What are urban states?

An urban state is like a city that also acts as its own country, it has its own rules and can make decisions without asking someone else.

Imagine your neighborhood is so big and important that it gets to be like a town on its own. That's what an urban state is, a city with the power of a state.

In most places, cities are part of bigger states or countries. But in an urban state, the city itself is the state. This means it can do things like:

• choose its own leaders
• make laws for people who live there
• manage money and buildings

A real example is New York City, it's so big and busy that it gets to act like a state on its own, even though it’s inside the bigger state of New York.

It's like having your own classroom rules, but still being part of the school. You get to be special without leaving the group! An urban state is like a city that also acts as its own country, it has its own rules and can make decisions without asking someone else.

Imagine your neighborhood is so big and important that it gets to be like a town on its own. That's what an urban state is, a city with the power of a state.