August/September 2004

How do you get a stop sign placed at a dangerous intersection? Who would you call for help if your town was hit by a tornado? How would you make a peace treaty with another country? There are people who can help you with these problems--and they are all part of our government.

For Parents and Teachers:

With the presidential election scheduled for November, the issue of politics and government is in the news daily. At Kaleidoscope, we hope that this event will be a springboard for student interest and discussion about the role of government in their lives.

While selecting a president is very important, our lives are affected every day by the actions of state and local government. Specifically, this issue will help students compare and contrast the role of state and local government and better understand the function of state government. These are issues that are identified in the government curriculum standards for students in fourth grade.

Local government is very important to our lives and it comes in many forms. Today, most Kansans live in cities so they have to live by city government rules.

Understanding State Government

State government serves all 2,715,884 people who live in Kansas. It is organized like the federal (national) government.

Voting is a right granted to all law-abiding American citizens. Once you reach the age of 18 you can vote in local, state, and federal elections.

On November 2, 2004, elections will be held across the U.S. Many government positions at the federal (national), state, and local levels will be filled at this time. The one race the whole nation will be watching is the one for president.

Governor Kathleen Sebelius is the head of our state government. We asked her a few questions about being active in government and wanted to share what she said with you!

Did you know that in the United States a candidate can become president even if he or she doesn't receive the most popular votes? How can that happen? To answer this question, we must look at the U.S. Constitution.

Kansas Connections to the White House

The only U.S. presdent to call Kansas home was actually a native Texan. Although Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas, his family moved back to Abilene Kansas before he was two.

Topekan Charles Curtis made history when he was sworn in as vice president of the United States in 1929. He was the first person of Native American descent and also the first (and only) Kansans to be elected to our country's second-highest office.

Dwight Eisenhower may be the only Kansan to win the presidency, but he is not the only one who tried. At least three other Kansans--John P. St. John, Alf Landon, and Bob Dole--campaigned for that honor.

Teacher Supplement