INTRODUCTION TO OUR GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT – THE INSTITUTION THROUGH WHICH A SOCIETY MAKES AND

ENFORCES ITS PUBLIC POLICIES. GOVERNMENT IS MADE UP OF THOSE WHO

EXERCISE ITS POWERS AND THOSE IN AUTHORITATIVE POSITIONS

PUBLIC POLICIES

• TAXATION

• DEFENSE

• EDUCATION

• LAW

• TRANSPORTATION

• HEALTHCARE

• ENVIRONMENTAL

• ANYTHING ELSE THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES FOR ITS CITIZENS

BRANCHES

EXECUTIVE

➢ POWER TO EXECUTE, ENFORCE, AND

ADMINISTER LAWS

➢ PRESIDENT, CABINET, GOV.

AGENCIES

➢ ABLE TO VETO LEGISLATIVE

DECISIONS

➢ APPOINTS JUSTICES TO SUPREME

COURT

➢ POWER TO PARDON

JUDICIAL

➢ POWER TO INTERPRET LAWS,

DETERMINE THEIR MEANING, AND

SETTLE DISPUTES WITHIN SOCIETY

➢ SUPREME COURTS, DISTRICT COURTS,

COURT OF APPEALS

➢ MAINTAINS THE CONSTITUTION

LEGISLATIVE

➢ POWER TO MAKE LAWS AND FRAME

PUBLIC POLICIES

➢ SENATE

➢ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

➢ APPROVES FEDERAL JUDGES

➢ CAN OVERPOWER VETO WITH 2/3

VOTE

WHAT IS A STATE?

• A BODY OF PEOPLE LIVING IN A DEFINED TERRITORY, ORGANIZED POLITICALLY, AND WITH THE POWER

TO MAKE LAWS WITHOUT REPORTING TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY

• STATES OF THE U.S. ARE NOT STATES IN THE INTERNATIONAL SENSE

• SOVEREIGNTY – FREEDOM TO CHOOSE

• THE UNITED STATES IS A SOVEREIGN STATE

ORIGINATION OF THE STATE (THEORIES)

• FORCE

• EVOLUTIONARY

• DIVINE RIGHT

• SOCIAL CONTRACT

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

CLASSIFYING GOVERNMENT

1. WHO PARTICIPATES

2. DISTRIBUTION OF POWER

WITHIN THE STATE

3. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN

THE LEGISLATIVE AND

EXECUTIVE BRANCHES OF

GOVERNMENT

DEMOCRACY

• THE PEOPLE HOLD THE

SOVEREIGN POWER

• NOTHING HAPPEN WITHOUT

CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE

• DIRECT - BY THE PEOPLE

THEMSELVES

• INDIRECT - REPRESENTATIVE

DEMOCRACY

BASIC CONCEPTS

OF DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

• ARE WE AS THE UNITED STATES

A DEMOCRACY OR A

REPUBLIC?

DICTATORSHIP

➢AUTOCRACY - SINGLE PERSON HOLDS

POWER

➢OLIGARCHY - POWER TO RULE HELD BY THE

ELITE

➢ABSOLUTE; UNCHALLENGEABLE POWER

➢ "ELECTIONS"

➢MILITARY LEADERS HOLD MANY ROLES IN

GOVERNMENT

➢OFTEN FACIST/COMMUNIST

DISTRIBUTION OF POWER

UNITARY

➢ CENTRALIZED

➢ MOST GOVERNMENTS

➢ DEMOCRATIC IDEALS

➢ WEAK LOCAL

GOVERNMENT

➢ 50 STATES

FEDERAL

➢ CENTRAL AND LOCAL

WORK TOGETHER

➢ CHECKS AND BALANCES

OF POWER

CONFEDERATE

➢ LIMITED CENTRALIZED

POWER

➢ APPOINTED DUTIES

➢ "NATIONS" WORKING

TOGETHER

LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE

PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT

• SEPARATION OF POWERS

• PRESIDENT (EXECUTIVE HEAD)

• LEGISLATIVE (MAKES LAWS)

PARLIAMENTARY

• PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

• THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE

BRANCH (PARLIAMENT)

• LACK OF CHECKS AND BALANCES

• LESS TENSION BETWEEN BRANCHES

• VOTERS ELECT LEGISLATURE; WHO THEN

CHOOSE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

CITIZENS ROLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

DUTIES

• JURY DUTY

• SERVING AS A WITNESS

• TAXES

• LAW ABIDING CITIZEN

• REGISTER FOR THE DRAFT (MEN)

• ATTEND SCHOOL

• RESPECT

RESPONSIBILITIES

• VOTE

• VOLUNTEER

• PARTICIPATE AND UNDERSTAND THE

GOVERNMENT PROCESS