Introduction to American GovernmentChapter 1.1

• Making America safe for over 200 years…….sort of.

What is government?

• Government– An institution with the

power to make and enforce rules for a group of people

• But why do we need rules???

Driving in America…easy stuff, right?

Or in Europe?

What people do during driving????

Why???

Eventually, government has to do something about this.

• Cuyahoga County – Cleveland

– $1,000 fine first offense

– $5,000 fine and loss of license second offense

– Is Summit County next?

Government is a necessary evil

• Government works to make people’s lives safer and more secure.

– If we had no government, life would be “nasty, brutish, and short”.

» Thomas Hobbes

Government….what does it do?

• Establishes the rules and regulations that govern every day life within a state.

– State = All people (citizens) living in a political unit:

• Country• State• County• City• High school?

How does a government stay in power?

• Sovereignty– Citizens agree to give government absolute

authority to rule. • USA • France• UK• Russia

– What happens if citizens disagree with their governments?

American Revolution (1776-1781)

French Revolution (1789-1812)

Bolshevik Revolution in Russia (1917-1922)

Iraq??Should someone else be able to change your government

for you?