Final answer:
The state legislature is responsible for creating laws that impact the entire state, while city councils are tasked with passing ordinances that affect city residents, providing services like road maintenance, and clean water supply. State and local governments can exert a significant direct influence on citizens' everyday lives, and municipalities have certain powers under state-granted home rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
The state legislature enacts statutes affecting the entire state, and city councils pass local laws affecting the residents of the city. While national laws tend to get more media attention, state and local governments often have a more direct impact on our daily lives. These governing bodies are responsible for services such as maintaining roads, providing clean water, and other crucial public services. For instance, your state government can influence your tuition costs by allocating financial support to higher education.
Furthermore, municipalities or city governments derive their authority from the state, and may have certain autonomy under home rule arrangements. This can include making policy or tax decisions that closely affect local residents. However, tensions can arise when state statutes override local ordinances—as seen when the State of Texas overruled a local fracking ban. City councils operate under various systems such as the mayor-council system, where they carry out legislative functions that can include zoning, building regulations, and economic development initiatives.