Indiana Social Studies 3.C.2
The Standard
Identify and explain the duties of and selection process for local and state government officials who make, implement, and enforce laws.
2026 Indiana Academic Standards: K-12 Social Studies
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students identify who passes laws in a town and a state. They explain what mayors, governors, and police officers do with those laws. They tell which officials voters elect and which workers are hired or appointed.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can explain that a city council passes a park rule, a mayor puts it into action, and police officers enforce it. They can also name a state legislator and governor and describe their jobs. They know voters elect these officials, while police departments hire officers.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think a mayor or governor can pass a law alone. They may think police officers are elected or mix up city officials with state officials.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: For city council member, mayor, police officer, state legislator, and governor, write one job each does. Mark each job as elected or hired.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give students city council, mayor, and police role badges; have them act out passing, carrying out, and enforcing a new park rule.
Ask: The city council votes to close the park at sunset. What would the mayor and a police officer do next?
Play a matching game with official cards, job cards, and elected or hired cards.
Check local and state sample ballots and a police hiring page; name one elected official at each level and one hired officer.
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Printable 3.C.2 Worksheet
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Related Standards
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Describe opportunities available to individuals to contribute to the well-being of their communities and participate responsibly in the political process at loc...
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- 8.C.7
Explain how citizens can monitor and influence the development and implementation of public policies at local, state, and federal levels of government.
- 4.C.4
Identify major state offices, the duties and powers associated with them, and how they are chosen, such as by election or appointment.
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