Ch. 1Ch. 1Section 1Section 1

Government of the People, by Government of the People, by the People, for the Peoplethe People, for the People

What is Civics?What is Civics? Civics Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizens.is the study of the rights and duties of citizens.

The concept of citizenship dates back as far as 2500 The concept of citizenship dates back as far as 2500 years ago in ancient Greece and Rome.years ago in ancient Greece and Rome.

Citizens were only men who owned propertyCitizens were only men who owned property

Today, most people are citizens of the country they Today, most people are citizens of the country they live in.live in.

It is give and take though, citizens agree to accept It is give and take though, citizens agree to accept the government’s authority in exchange for rights the government’s authority in exchange for rights and protectionsand protections

The Need for The Need for GovernmentGovernment

A A government government is the ruling authority for a is the ruling authority for a community. It has the power to make and enforce community. It has the power to make and enforce laws for its members.laws for its members.

Thomas Hobbes in 1651 wrote “Thomas Hobbes in 1651 wrote “Leviathan” Leviathan” in which in which he explained why people needed government.he explained why people needed government.

Hobbes claimed that without government, human Hobbes claimed that without government, human beings would compete for territory, resources, and beings would compete for territory, resources, and power.power.

Fighting would be common, and survival would Fighting would be common, and survival would depend on strength and cunning.depend on strength and cunning.

The Need for The Need for Government (cont.)Government (cont.)

Hobbes believed in a “social contract” Hobbes believed in a “social contract” between people and government.between people and government.

People exchange their individual liberty People exchange their individual liberty for group safety and social order.for group safety and social order.

Hobbes believed that we as a people need Hobbes believed that we as a people need to move away from the notion of a state of to move away from the notion of a state of nature where only the strong survive in a nature where only the strong survive in a freedom of chaosfreedom of chaos

The Need for The Need for Government (cont.)Government (cont.)

John LockeJohn Locke accepted the idea of a social contract accepted the idea of a social contract between ruler and the ruled but believed that between ruler and the ruled but believed that people only gave up some of their individual rights.people only gave up some of their individual rights.

People kept the right to live, own property, and People kept the right to live, own property, and enjoy liberty. enjoy liberty.

Rulers were expected to uphold these rightsRulers were expected to uphold these rights

A ruler who violated those rights broke the social A ruler who violated those rights broke the social contract.contract.

The Need for The Need for Government (cont.)Government (cont.)

Locke believed that government existed Locke believed that government existed for one purpose: for one purpose: protect the people’s protect the people’s rights.rights.

Any ruler who denied the people their Any ruler who denied the people their basic rights was considered a tyrant.basic rights was considered a tyrant.

This would mean they could be justly This would mean they could be justly overthrown.overthrown.

The Functions of The Functions of GovernmentGovernment

Governments are meant to provide Governments are meant to provide 4 functions for the people:4 functions for the people:

1.1. Keep orderKeep order

make laws to prevent conflicts and make laws to prevent conflicts and to settle conflicts that do arise; to settle conflicts that do arise; enforce laws and establish courts enforce laws and establish courts to punish violatorsto punish violators

The Functions of The Functions of Government (cont.)Government (cont.)

2.2. Provide SecurityProvide Security

defend citizens and their land from defend citizens and their land from enemies (foreign and domestic); sets up enemies (foreign and domestic); sets up branches of the armed forces and branches of the armed forces and government agencies that actively government agencies that actively search for sources of trouble.search for sources of trouble.

The Functions of The Functions of Government (cont.)Government (cont.)

3.3. Provide servicesProvide services

create and manage libraries, schools, create and manage libraries, schools, hospitals, parks, and recreation centers; hospitals, parks, and recreation centers; keep the public safe and healthykeep the public safe and healthy

ex. Welfare programs, job training, fire ex. Welfare programs, job training, fire dept, FDA, government inspection dept, FDA, government inspection (elevators, amusement parks)(elevators, amusement parks)

The Functions of The Functions of Government (cont.)Government (cont.)

4.4. Guide the communityGuide the communityformulate formulate public policy, public policy, or course of or course of government action to achieve community government action to achieve community goalsgoals

what steps must be taken to strengthen what steps must be taken to strengthen national security? What is our budget for national security? What is our budget for the fiscal year for the state?the fiscal year for the state?

Ex. Creating a budget; conducting foreign Ex. Creating a budget; conducting foreign relations with our allies. (relations with our allies. (what benefits our what benefits our citizenscitizens))

Democratic GovernmentDemocratic Government The foundations of The foundations of democracy, democracy, government in government in

which the people rule, began in the Greek city of which the people rule, began in the Greek city of Athens.Athens.

Athens had a Athens had a direct democracy, direct democracy, all citizens met to all citizens met to debate government matters and vote firsthand.debate government matters and vote firsthand.

In our society this would be impractical because of In our society this would be impractical because of our population size. The U.S. has a our population size. The U.S. has a representative representative democracy. democracy. We choose smaller groups to We choose smaller groups to represent us, make laws, and govern on our behalf. represent us, make laws, and govern on our behalf. (Senate, House of Reps.)(Senate, House of Reps.)

Democratic Government Democratic Government (cont.)(cont.)

What makes our government a democracy is the What makes our government a democracy is the fact that we have free and open elections.fact that we have free and open elections.

But what makes our elections free and fair:But what makes our elections free and fair:1. Everyone’s vote carries the same weight, 1. Everyone’s vote carries the same weight, “ “one person, one vote”one person, one vote”2. All candidates have the right to express their2. All candidates have the right to express their views freely to the publicviews freely to the public3. legal voting requirements are kept to a minimum3. legal voting requirements are kept to a minimum4. Citizens vote freely on a secret ballot, without 4. Citizens vote freely on a secret ballot, without fearingfearing punishment for their decision.punishment for their decision.

Democratic Government Democratic Government (cont.)(cont.)

Citizens also agree that when differences Citizens also agree that when differences of opinion arise, we will abide by what of opinion arise, we will abide by what most people want (most people want (majority rule).majority rule).

The majority however, must respect the The majority however, must respect the rights of those in the minority.rights of those in the minority.

5 Fundamental Principles 5 Fundamental Principles of American Democracyof American Democracy

1.1. Rule of LawRule of Law

all people, even those who govern are bound by all people, even those who govern are bound by the lawthe law

2.2. Limited governmentLimited government

government may do only what the people give government may do only what the people give it the power to do.it the power to do.

3.3. Consent of the governedConsent of the governed

citizens are the source of the governments citizens are the source of the governments powerpower

5 Fundamental Principles 5 Fundamental Principles of American Democracy of American Democracy

(cont.)(cont.)4.4. Individual rightsIndividual rights

In an American democracy, individual In an American democracy, individual rights are protected by the governmentrights are protected by the government

5.5. Representative governmentRepresentative government

people elect government leaders to people elect government leaders to make the laws and govern on their make the laws and govern on their behalfbehalf