Which statement best describes the relationship between counties and states?

Which statement best describes the relationship between counties and states?

• A. Counties are divisions of states, while townships are divisions within counties.
• B. States are divisions of counties.
• C. Counties are independent of any state.
• D. Townships govern at the national level.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how local government units fit inside each other. States are the larger political units that set laws and boundaries, and they create and oversee counties. Counties operate within a state and handle many local services under state authority. In many states, townships sit inside counties as even smaller divisions to organize local tasks like road maintenance or property records. So the best description is that counties are divisions of states, while townships are divisions within counties. It’s not correct to say states are divisions of counties, or that counties stand outside state authority, or that townships govern at the national level.

The key idea here is how local government units fit inside each other. States are the larger political units that set laws and boundaries, and they create and oversee counties. Counties operate within a state and handle many local services under state authority. In many states, townships sit inside counties as even smaller divisions to organize local tasks like road maintenance or property records. So the best description is that counties are divisions of states, while townships are divisions within counties. It’s not correct to say states are divisions of counties, or that counties stand outside state authority, or that townships govern at the national level.