Transcript Slide 1

Objectives #1 - #2
• Students will be able to identify the
importance of government in a society.
• Students will be able to identify the different
functions of governments.
Warm Up 8/27
• “Why has government been instituted at all? Because
the passions of men will not conform to the
dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.”
Alexander Hamilton (1787)
1. How does Hamilton view the role of the government?
2. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
3. What is your view on the purpose for which
government exists?
Answer
• A government enables a society to carry out
its policies and protect its members from
violence and injustice.
• Define the 2 following terms:
– Society
– Government
– Public Policy
SOCIETY
• A GROUP OF
PEOPLE, LIVING IN
AN IDENTIFIED
AREA, WITH
COMMON BELIEFS,
LAWS AND
CUSTOMS.
GOVERNMENT
• IS AN INSTITUTION
THROUGH WHICH
A SOCIETY
MAKES AND
ENFORCES IT’S
PUBLIC POLICIES.
Public Policies
• All those things a government decides to do.
Public Policies cover matters ranging from
taxation, defense, education, crime, and
health care to transportation, the
environment, civil rights, working conditions.
• The list is endless…
ESSAY A
HOW MANY EXAMPLES CAN YOU COME UP
WITH OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS
IMPACTED YOUR LIFE, TODAY?
Government Doesn’t Affect You?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Education
Fire Dept.
Police Dept. / Protection under law, safety
Sanitation
Clean Water
Food and Drug Regulation
Health care and services
Minimum Wage, Child Labor Laws, Safe
Working conditions, 40 hour work weeks
•
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•
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Environmental protection
Civil Rights
Transportation
Taxes
Why It Matters
• Government is essential to the existence of
human beings in a society. What any
particular government is like and what that
government does may have an extraordinary
impact on the lives of all people who live
within its reach.
THE EARLIEST GOVERNMENTS
WERE
FORMED
OUT OF
NEED
• ESSAY B (with
partner)
• DOES HE NEED A
GOVERNMENT,
WHY OR WHY
NOT?
3 FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
LEGISLATIVE
• MAKE LAWS---------
• CONGRESS, STATE ASSMEBLY, CITY COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE
• ENFORCE LAWS-----
• PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR, MAYOR
JUDICIAL
• EVALUATE LAWS---
• FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL COURTS
Famous Quotes
• “The care of human life and happiness, is the
first object of good government”.
Thomas Jefferson
• The only justifiable purpose of government is
to insure the development of the individual.
Albert Einstein
• “The right to swing my fist ends where the
other man’s nose begins.”
Wendell Holmes
Identify the term being defined
• Is the body of fundamental laws
setting out the principals,
structures, and processes of a
government
• Constitution
Identify the term being defined
• In this form of government ultimate
responsibility for the exercise of
governmental powers may be held
by a single person or by a small
group. In this form, those who rule
cannot be held responsible for the
will of the people
• Dictatorship
Identify the term being defined
• In this form of government
responsibility for the exercise of
governmental powers rest with a
majority of the people. Supreme
authority rests with the people.
• Democracy
Is there a difference between politics
and government?
• Politics is a process
• The process by which a
society decides how
power and resources
will be distributed
within that society
• Government is an
institution.
• The word politics is
often used in a way that
suggests that it is
somehow immoral or
something to be
avoided.
• Is it possible to conceive
a government without
politics or politicians?
(with partner)
Answer…
• No! Because politics is the process of
government. It is neither “good” or “bad”, but
it is necessary.
• State – A body of people, living in a
defined territory, organized politically
(that is, with government), and with the
power to make and enforce law without
the consent of any higher authority.
• A “State” is often called a “Nation”
• How many states are there in the world
today?
• Answer…190.
4 Characteristics of the State
1.
2.
3.
4.
Population – people to rule
Territory – land to live on/off
Sovereignty – power over its territory
Government – political organization
Does Fairview High School qualify as a
State? (with partner)
If not, which requirements does it lack?
Famous Quote
• “Government is necessary to avoid the war of
every man against every man. Without
government there would be continual fear
and danger of violent death and life would be
solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
Thomas Hobbes
What happens when a government
disappears?
• Look at places Somalia, and many
others. Life became “nasty, brutish,
and short.”
Civil War
Children become soldiers
Death and poverty
Once strong nations destroyed
Video; The Road
• Answer discussion questions after the video is
completed.
• Where does the power of
government come from? (with
partner)
4 Theory’s
1. Force – people were forced to submit
2. Evolution – natural development out of
family structure
3. Divine Right – God created it and
granted it (through birth) to select few
4. Social Contract – people give power to
the state voluntarily to promote their
safety and well-being
Social Contract
• Jean Jacques Rousseau
• Describes the relationship of man with society.
• The state of nature is a brutish condition without
law or morality, and that there are good men only
as a result of society's presence.
• Because he can be more successful facing threats
by joining with other men, he joins together with
his fellow men to form a "society."
• "The Social Contract" is the agreement among
men that sets the conditions for membership in
society.
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Social Contract
• John Locke
• Relationship between a man and society and
society and its government
• Government’s main purpose is to carry out the
will of its people and protect their natural rights
• Any government which does not do this is
therefore not legitimate
• And the people have the right to revolt and
change it
• Greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson and
Declaration of Independence
John Locke
John Locke Quotes
• “The end of law is not to abolish or restrain,
but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all
the states of created beings capable of law,
where there is no law, there is no freedom. “
• “The reason why men enter into society is the
preservation of their property. “
Locke’s Second Treatise (essay) on
Government
• Read the passage from Locke’s Second essay
on page 11. Answer questions 1-4.
• Locke’s premise that governments are entered
into by the consent of free and equal men,
was very controversial in 1690.
• # 5 – Why would this be controversial in 1690?
• # 6 - Do any of these reasons sound
controversial today? Why or why not?
The Purpose of Government
• “We the people of the United States, in order
to form a more perfect union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for
the common defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United
States of America.”
Preamble to the Constitution
6 Purposes of Government
1. Form a More Perfect Union – not just “a firm
league of friendship”. 13 loosely connected
states.
2. Establish Justice – no goal of public policy is
greater.
6 Purposes of Government
3. Insure Domestic Tranquility – order is
essential to the well being of any society.
Keeping the peace at home is the prime
function of government.
Great Quote
• “If men were angels, no
government would be
necessary.”
– James Madison
6 Purposes of Government
4. Provide for the Common Defense –
defending the nation against foreign
enemies.
5. Promote the General Welfare – Government
should act as a servant of its citizens.
Examples?
Public Schools, clean drinking water, clean air,
safe foods, etc.
6 Purposes of Government
6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty – Government
must protect our freedom and rights.
Great Quotes
“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at
the same time.”
Thomas Jefferson
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a
little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor
safety.”
Benjamin Franklin
“You can only be free if I am.”
Clarence Darrow
Identify this term
• The love of one’s country; the passion which
aims to serve one’s country, either defending
it from invasion or by protecting its rights and
maintaining its laws and institution in vigor
and purity.
• Patriotism
Small Group Activity
• READ OVER THE 6 PURPOSES OF
GOVERNMENT, PAGE 9 – 10. CHOSE 1, AS A
GROUP, THAT YOU CAN ARGUE IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT OF THE PURPOSES.
WRITE AN EXPLANATION OF YOUR CHOSEN
PURPOSE AND YOUR REASONS FOR MAKING
IT THE MOST IMPORTANT. – SOMEONE MUST
BE WILLING TO READ TO THE CLASS FOR THE
GROUP TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE 10
POINTS.