1. Hey! What do you know about this thing called
“the state” …?

2. The state? You mean like Alabama, Texas, Ohio, etc.?

3. No, no. I mean something bigger than that…

4. Well, let’s see what this lesson is all about
Well, let’s see what this lesson is all about. Maybe it’ll help you out…

5. The State of the State
OH! Cool…

6. The State a body of people, living in a defined space,
with the power to make and enforce laws without having to check with any higher authority,
and with an
organization to do this.

7. The State
You can tell from the definition that there are four key features of a state…
What are they?

8. Population Territory Sovereignty Government
living in a defined space,
a body of people,
Sovereignty
Government
and with an organization to do this.
with the power to make and enforce laws without having to check with any higher authority,

9. Population
That’s us!
Definition: People who are the members or citizens of a state
The size of the population doesn’t matter
Population has a big influence on the type of government chosen by the state:
Is the population rural or urban?
What do people do for jobs?
Do people get along or disagree on basic issues?

10. Territory Definition: the area in which a state’s rule applies
A state must have set boundaries, but they are not always agreed on.
Boundaries can change in three ways:
war – people win or lose territory
negotiation – people agree to trade territory
purchase – states can buy territory from other states

11. Where did the word “SOVEREIGNTY” come from?
WAIT!
Where did the word “SOVEREIGNTY” come from?

12. Sovereignty Don’t worry guys!
Remember the definition of “state”? It says, “…with the power to make and enforce laws without having to check with any higher authority…”?
Don’t worry guys!
“Sovereignty” is just a big word that means a state has the ability to rule within its border as it chooses…

13. Sovereignty
That’s SOVEREIGNTY!
Oh! Ok, cool…

14. Sovereignty
Definition: the ability to rule absolutely within a given territory
Because of sovereignty…
states can set their own foreign policy and agendas.
states are all equal in theory, but in reality that isn’t always the case.

15. Public policy is the laws and rules that affect the public!
That’s us!
Government
Definition: the organization that makes and enforces the laws
Government has many roles that all involve making public policy, but there are four main ways their governing affects the public…
Public policy is the laws and rules that affect the public!

16. That’s us!
Government
Definition: the organization that makes and enforces the laws
Government has many roles that all involve making public policy, but there are four main ways their governing affects the public…
Keeping Order
Protecting the Country
Providing Services
Making Economic Decisions

17. Keeping Order Roles of Government
Making and enforcing laws is all a part of keeping order in society
Structures like the police force and court system are in place to enforce the laws and settle disputes

18. Protecting the Country
Roles of Government
Protecting the Country
The government is responsible for defending the territory of the state
Security organizations like the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense are established to protect citizens

19. Protecting the Country
Roles of Government
Protecting the Country
The government is responsible for defending the territory of the state
Security organizations like the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense are established to protect citizens
Treaties and alliances are formed with other countries to help keep our citizens safe

20. Providing Services Roles of Government
The government is responsible for providing basic services…
Postal Service
Libraries
Road Repair
Garbage Collection
Schools
Bridge Building

21. Providing Services Roles of Government
The government is responsible for providing basic services…
Programs for people who need help:
help buying food
welfare
medical services
Programs to keep people safe:
medicine
food
buildings

22. Making Economic Decisions
Roles of Government
Making Economic Decisions
The government makes decisions every day about how it spends money
The government also makes decisions about how our economy is going to function
Most public policy set by the government has to do with how money is spent!!

23. So by that definition of state…
…the United States is just one big state!

24. Is the United States just one big state?
Figure It Out!
Is the United States just one big state?
Does it have a population?
YES NO
Does it have a territory?
YES NO
Does it have sovereignty?
YES NO
Does it have government?
YES NO

25. What about “states” like Connecticut or Georgia? Are they states?
Figure It Out!
What about “states” like Connecticut or Georgia? Are they states?
Do they have a population?
YES NO
Do they have a territory?
YES NO
Do they have sovereignty?
YES NO
Do they have government?
YES NO

26. They can’t make laws that go against the U.S. Constitution…
They have a higher authority above them!

27. Oops! I forgot. What four things does the government do?
Figure It Out!
Oops! I forgot. What four things does the government do?
Keeps _________
ORDER
Protects the __________
COUNTRY
Provides ___________
SERVICES
Makes___________ decisions
ECONOMIC

28. Let’s take a mini-quiz, kiddos, and see what you learned!

29. If there are less than 30,000 people it can’t be considered a state.
THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
If there are less than 30,000 people it can’t be considered a state.

30. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
Monaco has only 27,000 people!
Size doesn’t matter!

31. The boundaries of a territory can change.
THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
The boundaries of a territory can change.

32. Can you name the three ways that boundaries change?
THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
Can you name the three ways that boundaries change?

33. Sovereignty means that you have to check with someone above you.
THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
Sovereignty means that you have to check with someone above you.

34. Sovereignty means there is NO ONE above you!
THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
Just the opposite!
Sovereignty means there is NO ONE above you!

35. Government only exists to keep order and provide security.
THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
Government only exists to keep order and provide security.

36. What are the four roles that governments have?
THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
What are the four roles that governments have?

37. THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
The 50 states that make up the USA are not considered independent states internationally.

38. That’s right! They don’t have full sovereignty!
THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN
That’s right! They don’t have full sovereignty!

39. Thanks for all your help!
Great job, kiddos!
Thanks for all your help!