1. The US Constitution and World Governments
SWBAT: Define government powers and the basic powers every government holds.
Understand the purpose of government in the US and other countries.
STANDARD: 12.1 Students explain the fundamental principles and moral values of American democracy as expressed in the U.S. Constitution and other essential documents of American democracy.
Miss Varee
US Government
Fall 2010

2. LOST Episode 1 Clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mdZeJsuHns
Question to Consider:
What would happen if a country had no government?
What can the government do to assist people affected by the situation?

3. Warm-Up
Think back to middle school. What would your lives be like if you were free to do whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted-without the consent of your parents?
What are some things you would do?
List 3 adjectives that describe the US Government.
What would your life be like without GOVERNMENT? No defense, terrorist attacks, taxes, education, criminals, natural disasters, poor, elderly, property rights, etc

4. Government: A Formal Definition
The institution through which society makes and enforces public policies.
Made of up people who exercise power and have the power to control others

5. Public Policy Everything a government decides to do
Examples: taxation, defense, transportation, environment, labor laws, education, crime, health care, etc

6. Purpose of Government: Preamble
Form A More Perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Provide for the Common Defense
Promote the General Welfare
Secure the Blessings of Liberty
Go more in detail later…don’t take notes on this!

7. Grab your textbook and define:
Democracy (Page 5)
Legislative Power (Page 4)
Parliament (Page 16)
State (Page 5)
Sovereign (Page 6)
Majority Party: A political party that holds the most number of seats in the legislature (or Congress)

8. Let’s explore the Different FORMS OF GOVERNMENT:

9. Assignment Skim Pages 12-17 in your textbook.
Individually read the forms of government quietly and write 3-4 bullets points describing each – what does it look like, who holds the power, which countries have this type of government?
Exchange answers with your partner.
Be prepared to share a short explanation to share with the class.

10. Forms of Government – Notes (Tree Map)

11. Time to Review Main Ideas & Notes
As I am going through the slides, fill in the information on tree map to ensure you wrote down the main points!

12. Unitary Federal Confederate
GEOGRAPHIC
Unitary
Federal
Confederate

13. Unitary Government Centralized Government
There are local sources of government (i.e. school districts) but mainly for its own convenience
Most governments in the world are unitary in form
This is not a dictatorship:
there are local representatives
The powers of government are limited

14. Federal Government
The powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments – Ex: US…
National Government has certain powers (abortion)
50 States have others (gay marriage)

15. Confederate An alliance of independent states
Only has the power to handle matters the member states have assigned to it
Historically, they only have limited power
There is only one confederation in the world – The Commonwealth of Independent States

16. Relationship Between Legislative & Executive Branches
Presidential
Parliamentary
Democracy

17. Presidential
Features a separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches
The two branches are coequal
Examples: US

18. Parliamentary
Executive is made up of the prime minister who is a member of the legislative branch, the parliament
The prime minister is the leader of the majority party and is chosen by that body
The prime minister’s cabinet is chosen from the legislature
The prime minister is thus chosen by the legislature, part of it, and subject to its control

19. DEMOCRACY
Form of government where the ultimate power of rule lies within the hands of
the citizens
The people hold the sovereign power
Example: the citizens elect their leaders, vote on laws, etc.

20. Indirect/Representative Democracy
Types of democracies
Direct
Citizens vote directly on all decisions that concern them like law, taxes, etc.
Indirect/Representative Democracy
Citizens elect officials to make on laws, taxes, etc.
Also called a Republic

21. Dictatorship Absolute Monarchy
AUTOCRACY
A government run by or controlled by one person or a small
group that has unlimited power
Dictatorship
Absolute Monarchy

22. DICTATORSHIP
Where one person, the dictator, or a small group of people take the government by force and maintain power through the threat of force

23. ABSOLUTE MONARCHY
Where the ruler is a monarch, a king or queen, who rules by “divine right”, or through the will of God—God has chosen them to be leader

24. SOCIALISM
An economic & political system in which large industries (housing, healthcare, education) are owned by the government and citizens pay high taxes to pay for such industries, but don’t pay out of pocket to attain the services.

25. COMMUNISM
A political system in which the government controls the production of all industries (i.e. food, housing, healthcare, goods) and there is no means to own private property.

26. Quiz Explain the difference between the following:
Indirect Democracy v. Direct Democracy
Dictatorship v. Monarchy
Communism v. Socialism

27. Wrap-Up: Debrief – Write ½ pg.
Rank the different forms of government from best to worst (1 – 10) and explain why you formed your choices the way you did.
Choose which government would you most want to live under, and which one you would least like to live under.