Government of the People, by the People, for the People Chapter one section one Pages 6-12

Government of the People, Government of the People, by the People, for the Peopleby the People, for the People

Chapter one section oneChapter one section one

Pages 6-12Pages 6-12

What is Civics?What is Civics?

CivicsCivics is the study of the rights and duties is the study of the rights and duties of citizens. of citizens.

In ancient Greece and Rome, only men In ancient Greece and Rome, only men with property could be citizenswith property could be citizens


Today, most people are citizens of the Today, most people are citizens of the country where they live.country where they live.

Citizens have rights and responsibilities.Citizens have rights and responsibilities.

Citizens agree to accept the government’s Citizens agree to accept the government’s authority and follow its rules.authority and follow its rules.


WHAT IS CIVICS?WHAT IS CIVICS?

CIVICS IS THE STUDY OF THE RIGHTS CIVICS IS THE STUDY OF THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CITIZENS.AND DUTIES OF CITIZENS.

The Need for GovernmentThe Need for Government

A A governmentgovernment is the ruling authority for a is the ruling authority for a community.community.

It has the power to make and enforce laws It has the power to make and enforce laws for its members. for its members.


Thomas Hobbes claimed that without Thomas Hobbes claimed that without government, human beings would government, human beings would compete for territory, resources, and compete for territory, resources, and power. power.

Fighting would be common, and survival Fighting would be common, and survival would depend on strength and cunning.would depend on strength and cunning.


Government can make it possible for Government can make it possible for people to live together peacefully and people to live together peacefully and productively.productively.


HOW CAN GOVERNMENT MAKE IT HOW CAN GOVERNMENT MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE TOGETHER PEACEFULLY AND TOGETHER PEACEFULLY AND PRODUCTIVELY?PRODUCTIVELY?

Government has the power to make and Government has the power to make and enforce laws. It sets the rules that keep a enforce laws. It sets the rules that keep a community from becoming a chaotic free-community from becoming a chaotic free-for-all.for-all.

The Functions of GovernmentThe Functions of Government

Governments keep order and provide Governments keep order and provide security.security.

They make laws to help prevent conflicts They make laws to help prevent conflicts among people and to settle conflicts that among people and to settle conflicts that do arise.do arise.

They set up armed forces and agencies to They set up armed forces and agencies to defend citizens and their land from defend citizens and their land from enemies.enemies.


Governments provide services that would Governments provide services that would not be available without cooperation and not be available without cooperation and coordination.coordination.

They provide services to keep the public They provide services to keep the public healthy and safe.healthy and safe.

They also give help to need people.They also give help to need people.


Governments guide the community.Governments guide the community.

They set They set public policypublic policy, or a course of , or a course of government action to achieve community government action to achieve community goals.goals.

They make public policy when they pass They make public policy when they pass laws to reach a public policy goal.laws to reach a public policy goal.


Governments create a budget, or a plan Governments create a budget, or a plan for collecting and spending money, as a for collecting and spending money, as a part of policy decisions.part of policy decisions.

Governments develop relations with the Governments develop relations with the community’s neighbors and other community’s neighbors and other outsiders for the benefit of all.outsiders for the benefit of all.


WHAT ARE SOME KEY FUNCTIONS OF WHAT ARE SOME KEY FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT?GOVERNMENT?

Governments help to keep order and provide Governments help to keep order and provide security. They provide services that would not security. They provide services that would not be available without cooperation and be available without cooperation and coordination. They guide the community by coordination. They guide the community by setting public policy, formulating budgets, and setting public policy, formulating budgets, and developing relations with the community’s developing relations with the community’s neighbors and other outsiders.neighbors and other outsiders.

Levels of GovernmentLevels of Government

Many Levels of government may exist Many Levels of government may exist within a country.within a country.

The highest level in the United States is The highest level in the United States is the national government, centered in the the national government, centered in the capital, Washington D.C.capital, Washington D.C.

It makes laws for the entire country.It makes laws for the entire country.


State governments make laws for the State governments make laws for the people of their states. people of their states.

Local governments include counties, Local governments include counties, cities, and towns.cities, and towns.

State and local governments cannot take State and local governments cannot take actions that go against laws and authority actions that go against laws and authority of the national government.of the national government.


NAME THE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, NAME THE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, FROM THE BROADEST LEVEL OF FROM THE BROADEST LEVEL OF AUTHORITY TO THE NARROWEST.AUTHORITY TO THE NARROWEST.

The national government has the broadest The national government has the broadest level of authority, followed by state and level of authority, followed by state and local governments. Governing bodies of local governments. Governing bodies of organizations are the narrowest level of organizations are the narrowest level of those discussed.those discussed.

Democratic GovernmentDemocratic Government

A A dictatorshipdictatorship is a government controlled is a government controlled by one person or a small group.by one person or a small group.

The United States government is a The United States government is a democracydemocracy, a government in which the , a government in which the people rule.people rule.

In a democracy, all citizens share in In a democracy, all citizens share in governing and being governed. governing and being governed.


Democracy began in ancient Athens.Democracy began in ancient Athens.

Athens had a Athens had a direct democracy—direct democracy—all all citizens met to debate government matters citizens met to debate government matters and vote firsthand.and vote firsthand.

Large populations make direct democracy Large populations make direct democracy impractical for most countries today.impractical for most countries today.


Citizens instead choose a smaller group to Citizens instead choose a smaller group to represent them, make laws, and govern on represent them, make laws, and govern on their behalf.their behalf.

This is a This is a representative democracyrepresentative democracy..


Democracies have free and open Democracies have free and open elections.elections.

Everyone’s vote carries the same weight, Everyone’s vote carries the same weight, or “one person, one vote.”or “one person, one vote.”

All candidates have the right to express All candidates have the right to express their views freely.their views freely.


Legal requirements for voting are kept to a Legal requirements for voting are kept to a minimum.minimum.

Citizens may vote freely by secret ballot, Citizens may vote freely by secret ballot, without fear of punishment.without fear of punishment.


Citizens agree that when differences of Citizens agree that when differences of opinion arise, we will abide by what most opinion arise, we will abide by what most people want.people want.

This is the principle of This is the principle of majority rulemajority rule..

At the same time, we must respect the At the same time, we must respect the rights of those in the minority.rights of those in the minority.


WHAT ARE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL WHAT ARE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY?PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY?Five fundamental principles of American Five fundamental principles of American democracy are (1) rule of law—all people are democracy are (1) rule of law—all people are bound by law, (2) limited government—bound by law, (2) limited government—government may do only what the people give it government may do only what the people give it the power to do, (3) consent of the governed—the power to do, (3) consent of the governed—citizens are the source of government power, (4) citizens are the source of government power, (4) democracy—the people rule, and (5) democracy—the people rule, and (5) representative government—people elect their representative government—people elect their leaders. leaders.

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Government of the People, by the People, for the People Chapter one section one Pages 6-12