Warm-Up Why do you think we need government?

Unit 1 Part III: The Government and the People

The Ruling authority for a community Government The Ruling authority for a community

Why do communities need government? To make it possible for people to live together peacefully

Life without government would be “nasty, brutish, and short.”

What do governments do?

Provide Laws

Provide Security

Provide Services

Guide the Community Help shape public policy – the course of action to achieve community goals

Representative Government People elect leaders to make the laws and govern on their behalf.

Levels of Government Federal (or national) Government The government of the entire country

State Government Decides matters for people in the state

Local Government Counties, cities and towns Closest gov. to the people

Principles of American Democracy

Limited Government The government can only do the things that the people have given it power to do.

Federalism Power will be divided into state and federal powers Some powers are shared, while others are divided

Popular Sovereignty American citizens are the source of all government power Popular Sovereignty – “The People Rule”

Separation of Powers In order to “check” and “balance” the powers of government, government is separated into three branches: Executive Legislative Judicial