1. What is the Purpose of Government?
Harold Student Senior
Period 2
U.S. Government

2. How Much Power Should Government have
I believe the government should only have enough power to fulfill the promises of the preamble. The government protect our rights, guarantee we have our basic needs, protect us from ourselves, keep invaders out, and make sure that opportunity for freedom and prosperity is protected for our children. The government should only have power that we give it and limited to only what benefits us.

3. What are the contributions of Greece and Rome to the idea of Democracy?
According to the Romans and Greeks, government should only have power that the people give it. The Greeks wanted citizens to vote on issues and the Romans wanted their elected representatives should make decisions. Our founders believed the government should protect our rights and be have a separation so the would not abuse their power. The concept of indirect and direct democracy has contributed to our own form of government. We vote on laws and our elected representatives make decisions on our behalf as well. The Greeks and Romans have had a great influence on our government today.

4. Which enlightenment ideas have we adopted to ensure individual rights and limited government?
The Enlightenment wrote and believed in the following concepts which we have at the root of own democracy
Individual rights (natural rights)
Separation of powers (3 branches of government)
Freedom of speech and religion (Bill of Rights)
Women’s rights (Mary Wollstonecraft)
All of these Enlightenment concepts have been adopted into our own democracy

5. What are the dangers of a democracy?
People vote for the wrong leaders who are abusive of their power and are tyrannical
People change their votes, feelings, and attitudes very quickly and can be cause instability
The mob mentality can be dangerous.
Do people always know what is best for themselves?

6. What is the purpose of government?
I believe the purpose of government is to serve the people. The preamble spells out the purpose of our government and the government should do its best to fulfill those intentions. We want to be protected from ourselves and from foreign powers. We are a nation of laws and need a government who will apply those laws equally and fairly to all. The basic necessities of life should be protected and provided by the government. Also, our children and future generations should have a government that ensures all of these concepts. The elected officials must create a climate for those here today and those to come can have opportunities to be successful, healthy, and prosperous.