School board members are examples of political representatives at the community level. They are elected by residents of the school district and are responsible for developing policies and setting goals to ensure quality local public education. They oversee the implementation of school programs and evaluate their progress and effectiveness. They set the budget for the school district and are responsible for finances that affect school sites, staffing and equipment. They also deal with grievances of students, parents and staff.
Mayors and city councilmen are elected by citizens of the city in which they reside. They oversee services such as sanitation and libraries and regulate zoning for residential, commercial and industrial use. You may have a more intimate relationship with a representative from this level of government because he may be your neighbor, friend or a community leader. Consequently, you may receive a quicker response to questions or requests than you would from a state or federal representative.
Representatives in state government are elected by the people, as well. The length of representatives' terms in office varies from state to state. Most states model their governmental structure after that of the federal government, with a governor who is elected to serve as the head of the state and a two-chamber legislature. In most states, the two chambers are called the state Senate and the state Assembly or General Assembly. They may differ in salaries and length of legislative sessions, but their duties and responsibilities are generally similar. They are responsible for creating legislation that becomes law and budgeting funds for the state to run efficiently.
The most prestigious political representative in the federal government is the president of the United States. He wears many hats, such as Chief of State, Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief. The vice president is the second in command and will fill in for the president of the United States if he is unable to perform his duties. Senators and members of the House of Representatives are elected by residents of their states and serve as advocates for their constituents. They are elected to six-year and two-year terms, respectively, and can be re-elected.