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Intro to Government: Purpose?

Intro to Government: Purpose?. Unit 1 Basic Concepts. Journal topic #2. Name: Date: Copy question: What role should government play in our lives? What role should we play in government?. What does this mean?. “A Nation of Sheep will begat a government of Wolves .”

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Intro to Government: Purpose?

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  1. Intro to Government: Purpose? Unit 1 Basic Concepts

  2. Journal topic #2 Name: Date: Copy question: What role should government play in our lives? What role should we play in government?

  3. What does this mean? “A Nation of Sheep will begat a government of Wolves.” - Edward R. Murrow

  4. What is Civics? • Civics: • The branch of political science that deals with the rights and duties of citizens. • What is a Citizen? • A person owing loyalty to and protection of a state or nation.

  5. What is Civics? • Civic Responsibility: • Active citizenship for the betterment of the community through economic, political, and social participation.

  6. “To be a good citizen of this country one must have knowledge of and be active in politics.” - Pres. T. Roosevelt “Duties of an American Citizen” 1883 “Democracy only works with political participation”

  7. Definition of Government • Government: • The legitimate use of force to controlhuman behavior. • What is the appropriate amount of force to control a classroom, city, state, nation?

  8. What’s happening in Ferguson, MO?

  9. Basic Forms of Government • Autocracy: “auto” means “self” “cracy” means “govern” • One “self appointed” person holds all of the power. (aka: Tyranny) – Leader glorified – Government controls all aspects of social and economic life

  10. Basic Forms of Government • Autocracy: SINGLE PERSON holds power • Dictatorships: One individual holds absolute power and exercises that power unjustly. Usually obtains power by force. • Despotism: Ruled by a single leader who has unlimited control. Imposes rule using violence (usually a dictator).

  11. Examples of autocracy? Can you think of others?

  12. Forms of Government • Oligarchy: • “Oli” means “few” • “garchy” means “govern” Power is held by a small group of people who share the same social position, wealth, monetary and political interest, or military power. “Power by the few”

  13. Forms of Government Oligarchy: SMALL GROUP hold power. Aristocracy: Royal Families (England) • Theocracy: Rule by religion (Iran) • Plutocracy: Power by the wealthy

  14. Stop and review… • What’s the basic difference between an autocracy and an oligarchy? • Do the following people represent an autocracy or oligarchy?

  15. Autocracy or oligarchy? • Fidel Castro • China

  16. Forms of Government • Anarchies: “An” means “without” “archy” means govern/ruler • Lack of government or central power of control. • Would you want this?

  17. Forms of Government • Democracies: “Demo” means “the common people” “cracy” means “govern” • Power held by the many; power shared by everyone in the population. • Everyone gets an equal say…everyone gets to vote on every question. • Should we do homework tonight? • Autocracy (WHITLOCK SAYS “YES!”), Democracy…?

  18. Forms of Government Example: the ancient Greek Assembly Is the United States a democracy?

  19. Nope…not a democracy… • The Pledge of Allegiance includes the phrase: "and to the republic for which it stands." • Republic (Representative Democracy): • People choose representatives who, in turn, make policy decisions on their behalf. • Intention of Founding Fathers. • Are we still a representative democracy?

  20. Why does government exist? • The Four major purposes of government: • Maintain Order • Provide for the General Welfare • Promote Domestic Tranquility • Provide for a Common Defense

  21. Government Purpose #1: Maintain Order • Order: preserving life and protecting property. • Laws • Enforcing those laws

  22. Government Purpose #1: Maintain Order • Social Order: Enforcing the established patterns of authority, that is, what is the standard for that community? • Examples: liquor laws

  23. Government Purpose #1: Maintain Order What other examples of social order can be found in our country, state, city, school?

  24. Dilemma of Government • The original dilemma of government involved freedom versus order. • How much freedom are people willing to give up to achieve complete safety? • The modern dilemma of government involves freedom versus equality. • Should government act to promote equal access for women and African Americans to high-paying jobs, even though this restricts the freedom of their employers?

  25. 2002

  26. Frontline: Are we safer? http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/teach/are-we-safer/

  27. Here at home? • Utah Data Center (also known as, Intelligence Community Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative Data Center)

  28. Liberty Security Privacy From: http://nsa.gov1.info/utah-data-center/

  29. Purpose of Government #2: Providing For the General Welfare • Public Goods: • Benefits and services for all citizens • Parks, Roads, Water, Education, Sanitation, Power, etc.

  30. Purpose of Government #3: Promote Domestic Tranquility • Equality of opportunity:Each person has the same chance to succeed. • Some believe that the best will naturally rise to the top. • Examples: The Civil Rights Act (1964) Title IV (1972) Americans with Disabilities Act (1990)

  31. Equality of opportunity • Provides in a sense that all start the race of life at the same time.

  32. Purpose of Government #3: Promote Domestic Tranquility • Equality of outcome: Government policies should promote economic and social equality. • Improve quality of life for all. Examples: the U.S. welfare system Social Security

  33. Equality of outcome Attempts to ensure that everyone finishes at the same time.

  34. What is the basic purpose of government? * to equalize opportunity so that those with natural strengths will rise to the top? OR *provide assistance for those less advantaged to improve quality of life for all.

  35. Equality Cont… • Political Equality: • All citizens have one vote and only one vote. • Social Equality: • Citizens have the same status and rights to wealth, education and status. Example: marital status

  36. Purpose of Government #4: Provide for a Common Defense • National Defense • Military • Protecting the nation’s borders and interests

  37. United States as a ‘nation-state’ • What does this mean?

  38. State • A legal/political entity • Comprised of: • a) a permanent population; • b) a defined territory; • c) a government ; and • d) the capacity to enter into relations with other states

  39. States have sovereignty • Each government has right to govern its people as it wishes, without interference from other nations.

  40. Nation: • Socio-cultural entity • A union of people who share a common culture and language.

  41. U.S. as Nation-State • Mix of both • Single or multiple nationalities joined together in a formal political union. • Determines an official language(s), a system of law, manages a currency system, uses a bureaucracy to order elements of society, identifies with abstract entities like “The United States.”

  42. Ethnicity in the U.S. • 2000 Census • Top 5 Largest Ancestral Groups in U.S.: • #5: English • #4: Mexican • #3: Irish • #2: African Americans • #1: Germans

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