The document discusses why civics is important to study, including understanding one's rights and responsibilities, the role of government, the economic system, and international relations. It then provides information on civic life, the American political system's foundation in the Constitution, the levels and functions of government in America, and the principles of American democracy like rule of law and consent of the governed.
2. WHY STUDY CIVICS?
To know the following:
Your rights and responsibilities
The role of government in everyday lives
Our economic system and decisions you
make and others that effect your life
What is our relationship to other nations
and world affairs
3. WHAT IS CIVIC LIFE?
Politics
Government
The political process
What government institutions are in our daily lives
The processes by which groups with different interests and
opinions reach and enforce decisions
4. WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL
SYSTEM?
The Constitution
Explains how power is shared among the different branches of
government and on the federal and state level
5. Government of
the People, by
the People, for
the People
UNIT ONE-
FOUNDATIONS OF
AMERICAN
CITIZENSHIP
6. WHAT IS GOVERNMENT IN
AMERICA?
Government is the ruling authority
in a community
Citizens agree to follow a set of
rules and accept government
authority
Three levels of government in
America:
Federal
State
Local
7. FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
Provide services, protection that individuals could
not supply independently
A. Keeping order and providing security- laws prevent and
settle conflicts, armed forces defend citizens against
outside forces
B. Providing public services- services aimed at keeping
public healthy and safe
C. Guiding the community- formation of public policy to
achieve community goals
D. To collect and spend money
E. Communication and cooperation with other countries
8. TYPES OF GOVERNMENT
Dictatorship- government control by small
group or one person
Democracy- all citizens participate, share
in governing and being governed
Direct democracy- all citizens participated, had
right and responsibility, and had equal voice
Began in ancient Greece 2500 yrs. ago
Not practical in US because of large, diverse
population
9. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
US has a representative democracy- citizens
choose smaller group to represent them, make
laws, govern
Citizens source of government authority
U.S. oldest representative democracy in the world
10. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN
DEMOCRACY
A. Rule of Law- All people are bound by law
B. Limited Government- Can only do what people
give it power to do
C. Consent to be Governed- citizens are source
of power
D. Individual Rights- protected by government
E. Representative Government- people elect
leaders to govern, make laws
F. Free, fair competitive elections
i. Candidates have right to freely express opinion in public
ii. One person one vote
iii. Legal requirements to vote kept to a minimum
iv. Majority Rule
12. US great ethnic, religious diversity
American culture is a blend of many influences
Until mid 1900’s most immigrants from Europe
Latin Americans, Asians account for most newcomers
African slavery was immigration by force
American population grew because of immigration and
natural growth
Migration- Population moved from rural areas to
cities beginning in late 1800’s (manufacturing
jobs)
Manufacturing is being replaced by service economy
(jobs that provide a “service” for others)
American population is aging
Hispanics fastest growing ethnic group
By 2050 Hispanics will make up a majority of the
population
NATION OF IMMIGRANTS
13. Millions enter America only
675,000 accepted
5-6 million illegal aliens live in
U.S.
Many come for economic
opportunity
Do not have full political rights,
can’t hold government jobs
Can have public services
(school, health care), own
property and hold jobs
ALIENS IN AMERICA
14. Two way to become a citizen- birth, naturalization
Birth
• born in U.S.
• parents are citizens
• born on U.S. soil (exception: children of foreign diplomats)
Naturalization
Aliens come to U.S. for work, school, etc. eventually leave
Immigrants come to U.S. to settle
Steps to become a citizen
1. Sign statement to become citizen
2. Live in U.S. for at least 5 years
3. At least 18 and then file paperwork, apply for citizenship
4. Interview and citizenship exam
5. Sworn in as citizen
Children become citizens also
WHO ARE AMERICA’S CITIZENS?
15. A. Lost for criminal
behavior
B. Stripped by
government
C. Voluntarily give it up
Once you lose it you
can’t regain it
PRIVILEGES OF CITIZENSHIP
16. WHAT UNIFIES US AS AMERICANS?
Bound by common civic and political heritage
Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of
Rights (documents)
Ideas of liberty, popular sovereignty, equal justice
under the law, majority rule (ideals)
English language creates unity
18. INFLUENCES FROM ENGLISH
GOVERNMENT
Influenced by English
government, settlers brought
history of limited government
English Traditions
1215 Magna Carta- placed
limits on kings power, right to
jury trial, equality under law
Advisors to king eventually
became Parliament (a
representative, lawmaking
body)
1689 English Bill of Rights
19. 1) Parliament supreme power
2) Monarch had to summon Parliament
regularly
3) Parliament had power over money
4) Monarch could not interfere with Parliament
5) Guaranteed trial by jury
6) Principle of habeas corpus- person could not
be held in jail unless charged with specific
crime
ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS
20. OTHER ENGLISH TRADITIONS
Common Law
No written laws in early England
Custom had force of law
System based on custom- common law
Precedent
Courts decisions became basis of laws
Judges decided cases, used precedent (ruling from an
earlier case that was similar) to make consistent ruling
21. Equity Law- system of rules to
resolve disputes on fairness
Statutory Law- based on laws made
by legislative bodies
OTHER ENGLISH TRADITIONS
22. BRINGING ENGLISH HERITAGE TO
AMERICA
Representative Government
1600’s, 1700’s English settlers
bring political traditions to
colonies
Charters- gave colonists right to
est. governments, guaranteed
colonists rights of Englishmen
1619 House of Burgesses 1st
representative assembly in
America
1620- Mayflower Compact set
up government with majority
rule, established direct
democracy in America
23. Town Meetings
Tradition of direct democracy
Citizens held meeting to discuss problems and issues
Fundamental Orders of Connecticut
Americas first written constitution
Called for an assembly of elected leaders to make laws, called for
the election of judges and governor
BRINGING ENGLISH HERITAGE TO
AMERICA
24. Philosophical Influences
Locke’s idea of natural rights- life, liberty, property
The idea of the social contract
Agreement among the people of a society to give up some of their
freedom in exchange to have their natural rights protected by a
government
Separation of Powers
government was divided into three branches so one group or person
could not have too much power
Ideas of the Enlightenment
Human reason and universal laws (i.e. natural rights) applied to
human government and society
BRINGING ENGLISH HERITAGE TO
AMERICA
25. BIRTH OF A DEMOCRATIC NATION
Colonial Resistance to Rebellion
Separated from Great Britain by an
ocean, American developed tradition
of self government
By 1733 all 13 colonies had own
government
Governor, legislature
Colonies began to make more of their
own decisions w/o help from Britain
Mid 1750’s British policies change,
took a more active role in lives of
American colonists
26. BIRTH OF A DEMOCRATIC NATION
After French & Indian War, Britain
places taxes on colonies to pay for war
Stamp Act
“No taxation without representation!”
Colonies boycotted, led to beginning of
end to British rule
Declaratory Act (1766) British could
make all decisions for colonies
Townshend Acts (1767) Glass, tea,
lead, paper
Colonists boycott
Tea Act of 1773 led to Boston Tea
Party
1773 Coercive or Intolerable Acts-
restricted legal rights, allowed British
soldiers to search homes
27. Movement Toward Independence
Colonists band together against Intolerable
Acts
First Continental Congress
1774, 12 colonies sent delegates to Philadelphia
establish political body to represent American
interests and challenge British control
Sent a document to King George III
demanding rights of colonists be restored,
extend boycott
BIRTH OF A DEMOCRATIC NATION
28. BIRTH OF A DEMOCRATIC NATION
King George responded with force
War begins in Mass.
Colonists question British loyalty
People talk about independence
1775 Second Continental Congress
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
published, provided rationale for
independence
January 1776 called for complete
independence
29. Congress appoints committee to write a document
to announce the colonists independence
Thomas Jefferson main writer
Declaration of Independence –
A. rights of individuals
B. purpose of gov’t to protect people’s rights
C. Gov’t based on people’s consent
D. People entitled to overthrow gov’t
E. Abuses of King George III
July 4, 1776 approved by Continental Congress
1782 Americans defeat British
BIRTH OF A DEMOCRATIC NATION
30. INSPIRATION FOR IDEAS OF DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE
Inspired by Enlightenment ideas,
questioned traditional roles of
government and society
John Locke
1. People had natural rights- life,
liberty, property
2. Gov’t has obligation to people
3. Best government is limited
4. Idea of popular sovereignty- freely
elected government
31. States started to prepare new constitutions to replace their
colonial charters
All states established similar governments
Most had a bicameral legislatures
Like Parliament
Membership of the houses selected differently
All states had a governor
Elected by legislature or citizens
Job was to carry out laws
Judges and courts
To interpret laws
Most had a Bill of Rights
Guaranteed basic freedoms and protections
THE NATION’S FIRST GOVERNMENTS
32. Loosely unified under the Articles of Confederation,
first constitution of the US
Why?
States could not do everything individually, needed
a national government
Established a system of cooperation among the
independent states
How it was set up
Unicameral legislature, one vote per state
Congress controlled the army, dealt with foreign
countries – all with limited power
Congress could ask states for money, but could not
enforce anything
States afraid to give Congress the power to enforce
laws or tax
THE NATION’S FIRST GOVERNMENT
33. Lack of ability to raise money
Congress had no power to collect
taxes.
no power to regulate trade
no power to enforce its laws
Lack of Central Power
No single leader or group directed
government policy.
No national court system existed.
Rules Too Rigid
Congress could not pass laws
without the approval of 9 states.
The Articles could not be changed
without the agreement of all 13
states.
WEAKNESSES OF ARTICLES
34. 1781 all 13 states had ratified the A of C
US able to work through these weaknesses
and win the Revolutionary War
After the war U.S. had a large debt
Borrowed money to fund war
States had a large debt
States taxed goods from other states and
countries to raise money
States taxed citizens
Congress could do nothing about this
THE NATION’S FIRST GOVERNMENTS
35. 1786 & 1787 – riots broke out b/c
people afraid for their safety and
property
Shays Rebellion
Farmer in debt due to heavy taxes
Courts wanted to take farm
Felt state should not be able to take or tax his
farm
Led an armed uprising of farmers
Quick rebellion; yet noticed by the country
Demonstrated weakness of articles, no
federal or central power to deal with
crisis
1787 – delegates sent again to
Philadelphia to revise the A of C
THE NATION’S FIRST GOVERNMENTS