Government role & Consumer Rights

CIVICS

CE. 13b&c&e

Mrs. Kozlik

Characteristics of most goods and services provided by the

governmentInclude such items as interstates, postal service, and national defense

Provide benefits to many people simultaneously

Would likely not be available if individuals had to provide them

So how does the government pay for all this stuff?????

Tax revenue 16th Amendment gives government the right to tax your paycheck

Borrowed funds

Fees (park entrance fees)

YOUR RIGHTS AS PROPERTY OWNERS

INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE RIGHT OF PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, WHICH IS PROTECTED BY NEGOTIABLE CONTRACTS THAT ARE ENFORCEABLE BY LAW

GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES GUIDELINES THAT PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

RIGHTS AS CONSUMERS…CONSUMERS MAY TAKE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST VIOLATIONS OF CONSUMER RIGHTS

A GOOD PIECE OF ADVICE COMES FROM THE LATIN PHRASE, “CAVEAT EMPTOR”, WHICH MEANS “BUYER BEWARE!!!”

GOVTS. ROLE IN CONSUMER RIGHTS

MANY LAWS INVOLVE LABELING:FAIR PACKAGING AND LABEL ACTFOOD DRUG AND COSMETIC ACTPURE FOOD AND DRUG ACT OF

1906

AGENCIES FOR CONSUMER RIGHTS

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA): OVERSEES SAFETY OF: FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC): GUARDS AGAINST FALSE ADS.

AGENCIES (CONT.)CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION: WARNS PUBLIC ABOUT HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: CRACKS DOWN ON FALSE CLAIMS IN THE MAIL

PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS

Better Business Bureau (BBB): Provide information on businesses Warn us about dishonest business practices &

investigate consumer complaints

CONSUMER INTEREST GROUPS: Bring consumer problems to the government’s attention

Place pressure on Congress to make laws to protect consumers

Money Money Money MONEY

CE.13f

Mrs. Kozlik

When the U.S. government creates coins and currency, people accept it in exchange for goods & services because they have confidence in the government. (No more carrying around chickens &

tobacco!!)

The Government creates money to facilitate this exchange.

The three types of money generally used in the United

States are:CoinsFederal reserve notes (What is that????)

…it’s bills!

Checks and debit cards (Why didn’t we include credit cards???)

…because they are not money…they’re credit or loans