Civics Principles &Citizenship

Vocab Civics and Citizenship

1. Civics2. Citizen3. Government4. Values5. Popular

Sovereignty6. Institution7. Immigrant8. Naturalization9. Alien

10. Public Policy11. Democracy12. Authoritarian13. Monarchy14. Totalitarian15. Republic16. Direct democracy17. Representative

Democracy18. Federalism19. Majority Rule

What is Civics?

Civics – study of citizenship, government & the rights and duties of citizens

Citizen – member of a community with government and laws that has certain rights & responsibilities

Class Question: Why do you think it is important to know about your gov’t, and your rights and duties as citizens?

Citizens

Vote for national, state & local officials

Join political parties & interest groups to express views

Government is put in place by the people to serve the people

Paths to Citizenship

Birth – born in the U.S. boundaries including territories (jus soli – law of soil) or your parents are U.S. citizens (jus sanguinis – law of blood)o Only kids born of foreign diplomats

that the US has no jurisdiction over are not considered U.S. citizens

Naturalization – process by which foreigners can become citizens

Other types of people in the U.S.

Alien – person from another country living in the U.S. who has not become a citizen – can be legal or illegal

Immigrant – An alien who permanently moves to a new country – there is a quota

Dual Citizenship – a citizen of two countries. Occurs when a child is born outside US boundaries and has only one parent that is a US citizen

Illegal Aliens

People in the country without permission from the U.S. government

Cannot legally hold a job in the U.S. If found, they will be deported

Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE - ) investigates cases

2003 formation of Dept. of Homeland Security. Now part of the ICE

Still pay taxes – sales tax, income, payroll, property

Illegal Aliens

Legal Aliens

Lives are similar to U.S. citizen Must obey U.S. laws & pays taxes Cannot vote in elections or run for

office Cannot work most government jobs

or serve on a jury Some eventually become U.S.

citizens

Naturalization Process

Naturalization Process – where an alien becomes a U.S. citizen Declaration of Intent – intends to become

a U.S. citizen Take citizenship classes Take citizenship test – in English Background check Ceremony & Oath in court

All children of the naturalized citizen under 18 get automatic citizenship

Oath of Allegiance

"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

Naturalization Activity

You will now be given a sample of questions that are on the naturalization test. How many did you get right?

Oath of Allegiance Remember you must give up your old

allegiance to your former country

Restrictions on Immigration Quota – the U.S. restricts the amount

of immigrants that come into the country every year

Legal Immigration & Revision Act – 1990 Increased the quota of immigrants

allowed to enter the U.S. (about 675,000 per year)

Gave special considerations to those with needed job skills

Immigration to the US by Decade

School House Rock Clip

Class Discussion: What does it mean that America is a melting pot?

Where did your ancestors come from?

What things in America have we adopted from immigrants?

The Melting Pot that is Our Country

Diversity We live in a diverse

society We are a nation of

immigrants National Motto

E Pluribus Unum – Out of many we become one – shows our diversity

Slavery & segregation go against this concept

Principles of American Democracy

Rule of Law Everyone has to follow the rules

Limited Government Government is limited by the people.

WE decide how powerful it can get. Consent of the Governed

Citizens = Power Individual Rights

Government protects rights. Ex. Bill of Rights

Representative Government We elect leaders to govern us and

make laws

Nation of Immigrants

Other Important Civic Terms

Patriotism – love for one’s country Nationalism – extreme devotion to

one’s country – can give rise to feelings of abhorrence to other nationalities

Terrorism – using violence to achieve political goals

Oklahoma City Bombing 4/19/95

Presidential System – system like ours where the President is the leader

Parliamentary System – system like the U.K. where the prime minister is the leader – this is the most common

What is a government and what does it do?Government – the power that

rules a country or community Makes laws, provides services,

keeps order & guides the community (public policy)

Services include armed forces, police, fire department, schools, hospitals & road construction

Governments make laws & enforce them

Courts are established to decide truth & justice

What happens when there isn’t a government?

Anarchy – a state of lawlessness, without rules or order

Class Question: What would life be like if we didn’t have rules?

Thomas Hobbes on Government English

philosopher

Wrote about the need to have government because people are naturally bad

Survival of the fittest – we act as animals

Class Question: Do you think humans naturally bad?

Aristotle’s 3 types of Government

Aristotle Ancient Greek philosopher, student of Plato and

teacher of Alexander the Great Identified 3 types of government

1. Dictatorship Rule by a small group or a single person Leaders have complete control over laws &

government & therefore over citizens Ancient example: Julius Caesar

2. Oligarchy Rule by few. Ancient example: Sparta

3. Democracy Rule by many (citizens). Ancient example: Athens

Modern Types of Government

Modern political scientists group them differently – Authoritarian and Democracy

Authoritarian

Power held by a person or group that is not accountable to the people

3 types Absolute Monarchy – King with

unlimited power Dictatorship – person who takes power

by force – likely to control police & military

Totalitarian – state run media – control all aspects of citizens lives.

Absolute Monarchy

Dictatorship

Totalitarian

Democracy

Rulers are accountable to its citizens

Usually includes many rulers

Usually limited by a constitution

Allows people to voice opinions by voting or participating in government

2 types of Democracy

The Two Types of Democracy

Constitutional Monarchy King whose power is limited by a

constitution Republic

Leaders do not inherit positions but are chosen by the people

2 types▪ Direct Democracy – people have the power

to write laws & rule – established in Athens▪ Indirect or Representative Democracy –

citizens elect lawmakers allowing citizens to hold power over the lawmakers – ex. United States

Government Analogies Directions – You will create analogies to

enhance your understanding of various forms of government. To do this, think about the key characteristics of a particular type pf government then think of another thing that has those same qualities.

Type of gov’t is like a Analogy Explanation/Characteristic

both have in common

PICTURE

Example

Dictatorship is like a game of “Simon Says.” In “Simon Says” the people do exactly what Simon tells them to do. In a dictatorship a single individual has absolute power.