See how government fits together.
Start with a level of government. Then follow the connections to its institutions, offices, and seats.
New to this? Start with these words.
- Level
- Whether government serves the nation, a state, or a local community.
- Branch
- A part of government with a distinct job, such as making laws or deciding cases.
- Institution
- An organized public body, such as Congress or a court.
Learn at your own pace. Browse the plain-language glossary →
One community · several governments
You are represented at more than one level.
Choose a level to explore its institutions. The cards show scope, not a chain of command from the president down to your mayor.
Federal government
Three branches with distinct powers
Congress
Both chambers ordinarily must agree on the same bill.
President & administration
The president does not run Congress or the courts.
Federal courts
Simplified court path; specialized courts and other routes also exist.
State government
Its own constitution, offices, and courts
State legislature
Nebraska has one chamber. State lawmakers serve in state government, separately from Congress.
Governor & state agencies
State responsibilities include programs such as licensing and public health; many responsibilities are shared.
State courts
Judges may be elected or appointed under state-specific rules. State courts are not branches of the federal district courts.
An orientation, not a complete state directory. Court structures, titles, terms, and selection systems must be checked state by state.
Local government
Several overlapping kinds of government
County government
May administer elections, records, health services, and other county responsibilities.
City, town, or village
May handle services such as local streets, zoning, and public safety. Cities are not simply departments of counties.
School & special districts
May govern schools, water, transit, or other specific services. Boundaries can differ from city and county lines.
These are parallel examples of local arrangements, not three branches that every locality has. Your address may place you in several jurisdictions at once.
Levels and branches answer different questions.
Level: Is this federal, state, or local government? Branch: Within a government, does this institution make laws, carry them out, or decide cases?
Federal and state governments share power under the Constitution. Local authority comes from state law. Tribal nations have a distinct sovereign status; they are not a rung beneath local government. D.C. and territories also have distinct arrangements.
- Branches of the U.S. government · USAGov
- Understanding federalism · National Archives
- State and local governments · USAGov
- Facts about the Nebraska Legislature · Nebraska Legislature
- Tribal governments and states · Bureau of Indian Affairs
Reviewed October 19, 2026. How this guide is researched.