How would you categorize the obligations and services of state and local governments as compared to those of the federal government? state and local governments provide useful services, while the federal government tends to provide unnecessary services. state and local governments provide services that are specified in the u. s. constitution, while the federal government provides any additional services. state and local governments provide services for a particular location, while the federal government provides services that are specified in the u. s. constitution. state government only provides services that the federal government is too large to provide effectively