Government

of the peopleby the peoplefor the people

What is Civics?

Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizens

The concept of citizenship dates back more than 2,500 years to Greece and Rome (only applied to men with property)

What is a Citizen?

Citizens are part of a country They share a common history,

common customs or common values They agree to follow a set of rules and

to accept the government’s authority

What is a Government?

A government is the ruling authority for a community.

Basically any organization that has the power to make and enforce laws and decisions for its members acts as a government.

What would happen with out a government.

If there were no government to make and enforce laws, we would live in a state of confusion, violence, and fear.

4 basic function of government

Keeping order providing security Providing public services Guiding the community

How do governments keep order?

Governments make laws to help prevent conflicts and to settle those conflicts that do arise

Governments have the power to enforce those laws

How do governments provide security?

Prevent Crime Protect citizens from foreign attacks

What public services do governments provide?

Provide libraries, schools, hospitals, parks, water and utilities

They also provide for the needy

How do governments Guide the community?

Manage the economy Conduct foreign relations And set Public Policy

What is public policy?

A course of government action to achieve community goals

Governments also guide the community by setting a budget

What is a budget?

A plan for collecting and spending money from the community

There are 3 levels of our government National Government

Centered in the nations' capital, washing, D.C. They make and enforce the laws for the entire country.

State Government Which decides matters for the people in

their state Local Government

Local governments include counties, cities and towns

Which type of Government do we have a Democracy or a Dictatorship?

A Dictatorship is a government controlled by one person or a small group of people

A Democracy is a kind of government in which the people rule. The foundations of democracy began in ancient Greece

There are two types of Democracy

What are the two types of Democracy

Direct Democracy All citizens met to debate government

matters and vote first-hand Representative Democracies

Citizens choose a smaller group to represent them, make laws, and govern on their behalf, but the people remain the source of the governments authority.

The fundamental principles of American Democracy Rule of law

All people, including those who govern, are bound by law

Limited Government Government is not all powerful

Consent of the governed American citizens are the source of all governmental

power Individual rights

Individual rights are protected Representative government

People elect government leaders to make the laws and govern on their behalf.