]

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of that state, and the governor is sort of like the state's mini-President, accepting

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and rejecting bills, managing the budget, and overseeing a Cabinet. [Man bringing piles of paper to the governor]

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And that's not just a place to store snacks.

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In the political world, a Cabinet is a set of advisors. [The governor's staff]

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Governors in each state are supported by several other leadership positions, like the lieutenant

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governor, treasurer, comptroller, attorney general, and secretary of state.

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The Legislative Branch of each state is responsible for making state laws.

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All states – except for Nebraska – have two parts or houses of their Legislative Branch [Nebraska crossed out on the map of the US]

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that work together making laws about things like taxes, education, business practices

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and more.

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The Judicial Branch consists of the state's court system, and is often divided into different

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smaller courts, like family court, traffic court, and juvenile court. [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

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Before you get excited, that's not a court run by young people. [Kid sits in the judges seat]

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So much for suing your parents for serving beets for dessert.

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Blech.

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Every state has its own Constitution that outlines how the government will run – which [Policeman takes the kids mother away]

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yes, is basically like a miniature version of the U.S. Constitution.

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State governments make many important decisions that can affect the daily lives of its citizens, [Governor giving a presentation]

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like how state budgets are spent, the laws pertaining to traffic and driving, and laws

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about marriage and civil unions.

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States also tend to have a few not-so-important and often downright silly laws, too. [A slide about 'cookies in the cabinet appears']

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Did you know that in Arkansas, it's actually illegal to pronounce the word Arkansas incorrectly? [Law is highlighted]

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Thankfully, we're not in Arkansas right now.

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(Saying Arkansas wrong) Take that, silly law! [Police siren flashing]

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