Types of Governments & Roles in Governments - Victoria

Key Terms and Definitions

Government Definitions

• Democracy: A system that allows its citizens to have a say in how it is run.

• Stakeholder: A person who is affected by or has an interest in the government.

Levels of Government

• Federal Government: Responsible for making decisions that impact the entire country.

• Provincial Government: Makes decisions that impact their respective province or territory.

• Local or Municipal Government: Responsible for governing a town or city.

Legal and Administrative Terms

• Jurisdiction: The official power to make legal decisions and judgments.

• Region: A collection of municipalities that work together for governance and administrative purposes.

Local Indigenous Governance

• Band Council: The local government for First Nations communities, responsible for self-governance.

Public Servants

• Public Servant: Individuals who work for the government, serving the public interest.

• Municipal Councillor: A member of the municipal council in a town or city who helps make local government decisions.

• Head of Council: The person who leads the municipal council and is often the mayor or chair.