Our Pennsylvania Story
61
Lesson 28:
Our Local Government and Communities
If you do not live in a city or borough, then you live in a township. Townships are
more rural regions that border cities and boroughs. There are about 1,600 townships in
our state.
Most cities and boroughs elect sevenmembers of their community to a
council
. The
people of cities and boroughs also elect a
mayor
every four years. The council creates
laws for the city and borough. Each city and borough hires workers for special jobs, such
as collecting trash and providing a goodwater supply.
Townships also have their form of local government. The voters of each township elect
three to five township
supervisors
. They run the township government much the same as
a city or borough council.
Write the answers on a separate piece of paper
1. Circlewhether you live in a
city
borough township
2. Write the name of your city, borough or, township:
3. What is the name for the government leader of a city or borough?
4. What is the name for the government leader of a township?
5. Howmany boroughs dowe have in our state?
6. Howmany townships dowe have in our state?
7. Write the name of yourmayor or of a township supervisor.
8. Find out andwrite in at least three services that your local community provides.
9. If we got rid of taxes, what kinds of services wouldwe lose?
The yellow star
shows the Baker
Elementary School
inAltoona,
Pennsylvania.
Public schools are
run by a school
board. School
boards are part of
a local government.
