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Local Government in Georgia - Similarities & Differences, LP5Y3
Matthew Graham
Local Government in Georgia_Y3
In this lesson students will compare and contrast the three forms of local government found in Georgia. They will begin by determining the local officials for LaGrange, Georgia and examine the minutes of a city council meeting. They will use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the three forms of city government by using information from the internet. They finish the lesson by writing a letter to a local government official or local newspaper in which they express concern for an issue facing the city or county.
- City Website: City of LaGrange
- County Website: Troup County Board of Commissioners
- New Georgia Encyclopedia City governments
- Venn Diagram (student created)
- Minutes from city council meeting
1 class period (75 minutes)
5
What are the major similarities and differences of the three most common forms of local government in Georgia?
Visit the following websites to determine the local officials listed that represent the local governments in LaGrange, GA:
- City Website: City of LaGrange
- Mayor
- City Council Members
- City Manager
- County Website: Troup County Board of Commissioners
- County Commissioners
- Commission Chairman
- County Manager
Examine the City Council meeting minutes from September 25, 2007 (see attachment) and answer the following question:
- Who was present at the meeting?
Begin this part of the lesson by having the students examine the city council meeting minutes from September 25, 2007 (see attachment) and answer the following question:
- What issues were discussed? (In one sentence, describe each issue discussed)
Next, using the link below, have students complete a Venn Diagram in which they compare and contrast the strong mayor-council, weak mayor-council, and council-manager forms of city government. (students can draw three large circles that intersect in the middle onto a sheet of paper.
- City governments (strong mayor-council, weak mayor-council, & council-manager)
For the summarizing activity, have students choose one of the options below and write a letter:
- Write a letter to one of the local government officials that you found earlier in which you express concern or support for the type of local government that they have. Students should be specific about why their type of local government is good or why they think another type would be better.
- Write a letter to the local newspaper (Editorial Opinion) in which you express concern or support for the type of local government that they have. Students should be specific about why their type of local government is good or why they think another type would be better.
- Write a letter to the local newspaper about a concern that you have about an issue that is facing the city or county. Include specific concerns and those people who are affected, as well as possible suggestions to the issue.
- Write a letter to one of the local government officials that you found earlier about a concern that you have about an issue that is facing the city or county. Include specific concerns and those people who are affected, as well as possible suggestions to the issue.
- Using the basic ideas presented in this lesson, teachers can adapt this plan to accommodate the type of local government under which they live.
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