Written By: Caiden Tobias Edited By: Kevin Nhan
Have you ever wondered who makes the rules in your city? Have you thought about who decides where to build parks, fix roads, or put up streetlights? It’s not always the president! These decisions are mostly made by your local government—a group of people who help run your community. They make sure everything in your city works well and is safe for everyone!
Types of Local Government
There are two types of local government: regional and municipal.
Regional governments look after a large county with many smaller cities.
Municipal governments, on the other hand, look after only one city.
Responsibilities of Local Government
Local government has many important jobs that keep communities running smoothly. Some of their key duties include:
Schools! They help decide how schools are run and provide resources to make sure kids like you can learn.
Parks and Libraries! They decide where to build public spaces and maintain them. This way, people can play, read, and come together in free public places.
Safety! They provide police officers and firefighters to protect people and respond to emergencies in their city.
Transportation! They fix roads, build sidewalks, and provide public transportation like SEPTA.
Utilities! Utilities are important tools like electricity, gas, and trash collection. They make sure you have clean water to drink and collect garbage to keep our sidewalks clean.
Roles in Local Government
Many people work in local government, each playing a special role in keeping the community running:
Mayor! The mayor is like the president of a city! They make the big decisions and work with others to solve problems.
City Council! They are a group of people who help make laws and decide how money is spent within a city.
Police and Fire Chiefs! These are leaders who ensure that police officers and firefighters are doing their jobs to keep people safe.
School Board! This is a team responsible for making sure kids in a city get a good quality education.
Public Works Department! This is a group of workers who maintain roads, streetlights, and public spaces.
How You Can Make a Difference
You might think that only adults can improve the community, but kids can too! Small actions add up and can make a big difference. Here are some ways you can help:
Pick Up Litter! If you see trash on the ground, throw it away properly. Keeping the environment clean benefits everyone.
Save Water and Energy! Turn off lights when leaving a room and don’t waste water when brushing your teeth. This will help the environment and save money.
Be Kind to Others! A friendly smile, helping a neighbor, or even saying "thank you" can make your town a happier place.
Speak Up! If you see damage in your town or have an idea to make your city a better place, call or write a letter to the mayor’s office.
Start a Project! Organize a group to plant trees, collect books for the library, or host a community talent show.
Why Small Choices Matter
Even small actions can lead to big improvements. Imagine if every kid in Philadelphia helped keep parks clean and saved energy. Your whole community would become a better, happier place to live!
The choices you make now can change your future! When you grow up, you might even want to be part of local government yourself. You could be a mayor, a city council member, or a police officer. Every little thing you do helps create a brighter future for you and your city.
So, the next time you visit a park, school, or fire station, remember that local government helps take care of it. And you can help too! What will you do today to make a difference?
Mayor for the Day
Pretend you’re the mayor of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Eagles just won the Super Bowl. Yay! Now, you have to make a tough decision…
You look out of your office window and see hundreds of students holding signs that say “cancel school!” Now, you have to think about what the community wants.
Students are hoping to get the day off.
Parents are concerned about finding childcare for that day.
Teachers wonder how they will make up for lost instruction time.
On your own, think through the process. Which local government office would you talk to first? Would you want to cancel school? Think about possible responses from everyone in the city.
And no matter what you decide, go Birds!
References
Betts, J. (2025, February 10). Making local government understandable for kids. LoveToKnow. https://www.lovetoknow.com/parenting/kids/local-government-kids
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