Civics/Government:Civics/Government:

Foundations of GovernmentFoundations of Government

Quick Write – What is Government?Quick Write – What is Government?

Directions:Directions:--Please jot down some Please jot down some bullet points on what bullet points on what the word government the word government means to you.means to you.

Think about.....Think about.....(Purpose, Symbols, (Purpose, Symbols, Responsibilities, Responsibilities, Like/Dislike, etc.) Like/Dislike, etc.)

- Scary- Scary - Big- Big - Taxes (taking MY $$)- Taxes (taking MY $$) - President- President - Interesting- Interesting

- Make laws- Make laws - Democrat / Republican- Democrat / Republican - Taxes- Taxes - Increase or decrease taxes- Increase or decrease taxes

So, Who Had the Big Idea to start So, Who Had the Big Idea to start Government??Government??

- Present Day governments are about 5,000 - Present Day governments are about 5,000 years oldyears old

- In beginning, only wealthy, adult male - In beginning, only wealthy, adult male landowners were allowed to vote & participate in landowners were allowed to vote & participate in governmentgovernment

Where were the earlier forms of government Where were the earlier forms of government located?located?

Early Forms of GovernmentEarly Forms of Government

-Ancient Egypt (Pharoahe, -Ancient Egypt (Pharoahe, Queen)Queen)

-Greece & Rome -Greece & Rome (Republics)(Republics)

-England (King & -England (King & Queen)Queen)

““The” StateThe” State

-Ancient Greeks -Ancient Greeks ((AristotleAristotle) began to form ) began to form “the” state“the” state

--State: State: a definitive a definitive territory under the same territory under the same rules & lawsrules & laws

-In order to have a state, -In order to have a state, you need a governmentyou need a government

Features of “The” StateFeatures of “The” State

-Population (people with -Population (people with similar values & beliefs)similar values & beliefs)

-Mobility/movement can -Mobility/movement can change features of statechange features of state

-either defined by a -either defined by a physical (Atlantic Ocean) physical (Atlantic Ocean) or political (Canada) or political (Canada) boundaryboundary

States & SovereigntyStates & Sovereignty

What does it mean to be a sovereign state?What does it mean to be a sovereign state?

-Complete control over territory within boundaries-Complete control over territory within boundaries(i.e. the United States controls everything (i.e. the United States controls everything

within its border)within its border)

-Indepence ; Self-Rule-Indepence ; Self-Rule-exception: Native American Reservations, -exception: Native American Reservations,

which are quasi-independent, and US Territories, like which are quasi-independent, and US Territories, like Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

So, how exactly did this whole So, how exactly did this whole ‘‘government’ thing start??government’ thing start??

There are 4 main theories for how government There are 4 main theories for how government started.started.

Theory: Theory: a coherent group of general propositions a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomenaphenomena

Basically....it’s an idea about how something started.Basically....it’s an idea about how something started.

The 4 Theories.....The 4 Theories.....

-Evolutionary Theory-Evolutionary Theory

-Force Theory-Force Theory

-Divine Right Theory-Divine Right Theory

-Social Contract Theory-Social Contract Theory

Evolutionary Theory Force Theory

Divine Right Theory Social Contract Theory

Theory #1 : Evolutionary TheoryTheory #1 : Evolutionary Theory

-The State evolved from the family-The State evolved from the family-Most powerful family (or tribe/clan) took power & -Most powerful family (or tribe/clan) took power & ruledruled

Theory #2 : Force TheoryTheory #2 : Force Theory

- People worked - People worked together as a together as a community with no community with no leader(s)leader(s)

- No organized - No organized defence, community's defence, community's security is threatenedsecurity is threatened

- A person or small - A person or small group rises to power group rises to power and assumes controland assumes control

Theory #3 : Divine Right TheoryTheory #3 : Divine Right Theory

-Rulers and/or ruling -Rulers and/or ruling families were chosen families were chosen by God(s)by God(s)

-Explains -Explains whywhy they are they are in powerin power

-Used by rulers in -Used by rulers in Egypt, China, S. Egypt, China, S. America, & EuropeAmerica, & Europe

Theory #4 : Social Contract TheoryTheory #4 : Social Contract Theory

-In nature, there is no government-In nature, there is no government

-Without govt. life is “short, nasty, -Without govt. life is “short, nasty, & brutish”& brutish”

-People agree to give up power in -People agree to give up power in order for certain rights & order for certain rights & protectionprotection

-If govt. does not protect or uphold -If govt. does not protect or uphold rights, citizens have right to rights, citizens have right to overthrow govt.overthrow govt.

So, What’s the point of government?So, What’s the point of government?

What does government What does government actuallyactually do? do?

-Create laws & maintain order-Create laws & maintain order-Provide Services-Provide Services-National Security-National Security-Provide/control economic systems ($$)-Provide/control economic systems ($$)

Creating Laws & Maintaining OrderCreating Laws & Maintaining Order

-Humans need government -Humans need government because they have not yet because they have not yet found a way to live in groups found a way to live in groups withoutwithout conflict conflict

-Laws are created to -Laws are created to maintain order and formaintain order and for conflict resolutionconflict resolution

--This is why we have a This is why we have a Supreme Court!!!!Supreme Court!!!!

Providing ServicesProviding Services

-Government provides -Government provides services that help citizens, services that help citizens, that most citizens can not do that most citizens can not do on their ownon their own

-Example????-Example????

National SecurityNational Security

-Provide armed forces for -Provide armed forces for protection (Army, Navy, etc.)protection (Army, Navy, etc.)

-Protect citizens from foreign -Protect citizens from foreign invasion AND terrorisminvasion AND terrorism

-Govt. Cabinet positions that -Govt. Cabinet positions that deal with National Security: deal with National Security: Dept. Of Defense Dept. Of Defense

Dept. Of Homeland Dept. Of Homeland SecuritySecurity

Quick Write: What is your Quick Write: What is your responsibility to government?responsibility to government?

• DirectionsDirections: Government does a lot for its : Government does a lot for its citizens. What, if any, responsibilities do we citizens. What, if any, responsibilities do we have as citizens to our government?have as citizens to our government?

• What do the words “We The People” say What do the words “We The People” say about our roles in government? about our roles in government?

Types of GovernmentTypes of Government

Our government is a democracy, but there are Our government is a democracy, but there are several types of government in the world.several types of government in the world.

In this class, we will focus on the 3 most In this class, we will focus on the 3 most commonly used forms of government:commonly used forms of government:

-Autocracy-Autocracy -Oligarchy-Oligarchy -Democracy-Democracy

AutocracyAutocracy

• Govt. ruled by 1 personGovt. ruled by 1 person• Types: Monarchy (King/Queen), Dictator Types: Monarchy (King/Queen), Dictator -Examples: Saudi Arabia, Cuba, North Korea-Examples: Saudi Arabia, Cuba, North Korea• One person sets rules, runs all aspects of life One person sets rules, runs all aspects of life

(school, jobs, pay, what you watch)(school, jobs, pay, what you watch)

OligarchyOligarchy

• Govt. is controlled by a Govt. is controlled by a small group of peoplesmall group of people

• Types of Oligarchy:Types of Oligarchy:- Communism (China), - - Communism (China), - Theocracy (Iran)Theocracy (Iran)

• Small groups usually Small groups usually seize power “for the seize power “for the people” but often people” but often become corruptbecome corrupt

• Citizens have limited Citizens have limited choice (jobs, house)choice (jobs, house)

-China: 1 Child -China: 1 Child PolicyPolicy

Example of State ControlExample of State Control

Blue – Democracy, PresidentDark Gray – Democracy, Prime MinisterLight Gray – OligarchyRed – President, non-democracy

Blue – Democracy, PresidentDark Gray – Democracy, Prime MinisterLight Gray – OligarchyRed – President, non-democracy

What is similar about these maps? Do you What is similar about these maps? Do you notice a pattern or relationship between the notice a pattern or relationship between the maps? Please write down your answers in maps? Please write down your answers in complete sentences. Why do you think complete sentences. Why do you think these relationships exist??these relationships exist??

DemocracyDemocracy

• Govt. controlled by the communityGovt. controlled by the community• Equal votes & rightsEqual votes & rights• Citizens vote to make the lawsCitizens vote to make the laws• 2 types: Direct & Representative2 types: Direct & Representative

Direct DemocracyDirect Democracy

• Every adult citizen votes on every issueEvery adult citizen votes on every issue• This is okay for small communities, not This is okay for small communities, not

for large populationsfor large populations

• Why would this notWhy would this notwork with a large group?work with a large group?

-LHS Example-LHS Example

Representative DemocracyRepresentative Democracy

• Vote & Elect Vote & Elect people to make people to make decisions for usdecisions for us

• Vote on some Vote on some laws directly, but laws directly, but very fewvery few

• What did Maine What did Maine vote on last vote on last year??year??

Ask the Class....Ask the Class....

• How many people live in the United States?How many people live in the United States?

• How many people actually run the How many people actually run the government?government?

• What type of govt. does that sound like?What type of govt. does that sound like?

Levels of GovernmentLevels of Government

NATIONALNATIONAL

STATESTATE

COUNTYCOUNTY

TOWN (MUNICIPAL)TOWN (MUNICIPAL)

RepresentativRepresentative Democracye Democracy

Levels of GovernmentLevels of Government

Direct Direct DemocracyDemocracy

CitizensCitizens

Levels of Government (Fill in the Pyramid!) Levels of Government (Fill in the Pyramid!)

NATIONALNATIONAL

STATESTATE

COUNTYCOUNTY

TOWN TOWN