Government of the People, by the People, and for the People

What is Civics? Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizens. In ancient Greece and Rome, only men with property could be citizens Today, most people are citizens of the country where they live. Citizens have rights and responsibilities: Citizens agree to accept the government’s authority and follow its rules.

The Need for Government A government is the ruling authority for a community. It has the power to make and enforce laws for its members. Thomas Hobbes claimed that without government, human beings would compete for territory, resources, and power. Fighting would be common, and survival would depend on strength and cunning. Government can make it possible for people to live together peacefully and productively.

The Functions of Government Governments keep order and provide security. They make laws to help prevent conflicts among people and to settle conflicts that do arise. They set up armed forces and agencies to defend citizens and their land from enemies.

The Functions of Government Governments provide services that would not be available without cooperation and coordination. They provide services to keep the public healthy and safe. They also give help to needy people.

The Functions of Government Governments guide the community. They set public policy, or a course of government action to achieve community goals. They make public policy when they pass laws to reach a public policy goal.

The Functions of Government Governments create a budget, or a plan for collecting and spending money, as a part of policy decisions. Governments develop relations with the community’s neighbors and other outsiders for the benefit of all.

Levels of Government Many levels of government may exist within a country. The highest level in the Unites States is the national government, centered in the capital, Washington, D.C. It makes laws for the entire country. State governments make laws for the people of their states.

Levels of Government Local governments include counties, cities, and towns. State and local governments cannot take actions that go against laws and authority of the national government.

Democratic Government A dictatorship is a government controlled by one person or a small group. The United States is a democracy, a government in which the people rule. In a democracy, all citizens share in governing and being governed.

Democratic Government Democracy began in ancient Athens. Athens had a direct democracy-all citizens met to debate government matters and vote firsthand.

Democratic Government Large populations make direct democracy impractical for most countries today. Citizens instead choose a smaller group to represent them, make laws, and govern on their behalf. This is a representative democracy. Democracies have free and open elections.

Democratic Government Everyone’s vote carries the same weight, or “one person, one vote.” All candidates have the right to express their views freely. Legal requirements for voting are kept to a minimum.

Democratic Government Citizens may vote freely by secret ballot, without fear of punishment. Citizens agree that when differences of opinion arise, we will abide by what most people want. This is the principle of majority rule. At the same time, we must respect the rights of those in the minority.