1. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THESE TWO CONCEPTS IN YOUR OWN WORDS?
Civics and Government
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THESE TWO CONCEPTS IN YOUR OWN WORDS?

2. Civics
Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizens and the functions and workings of the government.
It will also undoubtedly be the highlight of your school day and quite probably the highlight of your academic career!

3. Government
Government is the power or authority that rules a country.

4. Purposes of Government
There are four primary purposes of government:
To make and enforce laws
To provide services
To maintain order
To guide the community

5. Levels of Government
In the United States, there are three levels of government: local, state, and federal (national).

6. Highest Level of Governmental Authority
The federal (national) government has the highest level of authority.
This was established under the United States Constitution and upheld by various Supreme Court rulings.

7. Forms of Government The two basic forms of government are: Democracy
Authoritarianism

8. Democracy
Democracy is a form of government in which the people (citizens) hold the power to rule and make laws.
In a democracy, the people have the most political voice.

9. Types of Democracies There are three basic types of democracy:
Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy
Constitutional Monarchy

10. Direct Democracy
A direct democracy exists when eligible citizens participate directly in the decision making process.

11. Representative Democracy
A representative democracy exists when eligible citizens vote for individuals that will in-turn represent their interests in government.
This is the type of democracy that we have in the United States.

12. Constitutional Monarchy
Type of democracy with a hereditary ruler whose power is limited by the nation’s constitution and laws.

13. Authoritarianism
Form of government in which individual freedom is held as completely subordinate to the power or authority of the state.
Authoritarianism is centered either in one person or a small group that is not constitutionally accountable to the people. Citizens have the least political voice in an authoritarian system.

15. Related Terms
Absolute Monarchy, Dictatorship, and Totalitarianism are all terms that are closely associated with authoritarianism.

16. North Korea
We are going to examine the authoritarian state of North Korea.
We will read, discuss, and analyze a CultureGram that describes the history, society, and government of North Korea and then we will watch National Geographic’s Inside North Korea.