State government

State Agencies

The DMV, the health department, the transportation department — the bodies that carry out state law and touch daily life more often than the legislature does.

Grades 3–5~35 minNonpartisan

Word document — open it in Word, Pages, or Google Docs and adapt it for your class.

01 Warm-up 5 min

Warm-up:

- Today we are going to be talking about state agencies. When you hear the word "agencies" what do you think about and what could be a state agency?

02 Lecture 10 min

Lecture: (Link: https://canva.link/r3jv8p35ml2j5fn)

- What are state agencies?
  - State agencies are specialized government bodies, departments, or commissions established by state law to administer public services, enforce regulations, and implement legislation within a specific state’s jurisdiction.
  - These agencies are funded primarily through the state budget and manage the localized, daily operations of the government that directly impact the people living there.
- What are some common state agencies?
  - Department of Motor Vehicles
    - This department manages driver licensing, vehicle registration, and state identification cards.
  - Department of Transportation
    - This department builds, maintains, and regulates state highways, bridges, and public transit.
  - Department of Education
    - This department allocates school funding, sets academic curriculum standards, and licenses teachers.
  - Department of Health
    - This department monitors public health outbreaks, manages Medicaid programs, and inspects healthcare facilities.
  - These were just a few examples of the state agencies and what they do.
- Why are state agencies so important?
  - State agencies are important because they manage daily life by controlling key services like education, public safety, and infrastructure. They handle matters reserved by the tenth amendment and keep power closer to local communities.
    - What does the tenth amendment state?
      - Any power not specifically given to the federal government by the Constitution belongs to the individual states or to the people.

03 Games 2 activities

2 interactive games:

- Split into a group of around 3-4 people and then have each group search and pick out one agency. Then they will present what it is and what the agency does and sketch out the agency’s logo.
- Get flashcards and write descriptions. Then they would be read outloud and the students would need to guess what agency is in charge of it. (A list would need to provided of the agencies)

04 Wrap-up 5 min

Wrap-up:

Now you know what state agencies are, what agency do you find the most important and why?