What is Civics?

-Civics

-Study of Citizenship and Government

-Citizen- a member of a community with certain rights and responsibilities.

-Government- ruling authority of a community that makes and enforces rules.

The Common Good

--The ultimate role of the government is to do the greatest good to the greatest number of people without harming others

•A successful government needs people to participate

Why We Need Gov’t?

-Make laws- • we must follow. Allows

for order• Establish courts -Keep Order-

safety, organized system

-Provide Services- utilities, government programs, schools, parks, etc.

-prevent anarchy

-the absence of any form of government = CHAOS

•You have two cows, either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors take the cows and kill you!

•Ahhhh, no laws, no safety, no order. And what’s considered fair price?

Keep OrderKeep Order Provide ServicesProvide Services

Pass and enforce traffic lawsEstablish courts

Provide libraries, school, hospitals, parks, water/utilities

Provide Security Guide the community

Prevent crimeProtect citizens from foreign attacks

Manage the economyConduct foreign relations

Levels of Government

-National- Highest level

Aka federal (located in DC)

-State- decide matters of citizens

-Local- government closest to people

1. County- geographical area (larger than a city)

2. City- aka metropolitan

Umbrella represents: federalism- a form of government in which power is divided b/w federal government and the states.

Levels of Government

-National

-State

-Local

County

City

AKA expressed powers Shared powers

These cows are going to help you understand certain governments! YAY!

Democracy-republics-- rule by the

consent of the people

-democracy

-direct democracy: a form of government where each citizens has an actual say in the affairs of government

**Mayflower Compact

-representative democracy: a form of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them **House of Burgesses

- United States

Popular Sovereignty- the idea that power lies with the people

We (the people) RULE b/c we?

-VOTE!

-We vote people in to REPRESENT us, hence: REPRESENTATIVE DEMPOCRACY.

Monarchy

-monarchy-

-form of government led by a king or a queen

-Power is inherited

-absolute monarchy-

A monarch that has complete and unlimited power to rule his or her people

-limited monarchy-

aka "constitutional monarchy,”-

a system of government in which a king or queen stood as head of state, but his or her power was limited by real power lying in a legislature and an independent court system (like 3 branches)

Socialist

-socialist- similar to communist

Type of government where individuals and government share ownership in major businesses and government takes on a greater role in citizen’s lives.

--property returned to people

-You have 2 cows, the government takes one and gives it to your neighbor

Pure socialism-

You have 2 cows, the government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else’s cows. You have to take care of all the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need

Socialist countries (ever been one and current)

Red-over 60 years

Orange-over 50 year

Yellow-40-50

Green-30 -40

Blue- 20-30

Black 10-20

Communist

-communist-

Type of government where the government owns and controls all aspects of life for its citizens

Why would gov’t want this?

• To create equality

• Suppress individuality

• Suppress Individual advancement

• Russia/China

You have 2 cows: The government seizes both and provides you with milk but you got to do all the work.

1950s: fear of communism

Authoritarian

-dictatorship-Type of government that is usually controlled by one person who allows very little freedom or opposition

-totalitarianism-Form of government where little freedom or opposition is allowed

-oligarchy-Government that is ruled by a small group of people

•Dictatorship: you have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you

Religious

-theocracy-

Type of government that is ruled by religious leaders

• You have two cows, they are ruled by god and so are you. Go to church!

• Authority for gov’t is given by god

• State religion you must follow

• Vatican -Catholic