State governments are responsible for administering roads, education, public safety, justice, and other duties as determined by voters, lawmakers, and state constitutions. They are also charged with implementing federal mandates, collecting revenue through taxes and fees, operating state court systems, and maintaining transportation infrastructure like roads and highways.

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By Sara Harvey, eHow Contributor
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States shoulder the duties to administer
roads, education, public safety, justice and
more, as decided by voters, state lawmakers,
and the state constitution. States take on all
the powers not specifically granted to the
U.S. Federal government, according to the
10th Amendment to the United States
Constitution.
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Duties and Taxes
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Transportation
State governments are charged with the duty to make sure the roads under their care are well
maintained. The roads and highways in each state are divided between local, state and federal
governments. States build and maintain roads and highways through their local state
Department of Transportation. These state transportation departments oversee the building of
new roads, and the maintenance of intrastate transportation for the U.S. Department of
Transportation. The states are also responsible for public safety, as in the case of state
troopers, highway patrol, and Texas Rangers.
Implement Federal Mandates View Photos
If the federal government issues a mandate, it is the duty of the state to make plans and
implement them to fulfill the mandate. Examples of mandates are if the federal government 10 Ways to Step Up and
requires states to cut air pollution, or requires that a state's public transportation meet Volunteer
particular safety standards. The federal government is required by law to fund the mandated
programs.
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Education Main Responsibilities of
Local Government
State governments are responsible for the education of their residents. States have freedom in
administering the nation's public education system, which receives the lion's share of state
and local money. The nation's 15,000 school districts are governed by elected school boards. Rights and Duties of States
The power balance between a state government, which provides a large share of education
funding, and local school boards, which are independent and make final decisions for how a
district operates, turn into power struggles in some states.
What Does the Local
Collecting Revenue Government Do?
State governments also have the duty of drawing funding to operate its programs. States
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2. collect insurance trust revenue from administering retirement, unemployment
compensation, and other benefit programs. States also collect fees, such as tolls, and lottery Responsibilities of Local
ticket sales, hospital charges and liquor sales. States levy sales taxes for consumer goods, at 4 Government
to 8 percent, as well as income taxes. The ratio of state income from consumer sales taxes as
compared to income taxes varies from state to state. Some states add a "sin tax" on alcohol or
cigarettes, while 17 states operate state-run liquor stores. Other states levy inheritance taxes, What Are the Duties of a
and administer utility services for income. State Legislature?
Judicial System
State governments are also charged to operate a state judicial system. State supreme courts What Are the Duties of Local
Government Offices?
focus on correcting the errors made in lower state courts, passed up through an appeals
system, and don't try cases. The decision made by the state supreme court, however, can be
appealed to the United States Supreme Court, when the question is raised as to whether the
state court acted in line with the U.S. Constitution. Each state is is free to structure their court What Are the Duties of
Elected State Officials?
system, and to decide whether judges are elected or appointed, in accord with the individual
state constitutions.
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