1. Introductory Thoughts 8/24-8/25
Government in America
Introductory Thoughts
8/24-8/25

3. Agenda Handout vocab list (quiz on 8/30 – 9/1) Warmup
Put names on vocab quiz answer sheets
Warmup
PowerPoint with notes (Chapter 1, Lesson 1 & 2)
Activity

4. Warmup – quick write What is “government”? What is its function?
What type of government do we live with here in the United States? What other types of government do you know about?

5. Nation-State
A political community claiming authority (sovereignty) over a specific territory.
Requires:
People--citizens
Defined territory (borders/boundaries)
Government able to make and enforce laws
May vary in…
Population, land area
Ethnicity, language, religion, etc.
Types of government

6. Government
The people and organizations that have the power and authority to make policies (decisions) for a community, state, or nation.

7. How should we govern?

8. What should governments do?
Defend people and their property
Preserve order
Provide public services
Provide economic security/assistance
4 functions of government

9. What should governments do?
Provide public services
Education
Roads and highways
Trash collection
Medical care
Parks and recreation
Welfare
Others

10. 4 essential features of a state
Population (no governing without people)
Territory = recognizable borders
Sovereignty = supreme and absolute authority within its borders
Government = someone in charge

11. Democratic Policymaking
Organizing government to respond to the public’s preferences.
This leads to…
The six items are hyperlinked to their own slide. A return button is also on the slide.
Figure 1.3

12. Politics
Selecting our government leaders and influencing the decisions they make.
Deciding…. Who gets what, when and how.
Implementing public policies—a course of action…
Expenditures, taxes, or tax cuts for specific groups
New laws or regulations
“Non-decisions”

13. 4 Theories of the state Force Theory
The strongest leaders take control and use violence/the threat of violence to control their own people.
Evolutionary Theory The head of the family is the authority. Extended families needed more organization. Some cultures are still governed by family and clan traditions.

14. 4 Theories of the state Divine Right
Mayan king
Chinese emperor
Egyptian pharaoh
Aztec king
Divine Right
The origin of divine right is very old. Cultures from all over the world believed their rulers were descendants of the gods, and therefore had the only legitimate right to rule. BUT…

15. Divine Right
The divine right theory of government came from European rulers during the 17th and 18th centuries (1600s and 1700s)
Their right to rule came from God and to oppose their rule was a sin against God and the state

16. Social Contract Theory smackdown
Thomas Hobbes
John Locke

17. Social Contract Theory smackdown
Hobbes = people surrender their freedom to the state, and in return, they receive order and security
Locke = people have natural rights and the social contract is made between people and their government to protect these rights
Which philosopher do you think shaped the development of our government?

18. The winner!
The winner = John Locke!

19. Systems of Government
Unitary System = all powers to the central government
The state/local governments only have powers that the central government gives them
Advantage = constant (uniform) laws, national sense of unity
Disadvantage = lack of power balance, slow to react, lack of representation among the citizens

20. Systems of Government
Confederate System = a loose union of independent states
Advantage = strong state powers
Disadvantage = weak central government (Articles of Confederation)

21. Systems of Government
Federal system = a division of power between the national and state governments
Advantage = sharing of power between the two governments but still has a stronger central government
Disadvantage = each level of government can make its own laws

22. Constitutional government
Constitution = a plan that provides rules for government
1) writes out ideals that people share
2) establishes basic structure of government, their powers and duties
3) provides the supreme law of the country
A constitutional government is a limited government in which the constitution places limits on the powers of the people/institutions in charge

23. Remember those types of government you thought of during your warmup?

24. Authoritarian
Authoritarian governments have leadership that controls all aspects of its citizens’ economic and social lives (also called totalitarian governments)
Adolph Hitler
Joseph Stalin
Kim Jong Un

25. Dictatorship
A dictatorship is a government where one person holds power and has total control
Romanian dictator Ceauşescu
Cambodian dictator Pol Pot

26. Democracy
A democracy is a system of government that is ruled directly by the people or through representatives
Which one do we have here in the US?
A representative democracy!

27. Direct vs. Representative Democracy
A direct democracy is a democracy where the people cast a vote directly on government issues and laws
A representative democracy is one where the people elect representatives to make laws and conduct government affairs (most efficient way)

28. Republic?
But, what’s this I keep hearing about America being a republic?
We are.
We have a representative democracy that does not have a monarch in charge
Great Britain has Queen Elizabeth as the head of state but the people have a representative democracy, so they are NOT a republic

29. Monarchy Queen Elizabeth II
A monarchy is a form of government in which one person (a king or queen) has power
Most monarchies now are constitutional monarchies (they have a ruler but that ruler is limited by a constitution or they are ceremonial figures)
Queen Elizabeth II

30. Your turn!
With a partner, please rank the principles of democracy in the order that YOU think is important
We will discuss as a class after 10 minutes

31. Activity! Group A = democracy Group B = dictatorship
Using the butcher paper and markers, you and your group will create a large, attractive poster about one of the different types of government
Please include:
Title
Definition
Pictures to describe the government (people, charts, diagrams, etc.)
List any significant leaders (past or present)
List nations that have this type of government
Anything creative you can think of!
Group A = democracy
Group B = dictatorship
Group C = monarchy
Group D = authoritarian
Group E = totalitarian
Group F = republic

32. Exit Ticket
On the Exit Ticket sheet, write down 2 things that you learned today and 1 question you still have about the material