1.  Taxes

2.  It’s important to participate in govt o We help to support the govt by paying taxes o Receive services as a result Property TaxTax on real estate Corporate Income Tax Tax on the profits of businesses Personal Income Tax Tax on individual earnings Sales TaxTax on sale of most goods & services Estate TaxTax on estate of someone who died Excise TaxTax on production or sale of certain goods & services (beer/wine, gas, cigs, pop…)

3.  States gain revenue ($) from people in other ways o Fines, licenses, permits, user fees, disposal fees (leaving trash)  States also get money from federal government o Usually grants that don’t have to be repaid  Intergovernmental revenue - money from local, state, & government sources

4.  Benefits: o Self-determination: people can work for & live the lives they want o Ability to make choices: Political choices & political activism Economic choices – determine socioeconomic status Legal choices – to obey the law & take legal action o Justice  Consequences: o “Freedom is not free” o Accountability & responsibility

5.  Citizens can affect public policy by being active in government & being informed o Voting o Local initiative – begin a movement to pass a law Petition o Referendum – form of initiative; having the people vote on a law o Recall elections – way to remove elected officials if people are not satisfied

6.  An informed citizenry is important to democracy  People need to know the law – “Ignorance of the law is no excuse”  Ways to be/keep informed: o Town meetings – any meeting of a local/municipal body o Public forums o Public hearings