OHIO’S GOVERNMENT

OHIO’S GOVERNMENT IS LOCATED IN OUR STATE’S CAPITAL CITY, COLUMBUS.

THIS IS THE CAPITAL BUILDING

LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS.

THIS IS WHERE THE LAWS FOR THE STATE OF

OHIO ARE MADE.

THE PLAN OF GOVERNMENT FOR OUR STATE IS THE

OHIO CONSTITUTION.

HERE IS A COPY OF THE

CONSTITUTION OF OHIO

WRITTEN IN 1803, SO WE

COULD BECOME A STATE IN

1803.

OUR STATE GOVERNMENT HAS 3 PARTS OR

BRANCHES. THEY ARE:

THE LEGISLATIVE

THE EXECUTIVE

THE JUDICIAL

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH IS CALLED THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLY.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WRITES THE LAWS FOR THE

STATE.

THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY:

THE SENATE

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-

TIVES

THIS IS WHAT THE SENATE

CHAMBER IN THE CAPITAL

BUILDING LOOKS LIKE.

HERE IS WHAT THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES CHAMBER LOOKS

LIKE.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE WRITE BILLS, PROPOSED

LAWS.

THEY VOTE ON THE BILLS. IF THE BILLS ARE PASSED BY A MAJORITY VOTE IN BOTH THE

SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THE BILLS ARE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE GOVERNOR’S JOB IS TO EXECUTE OR CARRY OUT BILLS THAT HE OR SHE SIGNS INTO LAW.

THE GOVERNOR MAKES SURE THE LAWS ARE

ENFORCED IN THE STATE.

THIS IS THE CURRENT

GOVERNOR, TED

STRICKLAND, OF OHIO

(DURING THE YEARS 2007-

2011)

AFTER THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES A BILL, THE GOVERNOR SIGNS

THE BILL INTO LAW AND ENFORCES THE BILL.

THE SUPREME COURT OF OHIO MAY HAVE TO JUDGE OR

INTERPRET THE LAW.

THE JOB OF THE SUPREME COURT IN OHIO IS TO JUDGE OR INTERPRET

LAWS IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

THE NEXT PICTURE IS OF

THE MEMBERS OF OHIO’S SUPREME

COURT IN THE YEAR 2008.

THESE 3 BRANCHES OR PARTS OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT IN

OHIO, MAKE, EXECUTE, ENFORCE AND JUDGE OUR LAWS FOR OUR

STATE.

THE WAY THE GOVERNOR, SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES AND JUDGES ARE MADE A PART OF OUR STATE GOVERNMENT IS

THROUGH ELECTIONS.

AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE YEAR ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN OUR STATE. IT IS

ONE OF THE GREAT PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A CITIZEN OF THE

UNITED STATES AND OHIO.

WE GET TO DECIDE WHO WILL BE OUR LEADERS DURING THE NEXT YEAR OR

NUMBER OF YEARS. THE PERSON RECEIVING THE MAJORITY OF VOTES FROM

THE VOTERS BECOMES THE GOVERNOR FOR 4 YEARS, OR SENATOR OR

REPRESENTATIVE FOR 2 YEARS, OR JUDGE FOR 4 YEARS.

HERE IS A CLOSE UP PICTURE OF THE KIND OF VOTING

BOOTH AND MACHINE I HAVE

USED DURING ALL MY YEARS IN OHIO.

SOME VOTERS USE PAPER BALLOTS AND

NOT VOTING MACHINES.

THE NEXT SCENE SHOWS WHAT A PAPER BALLOT

MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

WHEN WE SELECT OUR LEADERS, WE WANT THEM TO

HAVE AT LEAST THE FOLLOWING QUALITIES:

HONESTY

COURAGE

WISDOM

HONESTY IS TELLING THE TRUTH. IT IS

ALSO ACTING IN A WAY THAT IS NOT

DECEITFUL, DOES NO TRICKERY AND DOES

NO CHEATING.

WE KNOW WHAT COURAGE IS!!!

IT WHAT THE COWARDLY LION IN THE

WIZARD OF OZ DIDN’T HAVE…

BUT LATER…GOT!!!

COURAGE IS DOING WHAT IS RIGHT …

REGARDLESS OF HOW FRIGHTENED WE MIGHT

BE OR HOW MUCH DOING THE RIGHT THING

WILL COST US PERSONALLY.

WISDOM IS USING YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO DO THE RIGHT,

GOOD AND HELPFUL THING FOR

YOURSELF AND OTHERS.

WHEN YOU ARE ABLE TO VOTE, YOU WANT TO BE

SURE YOU VOTE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE

THESE QUALITIES TO SERVE AS LEADERS IN

OUR STATE, IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN

OUR NATION.

THIS IS THE GREAT SEAL OF OHIO. IT

REPRESENTS OUR STATE.

WE WANT LEADERS OF

OUR GOVERNMENT

TO BE HONEST, WISE

AND COURAGEOUS.

HERE IS OUR OHIO STATE FLAG. PERHAPS YOU WILL BECOME A LEADER IN OHIO IN THE YEARS TO COME. BE A PERSON KNOWN FOR THEIR

HONESTY, COURAGE AND WISDOM. START DEVELOPING THESE QUALITIES IN YOUR LIFE NOW!!!