Goal 10

What would our world be like without government?

Thomas Hobbes said life without government would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” According to Hobbes, humans naturally compete for territory, resources and power. If this is true, and if there are no laws… what would result?

Goal 10C. Sharbutt NC Civics and Economics

www.sharbsclass.com

C. Sharbutt NC Civics and Economics www.sharbsclass.com

Government – the ruling authority of a community, an

organization that has the power to make and enforce laws.


Functions of Government

• Keep Order– Pass and enforce laws, Establish courts

• Provide services– Schools, libraries, hospitals, parks,

water, fire/police departments• Provide security – Prevent crime, protect citizens from

foreign attack• Guide the community–Manage the economy, foreign relations


Foundations of American Government

The ideas of John Locke – English philosopher, wrote Second Treatise of Government– Main purpose of government is to protect people’s

natural rights

• Natural Rights: right you have because you are human

LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY• No Absolute Power for Kings• State of Nature – situation without laws and

government• Social Contract Theory = solution to a state

of nature– People agree to give up some freedom and create a

government to rule in exchange for protection and security. In this agreement people consent to obey the laws created by the government. (“the consent of the governed”)


Foundations of American Government:

republicanism (little “r”) –example Rome–Republic – the people’s representatives administer the government, allowing it to be extended over a much larger area.



democracy (little “d”) – example Greece• democracy – the authority of

government rests with the people. –US is a representative democracy –

citizens choose a smaller group of people to represent them

–US is not a direct democracy – citizens vote on each issue proposed to the government. Direct Democracies work in very small communities. (ex. New England town mtgs.)



Montesquieu – a French philosopher–Powers of Gov’t

should be separated–Power should be

balanced–Each branch

should check the others to ensure no one branch is too powerful


THE UNITED STATES HAS A Representative Democracy


US Levels of Government

** FEDERALISM – the principle of one central government and several state or local governments.

Federal – United States

State – North Carolina

Local – Charlotte


WHAT IS CIVICS?

Civics – the study of rights and duties of citizens


Why bother?

•What is the benefit of being informed of our political and economic systems?

Some ideas: • jury duty• voting• making and economic

investment• want to change the

government• you have been

discriminated against• pay taxes• if you break the law /

go to jail


What is a citizen?

•Citizen – a member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to it by birth or naturalization and is entitled to full civil rights.


Citizens have duties and responsibilities.

• What’s the difference?–Duty – an action required by law•Ex. jury duty, going to school, obeying the law, paying taxes

–Responsibility – an action that a citizen should take•Ex. community service, voting, service in the military, displaying patriotism


Citizenship• One can become a citizen by

– Birth (natural born citizen)• Citizen by blood – parents are US Citizens• Citizen by soil – born on US soil but your parents are

not US citizens. (this does not apply to children of diplomats)

• Becoming a US citizen (naturalized citizen)– Immigrant signs a declaration of intention that is filed

with the CIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) (Note: the CIS was once called the INS – Immigration and Naturalization Services)

– One may file an application for citizenship, after living in the US for 5 years (if you are married to a US Citizen, 3 years), living in your state for 3 months, and reaching the age of 18 yrs..

– Applicant meets with a CIS official for an interview– official is looking for good moral character

– Applicant must pass a citizenship test. – Applicant pledges oath of allegiance to the US


What about their children?

• If applicant has children under the age of 18, they automatically become citizens.


Is everyone who applies granted citizenship?

• Millions apply for citizenship each year but only about 675,000 are accepted each year. Relatives and people with needed job skills have priority in receiving citizenship.


“E Pluribus Unum” – out of many, one

• We are a nation of immigrants–Immigrant – people legally admitted as permanent residents of a country. –Illegal Immigrants – or “undocumented” are those residing in the US without permission from the government. –Alien – non-citizen


Is the US as a “Melting Pot” or a “Salad Bowl”?

Melting Pot • this metaphor is

used to describe a culture in which groups of people have lost their specific identities (in other words they have assimilated into the dominate culture)

Salad Bowl• this metaphor is

used to describe a culture in which groups maintain their unique identities within the larger group.


CITIZENSHIP

What does that really mean?


Citizen: an official member of a country

• If you are born in the US, you are automatically a US citizen!– (unless your parents are official

representatives of another country)• If both your parents are US citizens at the

time of your birth, you are a US citizen no matter where you are born!

• If one of your parents is a US citizen, and the other parent is a citizen of another country, you have dual citizenship. These situations are individually handled.


Aliens: non-citizens

• Illegal: either did not apply or were denied and stayed (aka undocumented immigrants)– Estimated 10 million in the US– It’s illegal to hire or house illegal aliens– If caught, illegal aliens are deported

• Legal:– Hold jobs, own property, go to school, travel,

pay taxes, obey laws– Cannot vote, run for office, or work for the

government– Must carry ID at ALL times


Immigrants: permanent aliens

• Millions apply, only thousands are accepted• Having relatives, talents, job skills, or money to invest increases chances of being accepted• There have been several “waves” of immigration in US history


Naturalization: the process of becoming a citizen

• 1st Step: file a Declaration of Intention• 2nd Step: (about a 5-year wait after step

one) File an application with Immigration & Naturalization Services (INS)

• 3rd Step: if application is approved, you interview with an examiner (you’ll be asked questions about history, gov’t, and why you want to be a citizen)

• 4th Step: Oath of Loyalty (if you have children under the age of 18, they too become citizens)


Is it permanent?

Ways to Lose Your US Citizenship:• If you become a citizen of another country• You threaten to overthrow the gov’t• You serve in the military of another country


CITIZENSHIP: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES


Duties: required to do

• Obey the laws• Pay taxes• Defend the nation (men, 18 and older if drafted)• Serve in court (juror, witness)• Attend school (in an attempt to make you an informed citizen)


Responsibilities: should do

• Be informed• Vote• Participate in government

(volunteer firemen, coaches, community organizations)

• Respect others –physically, –property, –diversity (tolerance)

Goal 10

Education

Transcript of Goal 10