DEFINING GOVERNMENT

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DEFINING GOVERNMENT

• Dr. East 9/2015

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Think! Why do we need government?

• Ex.________________________
• Ex.________________________

By Augstine Rodin, French Scuptor, 1902
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Defining Government and Politics

• Government body or group of people that makes
  laws and policies (rules, procedures and
  statements, like our dress code policy) and
  ensures that they are followed.
• Governments do this for their citizens and
  residents (along a continuum of fully legal with
  green card visas to undocumented, at risk for
  deportation).
• Citizens are those people that by law are
  members of a political community and have certain
  freedoms and rights because of it.
• Who in US are citizens?
• How can some non-citizens become citizens?

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Governments are organized geographically and
topically

• Political jurisdictions (political divisions) are
  regions of the Earths surface over which groups
  of people establish social, economic, and
  political (governmental) control.
• Within a geographic area a government entity
  (body, agency, like FBI, or Arlington Police, or
  VA state government) might have topical
  jurisdiction over some aspect of our lives.
• Ex. FBI handles arrest and prosecution of people
  that commit federal crimes, like interstate drug
  trafficking.
• Ex. Local water conservation districts might
  manage how much water you use in your house.
• Ex. State of VA might make sure you pay your
  property taxes( so that it can pay for the
  maintenance of state roads, etc.)

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• Political Jurisdictions are
• Sometimes hierarchical
• Often territorial with set geo. Boundaries

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• What are some reasons for these different
  political divisions?
• Desire for government closer to home to solve
  local problems locally
• Need to administer resources most efficiently
• Differences in culture, language, religion
• Retention of historical boundaries
• Imperial Conquest and Control
• What does imperialism mean? _____________________
  ______________
• Economic similarities and differences between
  places

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• There may be conflict or cooperation between
  various political divisions since they represent
  different groups of people.
• Example conflict States may pass a law that
  allows pot production and sale this is illegal
  under federal law
• Example of cooperation Both the cities of
  Arlington and Alexandria want to expand the
  number of north/south Metro bus routes, so they
  cooperate with the WMATA (Washington Area
  Metropolitan Transportation Authority) to make
  more bus routes between the orange lines and the
  blue/yellow metro lines

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Our Government Is

• an indirect democracy (also called a
  representative democracy) we elect leaders to
  represent us
• We call these leaders representatives or
  delegates
• Our gov. allows universal suffrage all adult
  citizens are enfranchised with voting rights
• Except those we purposefully disenfranchise (like
  felons, etc.) and do not allow to vote
• initially based upon free-market, lassiez-faire,
  capitalistic economic principles let markets,
  businesses and consumers regulate themselves
• Since Great Depression of 1930s government has
  attempted to regulate (manage) business more,
  this is called Keynesian Economics and often
  people will call this socialism, not capitalism
  --- thus we can say we have some socialistic
  reforms in government

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Defining Politics

• Studying government requires that people study
  politics.
• The word politics refers to a process and this
  process is how laws, policies, rules, etc. get
  made.
• It is social activity that many people engage in
  (by voting, by discussing, by protesting, etc.)
  and in the US people have free elections that
  help determine our government/political leaders
• Politics determines who gets what when and where
  and how!

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What is the American Dream and how does
Government and our political process help (or
hinder) people achieving it?

• Give me examples of Government helping.
• Give me examples of Government hurting
  (hindering) people.

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Breaking down the Preamble to the Constitution
(written, 1787 by people we call the Framers)

• We the people of the United States, in Order to
  form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
  insure domestic Tranquility, provide for a common
  defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure
  the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
  Posterity, do ordain and establish this
  Constitution for the United States of America.
• Lets tackle the words you dont know
• ????

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Homework 2nd 7th Blocks

• Work on memorizing the Preamble. You should come
  whisper it in my ear sometime within the next
  week.
• For help check out this School House Rock!
• https//www.youtube.com/watch?vyHp7sMqPL0g

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Homework 4th Block

• Read pgs. 2 9 in your text by OConner and
  Root stop at the section Philosophical Origins
  of Gov.
• Work on memorizing the preamble. You should come
  whisper it in my ear sometime within the next
  week.
• For help check out this School House Rock!
• https//www.youtube.com/watch?vyHp7sMqPL0g