Life without a government is hard to imagine. While most people are not involved daily in the government's operations, they enjoy services that the government provides, drive on roads that the government helps maintain, attend schools that the government funds, and--yes--pay taxes to make it all happen. This notable book, an important addition to any social studies collection, helps readers recognize the importance of local, state, and national governments, how they operate, and the significance of participating in government when possible. At-level text incorporating curricular content and vocabulary is paired with colorful, appealing photographs.