Functions of Government Defining Features

Directions Use pgs. 2.12-16 in your notebook. Fold your paper in ½. Copy the slides in the left column Write your questions, connections and answers to the questions in the right column. Complete a summary at the end of the powerpoint

Defining Activities There are things that all governments and governance structures must be able to accomplish. These exist at all levels; your family, your social group, your classrooms and school, the state and the country. Failure to do any of these activities will result in a government being fragile and susceptible to being overthrown or the citizens’ security and prosperity threatened at least.

1. Border Security What: Ability to regulate who and what comes in and out of a territory. Why: Border security must exist to ensure people feel safe and so they can prosper. Regulating who comes in and out is important to prevent the resources of a territory from being depleted, harmful people and goods from endangering the population and to prevent the government from being overthrown due to invasion.

1. Border Security National & International: guns going into Mexico have created a crisis where people are unsafe and prosperity is unattainable. The same with the drugs that come from Mexico to the U.S. create violence due to the gangs that battle for distribution territory and the desperation that often results in theft to obtain the drugs.

1. Border Security Classroom: You have all been in classes that are out of control. Students coming in and out as they please and students who do not belong in the class and are not there to learn. This can be very disruptive to the function of learning if the teacher is unable to enforce border security or if they must devote the majority of their time to it.

2. Rule of Law What: The ability to make rules and enforce those rules. Why: Government must have the authority and power to regulate the behavior of the citizens for the greater good.

2. Rule of Law National & International: Countries that are unable to enforce the rule of law may be due to a lack of people, organizations or training. It may be due to corruption which creates a multi-tier citizenry with some having to abide by the rules and some above the rules. Lastly it may be that citizens have revoked their consent to be governed.

2. Rule of Law Classroom: You give a relevant example

3. Means of Exchange What: Existence of an economy where goods and services are produced and exchanged so people have the opportunity to satisfy their basic needs and accumulate wealth. Why: When economies do not function or when many people are left out of the economic activity, you have people who live in poverty, hunger and will not support the government and steal from those who are more economically successful

3. Means of Exchange National/International: The Arab Spring began because of a lack of economic opportunity within Tunisia man to self-immolate out of desperation that spurred protests and caused the overthrow of the Tunisian Government.

3. Means of Exchange Classroom: You give a relevant example

4. System of Justice What: The ability for the government to administer consequences that act as a deterrent to violating the rule of law. Why: If people know there will be no consequences for breaking rules and violating social norms, many people will do so. This creates instability where some gain advantage because they don’t feel the need to uphold the standards of society.

4. System of Justice National/International: Taking someone’s life is illegal, yet in many people’s opinions George Zimmerman was acting in self defense when he shot Trayvon Martin. Since the precedent for self-defense was set, how many more people will make the self-defense claim in Florida to get away with killing someone?

4. System of Justice Classroom: You give a relevant example

Implications Failure for a government to do any or all of these 4 features will result in domestic instability. Countries unable to provide the 4 features are often labeled as Fragile or Failed States. They are vulnerable to domestic unrest leading to an overthrow of the government or invasion from a stronger state.

Classroom Application Do you think we in S-13 are a fragile state? Explain your opinion using the 4 Functions of Government.

Summary Write a reflection on what you learned and what ideas and connections you thought about while taking the notes. Find & print an article on a country, state or city working to provide one of the 4 defining functions of government. Summarize the article and explain how it illustrates one of the defining functions of government on section 2 page 17.