Understand Your Government

One community. Overlapping jurisdictions.

Federal, state and local governments have different responsibilities. Local government includes several types of jurisdictions, so one map cannot explain every office you elect.

Federal government

Congress—the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate—is the legislative branch. The president leads the executive branch, and federal courts interpret and apply law. These branches have different powers and provide checks on one another.

Official guide to the branches of government

State government

Explore your state’s legislature, executive offices and courts through the official resources in your county guide. Local structures and election rules vary by state.

County government

County government is a form of general-purpose local government. Use the county’s office directory to distinguish board or commissioner representation from other county offices. An office’s responsibilities and its electoral geography are separate questions.

Municipal government

A city, village or town serves a defined incorporated area. A municipal boundary identifies the community; a ward boundary identifies a local representation area. Governing structures depend on state and local law.

School districts

School districts can be separate local governments providing public education. Check their geography independently rather than assuming school, city and county boundaries match.

Townships and special districts

Townships are another form of local government. Special districts serve particular functions, such as water supply, fire protection or libraries. Their organization and coverage vary.

Official local-government definitions

Connect the map to your ballot

Identify the jurisdiction, read the office’s responsibilities, and check the current election. A district boundary does not establish that an office is on your ballot. Confirm your personal contests with the election authority’s lookup or sample ballot.

Find your county’s maps and official resources · Find official representative resources

Educational sources checked: October 25, 2026. Editorial review: October 26, 2026.