Introduction to Government

1. Introduction to Government

2. Questions to consider… • What is the role of government? • What are the functions of government? • How can government achieve these?

3. Purpose of Government • Social Contract • Hobbes – control chaos (preferably a sovereign king) • Enforce laws • Punish criminals • Defend from invasion • Locke – guarantee peoples’ natural rights • Make laws • People agree to follow those laws • Punish criminals • No restrictions on citizens without consent

4. What are the functions of a government system?(Do you remember the Preamble?) Protect people from each other and outsiders Protect individual rights and liberties Protect public goods and services (general welfare) whole – parks, environment, commerce select groups – welfare, medicare/medicaid, ag subsidies

5. What gives a government its power? The consent of the governed!

6. How does a government assume its role and functions? • Power • the ability of one person to cause another person to act in accordance with the first person’s intentions • Authority • the right to use power • Legitimacy • political authority conferred by law or by a state or national constitution

7. The Children’s Story • Silently read the short story “The Children’s Story.” • As you read, consider the concepts of power, authority and legitimacy. • Make annotation to further discuss this article in groups and with the class.

8. The Children’s Story(Discussion Questions) • What do you think Clavell’s major point was in writing this short story? • What does the story have to say about the role of education and governmental power, authority and citizenship? (legitimacy?) • What traditions did the New Teacher remove? Why do you think this was done?

9. What is Government? • Formal institutions that make policy or laws on behalf of the people • Modern governments do 3 things: -National defense/ public order -Public goods -Tax

10. What is Politics? • Politics is who gets what, when and how. • characterized by conflict and resolution, compromise, and the relationship between individuals and groups. • Conflict arises because of : • Scarcity – finite resources • Values – people see issues in different ways • Politics is the process through which society makes its decisions.

11. In pairs… • On an index card, respond to the following: • 1. Give an example of each: • Power • Authority • Legitimacy • 2. Compare the institutions that have power over you with the institutions that have authority over you. What are the characteristics that distinguish one set of institutions from another? • 3. How are government and politics different?

12. How do citizens get involved? • Linkage Institutions - how people are able to link up with public policies • Political parties, elections, the media, interest groups, etc. • Must be accessible!

13. Public Policy • Actions that help, defend, prosecute, etc. citizens at home or enemies abroad • Policy and law are not necessarily the same thing… • Law - 65 is the speed limit • Policy – at what speed do drivers get pulled over?

14. In pairs… • Copy down the chart that follows. • Fill in the “example” column using your knowledge of U.S. history and American government.

15. Public Policy

16. Public Policy