1. What is GOVERNMENT?

2. BRAINSTORM With a partner, provide a list of 20 BINDING DECISIONS that the U.S. government makes for you & I…

3. WHAT IS GOVERNMENT? “WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?” LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC POLICY LEGISLATORS LEGISLATIVE – create PUBLIC POLICY (LEGISLATORS) EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATORS EXECUTIVE – enforce/execute public policy (ADMINISTRATORS) JUDICIAL JUDGES JUDICIAL – interpret and apply public policy, RESOLVE DISPUTES! (JUDGES) IN THE U.S., WHAT INSTITUTIONS EXERCISE THESE POWERS? “IN THE U.S., WHAT INSTITUTIONS EXERCISE THESE POWERS?” (list) WHAT IS WHAT DOESTHREE BASIC POWERS To determine WHAT government IS, one must start with WHAT a government DOES… (THREE BASIC POWERS)

4. WHAT IS GOVERNMENT? “WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?” Basic Definition PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTION THAT EXERCISES LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY OVER SOCIETY ‘…an institution entrusted with making & enforcing the rules (PUBLIC POLICY) of a society as well as with regulating relations with other societies.’ – INSTITUTION THAT EXERCISES LEGITIMATE (?) AUTHORITY OVER SOCIETY!

5. GOVERNMENT IN SOCIETY? “…the role of GOVERNMENT IN SOCIETY?” GOVT INSTITUTIONS DETERMINE ENFORCE GOVT: ‘Provides society with INSTITUTIONS that DETERMINE & ENFORCE public policy!’ Should GOVT SHAPE PUBLIC POLICY Should GOVT: SHAPE PUBLIC POLICY? …benefit of society? Should GOVT KEEP ORDER Should GOVT: KEEP ORDER? …protect residents? Should GOVT EXTERNAL THREATS Should GOVT: Protect from EXTERNAL THREATS? * ‘Help’ residents? (ideological) WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GOVT? “WHAT IS THE ROLE OF GOVT?” (think powers)

6. STATE vs. NATION, NATION-STATE & COUNTRY What is the difference? “What is the difference?” FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF A STATE! GROUP OF SIMILAR PEOPLE GROUP OF SIMILAR PEOPLE WITH THEIR OWN STATE GROUPS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE UNDER ONE STATE

7. IS THAT A STATE? United States United States ? Ohio Indiana Ohio ? Indiana ? Canada Iraq Canada ? Iraq ? United Nations United Nations ? Israel Palestine Israel ? Palestine ? Taiwan Taiwan ? North Korea North Korea ? Vatican City Vatican City ? SOVEREIGNTY is usually the defining issue!

8. THE STATE: A MINI-QUIZ TRUE OR FALSE? “ A State cannot have a population of less than 35,000 ” The boundaries of a State cannot change “ The boundaries of a State cannot change ” A State is sovereign if it cannot pass its own laws “ A State is sovereign if it cannot pass its own laws ” The population of a State must be homogeneous “ The population of a State must be homogeneous ” The United Nations (UN) is a sovereign State “ The United Nations (UN) is a sovereign State ” A State must provide its residents with military protection “ A State must provide its residents with military protection ” The 50 states in the United States are State “ The 50 states in the United States are State ”