Civics Principles & Citizenship

1. Civics Principles &Citizenship

2. What is Civics? • Civics – study of citizenship, government & the rights and duties of citizens • Citizen – member of a community with government and laws that has certain rights & responsibilities • Class Question: Why is important to know about your rights and duties?

3. What is a government and what does it do? • Government – the power that rules a country or community • Makes laws, provides services, keeps order & guides the community (public policy) • Services include armed forces, police, fire department, schools, hospitals & road construction • Governments make laws & enforce them • Courts are established to decide truth & justice

4. What happens when there isn’t a government? • Anarchy – a state of lawlessness, without rules or order • Class Question: What would life be like if we didn’t have rules?

5. Thomas Hobbes on Government • English philosopher • Wrote about the need to have government because people are naturally bad • Survival of the fittest – we act as animals • Class Question: Are humans naturally bad?

6. Aristotle’s 3 types of Government • Aristotle • Ancient Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great • Identified 3 types of government • 1. Dictatorship • Rule by one • Leaders have complete control over laws & government & therefore over citizens • Ancient example: Julius Caesar • 2. Oligarchy • Rule by few. • Ancient example: Sparta • 3. Democracy • Rule by many (citizens). • Ancient example: Athens

7. Modern Types of Government • Modern political scientists group them differently – Authoritarian and Democracy

8. Authoritarian • Power held by a person or group that is not accountable to the people • 3 types • Absolute Monarchy – King with unlimited power • Dictatorship – person who takes power by force – likely to control police & military • Totalitarian – state run media – control all aspects of citizens lives

9. Absolute Monarchy

10. Dictatorship

11. Totalitarian

12. Democracy • Rulers are accountable to its citizens • Usually includes many rulers • Usually limited by a constitution • Allows people to voice opinions by voting or participating in government • 2 types of Democracy

13. The Two Types of Democracy • Constitutional Monarchy • King whose power is limited by a constitution • Republic • Leaders do not inherit positions but are chosen by the people • 2 types • Direct Democracy – people have the power to write laws & rule – established in Athens • Indirect or Representative Democracy – citizens elect lawmakers allowing citizens to hold power over the lawmakers – ex. United States

14. Citizens • Vote for national, state & local officials • Join political parties & interest groups to express views • Government is put in place by the people to serve the people

15. Paths to Citizenship • Birth – born in the U.S. boundaries including territories (jus soli – law of soil) or your parents are U.S. citizens (jus sanguinis – law of blood) • Only kids born of foreign diplomats that the US has no jurisdiction over are not considered U.S. citizens • Naturalization – process by which foreigners can become citizens

16. Other types of people in the U.S. • Alien – person from another country living in the U.S. who has not become a citizen – can be legal or illegal • Immigrant – people who permanently move to a new country • Dual Citizenship – a citizen of two countries

17. Illegal Aliens • People in the country without permission from the U.S. government • Cannot legally hold a job in the U.S. • Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) investigates cases – ICE today • Ceased to exist after 2003 w/ formation of Dept. of Homeland Security. Now part of the ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) • Major problems in Mexico today • Still pay taxes – sales tax, income, payroll, property

18. Illegal Aliens

19. Legal Aliens • Lives are similar to U.S. citizen • Must obey U.S. laws & pays taxes • Cannot vote in elections or run for office • Cannot work most government jobs or serve on a jury • Some eventually become U.S. citizens

20. Naturalization Process • Naturalization Process – where an alien becomes a U.S. citizen • Declaration of Intent – intends to become a U.S. citizen • Take citizenship classes • Take citizenship test – in English • Background check • Ceremony & Oath in court • All children of the naturalized citizen under 18 get automatic citizenship

21. Naturalization Activity • You will now be given a sample of questions that are on the naturalization test. • How many did you get right? • Oath of Allegiance • Remember you must give up your old allegiance to your former country

22. Restrictions on Immigration • Quota – the U.S. restricts the amount of immigrants that come into the country every year • Legal Immigration & Revision Act – 1990 • Increased the quota of immigrants allowed to enter the U.S. (about 675,000 per year) • Gave special considerations to those with needed job skills

23. Immigration to the US by Decade

25. School House Rock Clip • Class Discussion: • What does it mean that America is a melting pot? • Where did your ancestors come from? • What things in America have we adopted from immigrants?

26. The Melting Pot that is Our Country • Diversity • We live in a diverse society • We are a nation of immigrants • Changing Face of America • National Motto • E Pluribus Unum – Out of many we become one – shows our diversity • Slavery & segregation go against this concept

27. Nation of Immigrants

28. Other Important Civic Terms • Patriotism – love for one’s country • Nationalism – extreme devotion to one’s country – can give rise to feelings of abhorrence to other nationalities

29. Other Important Civic Terms Terrorism – using violence to achieve political goals

30. Other Important Civic Terms Federalism – system of divided power – different levels of government share power Ex: National, State & Local Presidential System – system like ours where the President is the leader Parliamentary System – system like the U.K. where the prime minister is the leader – this is the most common

31. Principles of American Democracy • Rule of Law • Everyone has to follow the rules • Limited Government • Government is limited by the people. WE decide how powerful it can get. • Consent of the Governed • Citizens = Power • Individual Rights • Government protects rights. Ex. Bill of Rights • Representative Government • We elect leaders to govern us and make laws