Citizenship and Government in a Democracy

“If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all

persons alike share in the government to the utmost.” Atistotle

Civics

• The study of the rights and duties of citizens

Citizen

• community members who owe loyalty to the government and are entitled to protection from it

Government

• the ruling authority of a community

Functions of the Government

• Keeping order and provide security– Enforce laws, courts for accused, defend citizens

from enemies• Provide public services– Schools, hospitals, collect garbage, deliver mail,

repair roads, fire departments, help the needy• Guide the Community– Set public policy, creating a budget,

communicating with other governments

Public Policy

• The course of action the government takes in response to an issue

Budget

• A plan for making and spending money

Levels of U.S. Government

• National Government (Highest)– Based in Washington D.C.; makes and enforces

laws for the entire country• State Government – Based in each of the 50 states; makes and

enforces laws for the people in that state• Local Government– Makes and enforces laws for the people in

counties, cities and towns

Dictatorship

• government controlled by one person or a small group of people

Dictator

• The leader of a dictatorship

Vladamir PutinRussia

Xi JinpingPeoples Republic of China

Kim Jong-unNorth Korea

Raul CastroCuba

Democracy

• a government in which citizens hold the power• 1st democracy was in the ancient Greek city of

Athens

Direct Democracy

• a form of government in which the people voted first hand

• Citizens met to discuss government issues and vote right there

Representative Democracy

• a government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf

• The United States is the oldest representative democracy in the world

Abraham Lincoln

• Described America’s democracy as a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Principles of American Democracy

1) The power of the government comes from its citizens

2) Americans, through their elected representatives, run the government

3) The purpose of the government is to make the United States a better place for its citizens

Majority Rule

• a political principle providing that a majority of the members of a community has the power to make laws binding for all the people

14th Amendment

• Defines a U.S. citizen as anyone “born or naturalized in the United States”

Naturalization

• a legal process to obtain citizenship.

Citizenship by Birth

• Being born in any of the 50 states or the District of Columbia

• Being born in an American territory (Guam, Puerto Rico or a U.S. military base)

• Born in another country but at least one parent is an American citizen

Aliens

• Noncitizens

Immigrant

• a person who moves permanently to a new country

Steps to acquiring citizenship

1) Sign a Declaration of Intention2) Declaration is filed with the United States

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)3) After living the U.S. for 5 years (or 3 if married to

a citizen) file an application for citizenship4) USCIS interviews applicant5) Pass a citizenship exam6) Pledge an oath of allegiance to the United States

of America

Declaration of Intention

• Document stating that an alien wishes to become a citizen of the United States

• Only the Federal government can grant or revoke a person’s citizenship

Illegal Aliens

• a foreigner who has entered or lives in a country without the country’s authorization

Deport

• To send an alien or immigrant back to his or her own country

E pluribus unum

• A Latin phrase meaning “Out of many, one”

Migration

• A movement of people from area to another

Patriotism

• The love for a person’s country

Terrorism

• The use of violence by groups against civilians to achieve a political goal

Administration

• A political group that performs government duties

Directive

• A specific order or direction