Functions of Government Defining Activities Jennifer Osorio Banning High, Los Angeles USD USC CALIS Teacher Associate Presentation for Constitution Day 2014

Directions 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 Do the current event assignment at the end of the presentation

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. Functions of Government

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. Functions of Government Defining Activities

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. 1. Border Security

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. Functions of Government Defining Activities 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.

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

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 Functions of Government Defining Activities 3. Means of Exchange

National/International: The Arab Spring began because of a lack of economic opportunity within Tunisia and provoked a 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 3. Means of Exchange

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 Functions of Government Defining Activities

National/International: Murder is illegal, yet in many people’s opinions Trayvon Martin was murdered by George Zimmerman. Since this precedent was set, how many more people will make the self-defense claim in Florida to get away with murder? 4. System of Justice

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

Implications Failure for a government to do any or all of these 4 functions will result in domestic instability. Countries unable to provide the 4 functions 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.

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

Functions of Government Developed by Steven Lamy, Professor of International Relations School of International Relations, USC Defining Activities Accumulation of Wealth Redistribution to function: a. border security b. rule of law (law & order) c. means of exchange to prosper: a. build infrastructure b. exploit resources c. promote economic development to sustain growth & stability: a. promote equity and equal opportunity - e.g. public education, college loans b. assist the disadvantaged - e.g. safety nets: welfare assistance, unemployment insurance

Good Governance Developed by Steven Lamy, Professor of International Relations School of International Relations, USC In the general sense: when a government is responsive to the needs of its people or when it maximizes benefits for the most people or when it assures that no one is unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged In specific ways: ► democracy  people can bring forth demands and hold govt to account ► respect for human rights  people do not fear reprisal for dissent ► rule of law  accountability for rogue police or militias, corrupt officials ► transparency  openness to prevent or at least decrease corruption