CIVICS: BASICS1. Civics: The study of the

duties and rights of citizenship

2. Community: A group of people who have joined together to pursue common needs and goals

3. Democracy: A system of decision making that uses a majority vote of members or of elected representatives to make decisions

4. Government: The rule or authority over a country, province or district

IMFORMED CITIZEN

• Choosing who governs is not your only responsibility as a citizen.

• Responsible for being informed about public affairs.

• Responsible for being informed about decision making and how it evolved

• Responsible for knowing how decision making works

• Responsible for understanding what it means to be part of a global community

Rules People Live By

Unwritten rules and customs govern the behaviour of people in every community.

Even back to prehistoric times

In smaller groups or communities discussion was easy

As numbers grow consensus becomes more difficult with a greater number of opinions or beliefs.

As numbers grow the need for clear defined rules become more necessary to prevent and resolve conflicts.

History of government can be viewed as the history of making rules.

How Decisions are Made Authoritarian Way• Ruled by a single person (king, queen, or

emperor)

Totalitarian Way• Extreme form of Authoritarian rule• Germany (Hitler)• Italy (Mussolini)• Soviet Union (Stalin)

Individual freedom did not exist. Opposition was not tolerated

Democracy - People Rule• Greek words Demos (people) Kratia (rule)• Most preferred by people.

People had a say in what they wanted and needed from their government

Some DifferencesAuthoritarian Government

Democratic Government

Leaders are usually self appointed

Leaders are elected by citizens

Leaders cannot usually be replaced

Leaders term in office is usually limitedElections held at regular intervals

Citizens cannot question or speak out against the leaders actions

Citizens can question and speak out against leaders actions

Authoritarian governments often claim that their countries were more peaceful and orderly because freedom of expression was limited or non existent

Ancient Governments

Small nomadic groups had no written rules

As people gathered in villages, we begin to see civic conflicts

Empires were examples of many different societies being ruled by one state

Ancient Govs cont…

Formal written laws become required

Hammurabi’s code is the first written law (king of Babylon) It was brutal and severe:

1780 BC 282 laws carved in

stone column

Monarchy

Early Monarchs claimed to have the right to rule was granted by God

Emperor T’ai Tsung 626-649. (China)• Often called China’s greatest ruler.

King Louis XIV 1643- 1715. (France)

Considered Absolute Monarchs

Athens• As early as 700 BCE the

people won the right to share in politics

• Citizens were expected to actively participate in the city’s affairs

• Women and Foreigners were not eligible for citizenship

• Athens was a direct democracy (No representation)

• The word ‘Idiot’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘non-participating citizen’

Athens cont’

Pericles : 495 -429 BC

• Elected military leader by the citizens

Our constitution is called a democracy because power is in the hands of not a minority but of the whole people

Rome

Ruled by kings and then a Republic (Oligarchy)

Most were Plebeians with no voice

A general strike by plebs gained them access to government Right to assemble Contribute to laws

Rome cont…

Democratic Rome was controlled by the Senate (Oligarchy)

Only city dwellers qualified for citizenship

Justinian (Roman Emperor) creates the Corpus Juris Civilis code of laws, the basis for our criminal code

The Dark Ages

• The Medieval period in Europe nearly snuffs Democracy out

• Middle East is in a golden age, but does not use Democracy

• Democracy survives in the minds and hopes of people

Magna Carta

• Noblemen and Peasants band together against the Tyranny of King John

• 1215 – King John is forced to sign the Magna Carta ( The Great Charter) which stated that nobody was above the law.

• Habeas Corpus means that the accused cannot be detained without just cause

Early Parliaments

The kings of England begin calling representatives of the people to discuss laws, taxes etc…(first parliament)

Parliament splits in 2: House of Lords (barons, dukes) House of Commons (commoners) Parliament is still limited by the power of the

Monarch (King is still the boss)

Still, the monarch could convene and dissolve parliament at will.

England’s Century of Revolution

• King Charles Believes in ‘Divine Rule’

• 1642 – Oliver Cromwell leads Parliamentary forces Vs Royalists

• King Charles convicted of treason and beheaded

• English Bill of Rights 1689

John Locke 1632 - 1704

• Liberalist

• Individual Rights

John Locke

To understand political power right, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man.

American Revolution

• Americans upset about having no representation (power in a different country)

• Thomas Jefferson – Declaration of Independence 1776

• A bloody armed uprising occurs and the British surrender

• 1782 independence is granted by the Crown

Constitution

• USA – Constitution is a republic with multiple governments (federal + State)

• Constitution becomes American Bill of Rights – created to protect citizens from their government.• Freedom of speech,

religion, press, firearms• Oligarchy – Only white

males need apply

French Revolution

• People are influenced by John Locke and the Americans

• People wanted less taxes and a voice

• Food shortages (1787-1788) led to starvation and increased taxes

• The people launch a civil war

French Revolution cont…

• King Louis 16th is beheaded during his reign of terror

(he was killing anyone who criticized him)

• The victory of the people in France causes Monarchs to modify their practices out of fear

(End of Absolute Monarchs)