People and Government

Four Essential Features of The State

• Population– The people that make up the State– Populations can be either homogenous or

heterogeneous• Territory

– An area with fixed boundaries– Can change because of war, purchase, annexation

• Sovereignty– Absolute authority, within its territorial boundaries

• Government– Maintains order, provides services, enforces decisions

– CIA World Factbook

State vs. Country?

• State and country generally have the same meaning

– Political community– definite boundaries– Sovereignty – freedom to make rules and

laws without getting approval from another– independent government

Section –IPrinciples of Government

• How many countries are there in the world today?

• The answer…

• 200 is probably the best current answer to the question.

Why is there not an exact number?

• There are dozens of territories and colonies that are sometimes erroneously called "countries" but don't count at all– Bermuda– Puerto Rico– Greenland– Northern Ireland– Scotland– they're not fully independent countries

So, are PA and NY countries?

• Not exactly

• Political divisions in the United States are called states because:

• When the colonies banded together to fight the British, they thought of themselves as independent countries.

• Under the Articles of Confederation the states were indepedent

Population

• Race –

• Ethnicity –

• Nationality -

Race

• A group of people identified as distinct from other groups because of supposed physical or genetic traits. “The way you look”

• Some biologists and anthropologists do not recognize race as a biologically valid classification. Race is "merely a social construct.

Race

• It is difficult to say a person belongs to a specific race because there are so many variations such as skin color.

Ethnicity

• a socially defined category of people who identify with each other based on common ancestral, social, cultural or national experience– Physical characteristics– Linguistics

– Can you ever shed your ethnicity?

Nationality

• is the legal relationship between a person and a state

DNA Discussion Project• Have you ever wondered about the origins of your

family? Are you curious about your ethnicity or race? Have you heard or told stories about your family's past? Would you like to know the truth behind family secrets? There happens to be a scientific way to answer all these questions with a high level of accuracy. It is called DNA.

• DNA Discussion Project

DNA Discussion Project

• In the long run, we hope to expand the project to include elementary and high school students in the region. By encouraging greater understanding of the science of genetics, the construction of race, and the perception of ethnicity, we hope to expand the dialogue about diversity in our community.

Power????

•How do people come to power???

Theories of the Origin of the State

Theories of the Origin of the State

•Evolution –Evolved from the family

Theories of the Origin of the State

•Force•Submit authority to a ruling force

Theories of the Origin of the State

• Divine Right• Rulers were chosen by god

Theories of the Origin of the State

• Social Contract Theory• People gave Gov't power in return for

safety• A government of “rules” not “rulers”

Locke vs. Hobbes

• Hobbes – “state of nature” world without gov’t, “nasty, brutish, short”

• Locke – “life, liberty, and property”

The Purposes/Role of Government

• Americans are affected by government in countless ways every day.

• National, state, and local governments make decisions and run programs that impact our daily lives.

• Unfortunately, most Americans give little to no thought about the extent of the government’s role.

Purposes of Government

Name: ___________________________________ PD. __________________American Systems: Purposes and Preamble QuizPart I: PurposesDirections: Complete the chart below. Fill in the 4 purposes of gov’t and 2 examples for each.

American Systems

Mr. Santangelo

Directions: Read about the four purposes of government on pages 9-11 in your textbook and write them in the appropriate bubbles, and then provide at least 2 examples for each purpose

Purposes of Government

Name___________________________

Maintain Social Order

Make Economic Decisions

Provide Services

National Security

The Purposes of Government

• Maintain Social Order– Courts– Pay Taxes– Makes laws

The Purposes of Government

• Provide Essential Public Services– School– Police and Fire Services– FDA– Construction of Highways

The Purposes of Government

• National Security– Armed Services– Alliances or Treaties– United Nations– CIA

Control the Nations Economy

• Make Economic Decisions– Money Supply– Currency– Interest Rate– Banking– Taxes

• Capitalism• Socialism• Communism

American Systems

Mr. Paone

Directions: Read about the four purposes of government on pages 9-11 in your textbook and write them in the appropriate bubbles, and then provide at least 2 examples for each purpose

Purposes of Government

Public Services

Safeguard the Economy

Social Order

National Security

Alliances and Foreign Affairs Taxes

Minimum WageCollectingTaxes

EducationHealthcareWelfareCourt

System

Military:Army/Navy

Make and Enforce Laws

Name___________________________

Purposes of the American Government

• Preamble

Preamble

• Introduction to the US Constitution

• Six Goals of the US Government

• Form a More Perfect Union– Promote Cooperation between the states

• Establish Justice– Make fair laws and treat all citizens equally.

• Insure Domestic Tranquility– Keep communities safe from crime and

disorder

• Provide for the Common Defense– Prevent attacks from foreign nations

• Promote the General Welfare– Improve the quality of people’s lives

• Secure the Blessings of Liberty– Allow people to be free from unnecessary and

unjust laws

• How well is the United States doing in terms of achieving its goals?