Government and the People Ch. 1 Sec. 3. What is a government? A government is the ruling authority for a community, or society. A government is the ruling

Government and the Government and the PeoplePeople

Ch. 1 Sec. 3Ch. 1 Sec. 3

What is a government?What is a government?

A A governmentgovernment is the ruling is the ruling authority for a community, or authority for a community, or society. society.

Thomas Hobbes, English political , English political thinker, said in the 1600’s that life thinker, said in the 1600’s that life without government would be:without government would be:

““solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and and short”short”

The 4 Functions of Gov’t:The 4 Functions of Gov’t:

1. 1. Keep orderKeep order– Make and enforce/carry out laws Make and enforce/carry out laws

(most important job of gov’t!)(most important job of gov’t!)– Establish court systemsEstablish court systems

2. 2. Provide SecurityProvide Security– The armed forcesThe armed forces– CivilianCivilian police forces police forces


3. 3. Provide ServicesProvide Services– Libraries, police, fire, streets, Libraries, police, fire, streets,

hospitalshospitals– Schools, government Schools, government

inspectors, housinginspectors, housing


4. 4. Guide the CommunityGuide the Community– Formulate Formulate public policy:public policy: course course

of government action to achieve of government action to achieve community goals ie: EOC’s, community goals ie: EOC’s, drivers educationdrivers education

– Create a Create a budget: plan for plan for collecting and spending moneycollecting and spending money

3 Levels of Government…3 Levels of Government…

11. National/ Federal/ Central Government (Washington, DC)– Has the highest level of authorityHas the highest level of authority– Provides the basic framework for Provides the basic framework for

citizenshipcitizenship

3 Levels of Government…3 Levels of Government…

2. 2. State Government State Government (Raleigh, NC)– Decides matters and makes laws Decides matters and makes laws

for the people in that statefor the people in that state 3. 3. Local Government Local Government (Catawba

County, Newton city, Hickory city)– Is the level of government closest Is the level of government closest

to the peopleto the people

State and local governments State and local governments cannot take actions that go cannot take actions that go against the laws and authority of against the laws and authority of the national governmentthe national government

Types of GovernmentTypes of Government

Main ideaMain idea: The people are the : The people are the ultimate rulers of democratic ultimate rulers of democratic countries, while in totalitarian countries, while in totalitarian states, a single person (dictator, states, a single person (dictator, absolute monarch) or small absolute monarch) or small group (*oligarchy*) holds all the group (*oligarchy*) holds all the power.power.

Types of Democracies…Types of Democracies…

Direct Democracy : Direct Democracy : –All citizens meet, discuss, and vote firsthand….not practical today

–Ex: ancient Greece (2,500 years ago)


Representative Democracy :Representative Democracy :–Citizens choose a group to represent them, make laws, and govern on their behalf

–Ex: United States–*we are the oldest representative democracy in the world


Republic :Republic :–Same thing as a representative democracy!

–You say this every morning at FTF


Constitutional Monarchy :Constitutional Monarchy :–Government with a hereditary ruler who has their power limited by the country’s constitution

–Ex: Great Britain- Queen Japan- emperor

Democratic GovernmentDemocratic Government

Abe Lincoln described our Abe Lincoln described our democracy as a democracy as a “government of the “government of the people, by the people, for people, by the people, for the people”the people”

He meant that…He meant that…

– The power of the government The power of the government comes from the citizens (consent of comes from the citizens (consent of the governed)the governed)

– Americans themselves, through Americans themselves, through their elected representatives, run their elected representatives, run their government (popular their government (popular sovereignty)sovereignty)

– The purpose of the government is to The purpose of the government is to make the U.S. a better place for make the U.S. a better place for those who live herethose who live here

Principles of American Principles of American DemocracyDemocracy

Rule of LawRule of Law– All people, including leaders, are All people, including leaders, are

bound by the lawbound by the law Limited GovernmentLimited Government

– Government may only do those Government may only do those things that the people have given it things that the people have given it the power to dothe power to do


Consent of the GovernedConsent of the Governed– American citizens are the source of American citizens are the source of

all government powerall government power– Majority ruleMajority rule: citizens will abide : citizens will abide

by what most people want as by what most people want as determined by electionsdetermined by elections

– Jean-Jacques Rousseau, French , French Philosopher, gave us the idea of Philosopher, gave us the idea of majority rulemajority rule


Individual RightsIndividual Rights– Individual rights are protected by Individual rights are protected by

governmentgovernment– Ex: the Bill of Rights (Amendments Ex: the Bill of Rights (Amendments

#1-10)#1-10)


Representative GovernmentRepresentative Government–People elect government leaders to make the laws and govern on their behalf

–Elections must be free, fair, and competitive

–“One person, one vote” (14th amendment)


Representative Government Representative Government cont…cont…–The legal requirements for voting must be kept to a minimum

–Citizens may vote freely on a secret ballot

Authoritarian GovernmentAuthoritarian Government

In an In an authoritarianauthoritarian form of form of government, power is held by an government, power is held by an individual or a group not individual or a group not accountable to the peopleaccountable to the people– **Oligarchy**Oligarchy: rule by a few (this will : rule by a few (this will

be on the first benchmark test!)be on the first benchmark test!)

Types of Authoritarian Types of Authoritarian GovernmentsGovernments

Absolute MonarchyAbsolute Monarchy– Ruled by a monarch who had Ruled by a monarch who had

unlimited/ unrestricted authority to unlimited/ unrestricted authority to rule as they wishedrule as they wished

– Not accountable to the peopleNot accountable to the people– Monarchs inherit their powerMonarchs inherit their power– Ex: king of Saudi Arabia, England Ex: king of Saudi Arabia, England

until the 1600’suntil the 1600’s


DictatorshipsDictatorships– Ruled by a dictator who exercises Ruled by a dictator who exercises

complete control over the statecomplete control over the state– Dictators usually take power by forceDictators usually take power by force– Rely on police or military to keep powerRely on police or military to keep power– Tamper with or refuse electionsTamper with or refuse elections– Limit freedom of speech, assembly, Limit freedom of speech, assembly,

presspress– Ex: Cuba and Fidel Castro since 1959Ex: Cuba and Fidel Castro since 1959


TotalitarianismTotalitarianism– In a totalitarian state, the

government’s control extends to almost all aspects of people’s lives

– They ban political opposition, regulate industry, suppress individual freedom, control the media

– Ex: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, China today

DO and turn in…DO and turn in…

P. 28-29 #1-12P. 28-29 #1-12

*Note visual summary at end *Note visual summary at end of chapterof chapter

Page guide on bottom of page Page guide on bottom of page #29#29

WritingWriting

Which of the 4 main functions of Which of the 4 main functions of government do you think is most government do you think is most important and why?important and why?

Why are dictatorships able to Why are dictatorships able to exist in modern societies?exist in modern societies?

Documents

Government and the People Ch. 1 Sec. 3. What is a government? A government is the ruling authority for a community, or society. A government is the ruling