Government of the People, by the People, for the People Chapter one section one Pages 6-12

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

What is Civics? 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.

What is Civics? WHAT IS CIVICS? CIVICS IS THE STUDY OF THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF CITIZENS.

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.

The Need for Government 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.

The Need for Government Government can make it possible for people to live together peacefully and productively.

The Need for Government HOW CAN GOVERNMENT MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE TOGETHER PEACEFULLY AND PRODUCTIVELY? Government has the power to make and enforce laws. It sets the rules that keep a community from becoming a chaotic free-for-all.

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 need 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.

The Functions of Government WHAT ARE SOME KEY FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT? Governments help to keep order and provide security. They provide services that would not be available without cooperation and coordination. They guide the community by setting public policy, formulating budgets, and developing relations with the community’s neighbors and other outsiders.

Levels of Government Many Levels of government may exist within a country. The highest level in the United States is the national government, centered in the capital, Washington D.C. It makes laws for the entire country.

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

Levels of Government NAME THE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, FROM THE BROADEST LEVEL OF AUTHORITY TO THE NARROWEST. The national government has the broadest level of authority, followed by state and local governments. Governing bodies of organizations are the narrowest level of those discussed.

Democratic Government A dictatorship is a government controlled by one person or a small group. The United States government 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. Large populations make direct democracy impractical for most countries today.

Democratic Government Citizens instead choose a smaller group to represent them, make laws, and govern on their behalf. This is a representative democracy.

Democratic Government Democracies have free and open elections. Everyone’s vote carries the same weight, or “one person, one vote.” All candidates have the right to express their views freely.

Democratic Government Legal requirements for voting are kept to a minimum. Citizens may vote freely by secret ballot, without fear of punishment.

Democratic Government 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.

Democratic Government WHAT ARE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY? Five fundamental principles of American democracy are (1) rule of law—all people are bound by law, (2) limited government—government may do only what the people give it the power to do, (3) consent of the governed—citizens are the source of government power, (4) democracy—the people rule, and (5) representative government—people elect their leaders.