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Chapter Introduction

Section 1: The Diversity of Americans

Section 2: Who Are America’s Citizens?

Section 3: Government and the People

Visual Summary

Chapter Intro 1

Our Declaration of Independence proclaims that “all men are created equal.” This does not mean that everyone is born with the same wealth, intelligence, strength, or ambition. Each one of us has a unique combination of qualities and characteristics. The words of the Declaration mean that all people should have equal rights, which is the cornerstone of the democratic ideal.

Chapter Intro 2

Section 1: The Diversity of Americans

As American citizens, we make a commitment to the nation and to the values and principles that are part of United States democracy. In addition to the common values and civic unity, the United States benefits from its rich diversity.

Chapter Intro 2

Section 2: Who Are America’s Citizens?

Citizens possess certain rights. With citizenship, there are also certain responsibilities expected of all Americans. In the United States, there are two ways to become a citizen: by birth and by a process called naturalization.

Chapter Intro 2

Section 3: Government and the People

People form governments to establish order, provide security, and accomplish common goals. Democratic governments perform necessary functions so citizens can live together peacefully.

Section 1-Main Idea

Guide to Reading

Big Idea

As American citizens, we make a commitment to the nation and to the values and principles that are part of United States democracy.

Section 1-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

Content Vocabulary

• civics

• citizenship

• citizen

• service economy

• value

• popular sovereignty

• institution

Section 1-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

Academic Vocabulary

• diverse

• ethnic

• principle

Section 1

What is Civics?

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

Section 1

What is Civics? (cont.)

• Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizens.

• Changes in citizenship requirements

Section 1

What is Civics? (cont.)

• Rights and duties of citizens:

– Owe loyalty to the government

– Entitled to protection from the government

• Citizens as part of a country

Section 1

A Changing Society

American society has undergone many changes in the past, and these changes continue today.

Section 1

A Changing Society (cont.)

• The United States is a nation of immigrants.

• Immigration from Europe:

– Early immigration

– After American independence

– From southern and eastern Europe

U.S. Foreign-Born Population, 1850–2005

Section 1

A Changing Society (cont.)

• Changes in immigration patterns:

– Latin America

– Asia

• African immigrants brought by force

Section 1

A Changing Society (cont.)

• Ethnic diversity:

– Whites of European descent

– African Americans

– Asians and Pacific Islanders

– Native Americans

– Latinos

United States Immigration, 2004

Section 1

A Changing Society (cont.)

• Religious diversity:

– Christians

– Jews

– Muslims

– Buddhists

– Other religious groups

Section 1

A Changing Society (cont.)

• Population growth and change today:

– Birthrate

– Service Economy

– Increasing population in the South and West

Section 1

A Changing Society (cont.)

– Rising age of citizens

– Increasing levels of education

– Growing Latino population

Section 1

American Values and Institutions

Americans share key values, and these values are reflected in the important institutions of American life.

Section 1

American Values and Institutions (cont.)

• Values are broad ideas about what is good or desirable that are shared by people in a society.

Section 1

• Basic American values

American Values and Institutions (cont.)

• Values uniting Americans:

– The country’s founding documents

– The English language as a source of unity

– Belief in popular sovereignty

Section 1

• Role of major American institutions:

– The family

– Religious institutions

– Educational institutions

– Social institutions

– Governmental institutions

American Values and Institutions (cont.)

Section 2-Main Idea

Guide to Reading

Big Idea

Citizens possess certain rights. With citizenship, Americans also have certain responsibilities.

Section 2-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

Content Vocabulary

• naturalization

• alien

• immigrant

• deport

Academic Vocabulary

• deny

• obtain

• priority

Section 2

Path to Citizenship

In the United States, there are two ways to become a citizen: by birth and by a process called naturalization.

Section 2

Path to Citizenship (cont.)

• There are two ways to become an American citizen:

– Birth

– Naturalization

• Dual citizenship for Americans

Section 2

Path to Citizenship (cont.)

• The naturalization process for aliens:

– Declaration of Intention

– Living in the United States

– Interview and citizenship exam

– Oath of allegiance

• Native Americans as citizens

Section 2

Path to Citizenship (cont.)

• Denying and losing citizenship:

– Improperly obtained citizenship

– Expatriation

– Federal crimes involving extreme disloyalty

Section 2

Aliens in America

Even though the United States controls the admission of aliens to this country, each year millions of people enter America illegally.

Section 2

Aliens in America (cont.)

• There are restrictions on the number of immigrants who can enter the United States.

• Immigration Act of 1990

Section 2

Aliens in America (cont.)

• Aliens living in the United States illegally:

– Temporary visitors

– Crossing borders

– Foreigners with expired legal permits

– Many fear being deported

Section 2

Aliens in America (cont.)

• The United States Border Patrol:

• Different categories of legal aliens:

– Resident aliens

– Nonresident aliens

– Refugees

• Rights of aliens

Section 3-Main Idea

Guide to Reading

Big Idea

People form governments to establish order, provide security, and accomplish common goals.

Section 3-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

Content Vocabulary

• government

• public policy

• budget

• democracy

• direct democracy

• representative democracy

• republic

• monarchy

• majority rule

• authoritarian

• totalitarian

Section 3-Key Terms

Guide to Reading

Academic Vocabulary

• community

• enforce

• constrain

Section 3

The Need for Government

The different levels of government provide many different services.

Section 3

The Need for Government (cont.)

• Government is the ruling authority for a community, or society.

• Functions of government:

– Keep order

– Provide security

Functions of Government

Section 3

The Need for Government (cont.)

– Provide services

– Guide the community

• Formulate public policy

• Plan and budget

Functions of Government

Section 3

The Need for Government (cont.)

• Levels of government:

– National

– State and local

Section 3

Types of Government

The people are the ultimate rulers of democratic countries, while in totalitarian states, a single person or small group holds all the power.

Section 3

Types of Government (cont.)

• Democratic government

– Direct democracy

– Representative democracy or republic

– Constitutional monarchy

• Types of democracy:

Section 3

Types of Government (cont.)

• Principles of democracy:

– Rule of law

– Limited government

– Consent of the governed

Principles of American Democracy

Section 3

Types of Government (cont.)

– Individual rights

– Representative government

– Majority rule

Principles of American Democracy

Section 3

Types of Government (cont.)

• Authoritarian government

– Absolute monarchy

– Dictatorship

– Totalitarianism

Comparing Democratic and Authoritarian Systems

VS 1

The American People

• Because of its heritage, the United States is often called “a nation of immigrants.”

• Until the mid-1900s, most immigrants came from Europe.

• Latin America now accounts for the largest share of immigrants to the United States.

• The United States is a diverse nation, reflecting the values of many groups.

VS 2

American Values and Institutions

• Values are ideas about what is good or desirable that are shared by people in a society.

• Our basic values include freedom, equality, opportunity, justice, and tolerance.

• Every society has institutions that help it transmit its values.

• Important American institutions are the family, religious, educational, social, and governmental institutions.

VS 3

Citizenship

• According to the U.S. Constitution, people can become American citizens by birth and through naturalization.

• Millions of illegal aliens live in the United States. Legal aliens have entered the country lawfully.

VS 4

Government

• People need governments to make and enforce laws and to help us meet our needs. The purposes of government include the following:

• Providing order and security

• Providing public services

• Guiding the community

VS 4

Government

• Although all governments carry out the same basic functions, there are differences in the ways governments can be organized.

• The main types of government are democratic government and authoritarian government.

• In a democracy, the supreme political authority rests with the people.

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Figure 5

TIME Trans

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DFS Trans 3

Vocab1

civics

the study of the rights and duties of citizens

Vocab2

citizenship

rights and duties of members of a state

Vocab3

citizens

community members who owe loyalty to the government and are entitled to protection from it

Vocab4

service economy

where the majority of people earn their living by providing a service rather than manufacturing a product

Vocab5

value

the general principles of beliefs people use to make judgments and decisions

Vocab6

popular sovereignty

the notion that power lies with the people

Vocab7

institution

sets of ideas that people have about relationships, obligations, roles and functions of society

Vocab8

diverse

differing from one another

Vocab9

ethnic

relating to races or groups of people who share common traits and customs

Vocab10

principle 

a rule of conduct or belief

Vocab11

naturalization

a legal process to obtain citizenship

Vocab12

alien

a noncitizen

Vocab13

immigrant

a person who moves permanently to a new country

Vocab14

deport

to send an alien or immigrant back to his or her own country

Vocab15

deny

refusal to grant, agree, or believe

Vocab16

obtain

to gain or acquire

Vocab17

priority

something that is given more attention or importance

Vocab18

government

the ruling authority for a community

Vocab19

public policy

the course of action the government takes in response to an issue or problem

Vocab20

budget

a plan for making and spending money

Vocab21

democracy

a government in which citizens hold the power to rule

Vocab22

direct democracy

a form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand

Vocab23

representative democracy

a government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf

Vocab24

republic

a representative democracy where citizens choose their lawmakers

Vocab25

monarchy

a government with a hereditary, single leader

Vocab26

majority rule

political principle providing that a majority of the members of a community has the power to make laws binding upon all the people

Vocab27

authoritarian

a government in which one leader or group of people holds absolute power

Vocab28

totalitarian

a system in which government control extends to almost all aspects of people’s lives

Vocab29

community

a group of people who share the same interests and concerns

Vocab30

enforce

to carry out by force or ensure compliance

Vocab31

constrain

to force, limit, or hold back