Objectives #1 - #2• Students will be able to identify the

importance of government in a society.• Students will be able to identify the different

functions of governments.

Warm Up 8/27• “Why has government been instituted at all? Because the

passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint.”

Alexander Hamilton (1787)

1. How does Hamilton view the role of the government?

2. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? 3. What is your view on the purpose for which government

exists?

Answer

• A government enables a society to carry out its policies and protect its members from violence and injustice.

• Define the 2 following terms:– Society– Government– Public Policy

SOCIETY

• A GROUP OF PEOPLE, LIVING IN AN IDENTIFIED AREA, WITH COMMON BELIEFS, LAWS AND CUSTOMS.

GOVERNMENT

• IS AN INSTITUTION THROUGH WHICH A SOCIETY MAKES AND ENFORCES IT’S PUBLIC POLICIES.

Public Policies

• All those things a government decides to do. Public Policies cover matters ranging from taxation, defense, education, crime, and health care to transportation, the environment, civil rights, working conditions.

• The list is endless…

ESSAY A

HOW MANY EXAMPLES CAN YOU COME UP WITH OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS

IMPACTED YOUR LIFE, TODAY?

Government Doesn’t Affect You?• Education• Fire Dept.• Police Dept. / Protection under law, safety• Sanitation• Clean Water• Food and Drug Regulation• Health care and services• Minimum Wage, Child Labor Laws, Safe

Working conditions, 40 hour work weeks

• Environmental protection• Civil Rights• Transportation• Taxes

Why It Matters

• Government is essential to the existence of human beings in a society. What any particular government is like and what that government does may have an extraordinary impact on the lives of all people who live within its reach.

THE EARLIEST GOVERNMENTS

WERE FORMED OUT OF NEED

• ESSAY B (with partner)

• DOES HE NEED A GOVERNMENT, WHY OR WHY NOT?

3 FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT• MAKE LAWS---------LEGISLATIVE• CONGRESS, STATE ASSMEBLY, CITY COUNCIL

• ENFORCE LAWS-----EXECUTIVE• PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR, MAYOR

• EVALUATE LAWS---JUDICIAL• FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL COURTS

Famous Quotes• “The care of human life and happiness, is the

first object of good government”.

Thomas Jefferson

• The only justifiable purpose of government is to insure the development of the individual.

Albert Einstein

• “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.”

Wendell Holmes

Identify the term being defined

• Is the body of fundamental laws setting out the principals, structures, and processes of a government• Constitution

Identify the term being defined• In this form of government ultimate

responsibility for the exercise of governmental powers may be held by a single person or by a small group. In this form, those who rule cannot be held responsible for the will of the people• Dictatorship

Identify the term being defined

• In this form of government responsibility for the exercise of governmental powers rest with a majority of the people. Supreme authority rests with the people.• Democracy

Is there a difference between politics and government?

• Politics is a process• The process by which a

society decides how power and resources will be distributed within that society

• Government is an institution.

• The word politics is often used in a way that suggests that it is somehow immoral or something to be avoided.

• Is it possible to conceive a government without politics or politicians?(with partner)

Answer…

• No! Because politics is the process of government. It is neither “good” or “bad”, but it is necessary.

• State – A body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (that is, with government), and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority.

• A “State” is often called a “Nation”• How many states are there in the world

today? • Answer…190.

4 Characteristics of the State1. Population – people to rule2. Territory – land to live on/off3. Sovereignty – power over its territory4. Government – political organization

Does Fairview High School qualify as a State? (with partner)

If not, which requirements does it lack?

Famous Quote

• “Government is necessary to avoid the war of every man against every man. Without government there would be continual fear and danger of violent death and life would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

Thomas Hobbes

What happens when a government disappears?

• Look at places Somalia, and many others. Life became “nasty, brutish, and short.”

Civil War

Children become soldiers

Death and poverty

Once strong nations destroyed

Video; The Road

• Answer discussion questions after the video is completed.

• Where does the power of government come from? (with partner)

4 Theory’s1. Force – people were forced to submit 2. Evolution – natural development out of

family structure3. Divine Right – God created it and

granted it (through birth) to select few4. Social Contract – people give power to

the state voluntarily to promote their safety and well-being

Social Contract• Jean Jacques Rousseau• Describes the relationship of man with society.• The state of nature is a brutish condition without

law or morality, and that there are good men only as a result of society's presence.

• Because he can be more successful facing threats by joining with other men, he joins together with his fellow men to form a "society."

• "The Social Contract" is the agreement among men that sets the conditions for membership in society.

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Social Contract• John Locke• Relationship between a man and society and

society and its government• Government’s main purpose is to carry out the will

of its people and protect their natural rights• Any government which does not do this is therefore

not legitimate • And the people have the right to revolt and change

it• Greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson and

Declaration of Independence

John Locke

John Locke Quotes

• “The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom. “

• “The reason why men enter into society is the preservation of their property. “

Locke’s Second Treatise (essay) on Government

• Read the passage from Locke’s Second essay on page 11. Answer questions 1-4.

• Locke’s premise that governments are entered into by the consent of free and equal men, was very controversial in 1690.

• # 5 – Why would this be controversial in 1690?• # 6 - Do any of these reasons sound

controversial today? Why or why not?

The Purpose of Government

• “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Preamble to the Constitution

6 Purposes of Government

1. Form a More Perfect Union – not just “a firm league of friendship”. 13 loosely connected states.

2. Establish Justice – no goal of public policy is greater.

6 Purposes of Government

3. Insure Domestic Tranquility – order is essential to the well being of any society.Keeping the peace at home is the prime function of government.

Great Quote

• “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”– James Madison

6 Purposes of Government

4. Provide for the Common Defense – defending the nation against foreign enemies.

5. Promote the General Welfare – Government should act as a servant of its citizens.

Examples? Public Schools, clean drinking water, clean air, safe

foods, etc.

6 Purposes of Government

6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty – Government must protect our freedom and rights.

Great Quotes“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time.”

Thomas Jefferson“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a

little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Benjamin Franklin“You can only be free if I am.”

Clarence Darrow

Identify this term

• The love of one’s country; the passion which aims to serve one’s country, either defending it from invasion or by protecting its rights and maintaining its laws and institution in vigor and purity.

• Patriotism

Small Group Activity• READ OVER THE 6 PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT,

PAGE 9 – 10. CHOSE 1, AS A GROUP, THAT YOU CAN ARGUE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE PURPOSES.

WRITE AN EXPLANATION OF YOUR CHOSEN PURPOSE AND YOUR REASONS FOR MAKING IT THE MOST IMPORTANT. – SOMEONE MUST BE WILLING TO READ TO THE CLASS FOR THE GROUP TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE 10 POINTS.