1. WHAT DOES THE GOVERNMENT DO FOR YOU? Chapter 1

2. WHAT IS CIVICS? GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE The study of the rights and duties of citizens What is a citizen?  Community members who owe loyalty to the government and are entitled to protection from it

3. DISCUSSION QUESTION: WHAT DO CITIZENS DO TO BE LOYAL? WHAT KIND OF PROTECTION DO WE GET?

4. WHY DO WE NEED GOVERNMENT?? According to Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher in the 1600’s, life without government would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” A free-for-all!

5. GOVERNMENT The ruling authority for a community. They have the power to make and enforce laws and decisions for the people.

6. WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT? Keeping order and providing security  Armed forces  Traffic laws and regulations Providing public services  Mail delivery  Schools

7. WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT? Guiding the community  Done by public policy  A course of government action to achieve community goals  Example – improving national security Building relationships with foreign countries and establishing a budget are also a part of foreign policy

8. WHAT ARE THE THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT? Federal (national) State Local (cities and counties)

9. DEMOCRACY All citizens share in governing and being governed (people have the power to rule by selecting leaders) Direct Democracy: citizens meet to debate government matters and vote firsthand Not very practical today – large countries with large populations Representative Democracy: citizens choose a smaller group to represent them, make laws, and govern on their behalf United States is the oldest representative democracy in the world

10. WHAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY? Consent of the governed Citizens are the source of the government’s power Representative government People elect government leaders to make laws and govern on their behalf “One person, one vote” Everyone’s vote carries the same weight

11. WHAT ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES CONT’D Majority rule Whenever there is a difference of opinion, we abide by what most people want Individual rights Protection and respect for the rights of those in the minority Rule of law All people, including those who govern, are bound by the law Limited government Government can do only those things the people have given it the power to do

12. GOVERNMENT IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES Television – FCC Fast Food – FDA, taxes School – Teachers Driving/Traveling – Roads, sewers, traffic lights, highways