Our Government Mastering Book Page 131

Section 1: Big Ideas of Government What is Government? Communities make rules about how their members should behave. They also need some authority to settle disagreements and enforce community rules. The organizations people set up to protect the community and enforce its rules is called a government.

Powers of Government All governments are given special powers to carry out their authority over the members of society. These powers include: A Legislative power makes the laws An Executive power to carry out the laws A Judicial power to interpret and apply the laws

Example (Lynbrook School District) School Board (Legislature) Makes the Most Important Rules for the School Principal (Executive) Authority to Carry Out Rules Staff Members, Teachers, Aides (Judicial) Deciding disagreements and interpreting school rules

Governments Around the World Our Nation Has A Government!

Our Nations Capital Our Nation has a government. Our Nation has a government. It has legislative, executive and judicial powers. It has legislative, executive and judicial powers. Its home is in Washington, D.C., the nations capital. Its home is in Washington, D.C., the nations capital.

Communities have governments too! They have them to develop laws and rules, encourage common good, protect the community, and settle disagreements They have them to develop laws and rules, encourage common good, protect the community, and settle disagreements The world today has more than 200 hundred nations, each with its own borders and government. Within those borders, each national government has the supreme authority. It makes, enforces and interprets laws, and manages disagreements among the citizens. The world today has more than 200 hundred nations, each with its own borders and government. Within those borders, each national government has the supreme authority. It makes, enforces and interprets laws, and manages disagreements among the citizens.

How are governments organized? Democracies That’s Us! Monarchy Government is in the hands of a king or a queen. The monarch makes decisions for the rest of society. When the ruler dies, power is automatically passed on to one of the monarch’s children – usually the oldest son. Monarchy was the most common form of government. Dictatorship A system of government where supreme power is in the hands of one person or a small group. The dictator makes final decisions for the whole society. Individual rights are not guaranteed. (Adolf Hitler) Democracy Democracy means “rule by the people.” In a democracy real power rests with people. Citizens vote directly for issues or they elect officials to represent them in making decisions. The United States is a Representative Democracy.

A Capsule Summary of Government