Intro to

Government

Course Overview
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit
Unit

1:
2:
3:
4:
5:
6:

Intro to Government
Road to US Constitution
US Constitution
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch

Disclosure Document
Signed by you and your parents,
returned by:

Day 3: Friday Jan 15

Learning Targets
I can explain the four
purposes of
government.
I can explain how government
powers are acquired and justified.
I can compare different political
systems with that of the United

Human Nature
What is it?
The general psychological
characteristics, feelings, and
behavioral traits of humankind,
regarded as shared by all
humans.

Complete Page 1 in Packet

HUMAN NATURE
THINK ABOUT IT:
STUDENTS GOVERNING
SELVES

Do you KNOW?
Yes I know this
Ive heard of this. But Im
not sure I can explain it
I dont know what this is

Government
Government: institution with
which a society makes and
enforces its public policies.
State: a group of people living in
a defined territory and organized
politically with the power to make
and enforce their own laws.
Sovereignty: people with
absolute power within their own
territory.

Purposes of Government
1. Maintain Social Order
2. Provide Public Services
3. Provide for the common
defense
4. Provide for and control the
economic system
With your partner, come up
with 1 example of each

1. Maintain Social Order

Enforcing laws for the safety of
individuals
Ex: Police work

2. Public Services
Tax-funded services
Ex: roads, firefighters, policemen,
schools, and transportation.

3. Provide for the Common

defense
National Security
Ex: Military, International Relations

4. Provide for and control the

Economic System
Ex: unemployment benefits, minimum
wage, regulating businesses (no
monopolies

class government
The class is now divided into states; 2 rows of
desks = 1 state

Each state needs to choose:

1 Senator and 2 Representatives IF your
group includes the back row, you may elect 3
representatives. You will vote for your Senator
and Representatives within their states.
**If you want to run for President then you
should not run for the Senate or the House.

If you are a member of the

Senate you need to elect a Senate
President
If you are a member of the House
of Representatives, you will select
the Speaker of the House.

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/politics/2012/01/12/eitm-runn
ing-for-president.cnn.html

PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGN
Citizens you have the opportunity to run for
President of the U.S.; you will need to give a 30
second campaign speech of why you should be
president.
Primary election: put your heads down, and
lets get this election started!
Election for President: My 2 presidential
nominees will now give a 1 minute campaign
pitch.

ELECTION TIME

Get to work!
President it is now your job to appoint 3
Supreme Court Justices from the group of
citizens.
Supreme Court, you will need to be really
familiar with the Disclosure Document! Keep in
mind that the top of the Disclosure Document is
like the Constitution.
** It will be your job (SC) to know if the proposed
bills line up with the Constitution.

Does everybody have a role?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6MinvU93kI

Change! Change! Change!

Students it is now time for you to propose bills to change
our disclosure document.
ie. extra credit, the late policy, food in the classroom, test
corrections, electronic devices etc.
My Senate and House members will meet separately and
write out a bill. They will write their bill on a piece of paper
and vote on the bill in their individual group (Senate or
House). If the bill passes in the Senate by a majority vote
then the bill goes to the House to be voted on. If the bill
does not pass by a majority in both houses then the bill is
thrown out and the process starts over.
Citizens, you do not have a specific role during this time.
You may either sit quietly and get ahead on some
assignments, OR if you care and want a say to what ends
up on the Disclosure Document, you act as lobbyists.

(whisper an idea into a Senator or Representatives ear.)

When a bill passes through both houses, the bill goes

to the President. If the President vetoes the bill, then
the bill is dead. If the President approves the bill, then
the bill passes.
REMEMBER: If I take issue with any bill, I may push it
to the Supreme Court to determine if the bill is
constitutional or unconstitutional.
** S.C. you must use the opening statement of the
syllabus (which gives an overview of the class and what
I hope to achieve in this class) as the Constitution. The
S.C. will then determine if the bill aligns will the aims of
the class.

KEEP IN MIND:

1. The bill must be signed by the

President by the end of class or else the
bill does not pass!
2. I suggest that the two houses not just
come up with one bill but a group of bills
to vote on and then give to the House.
For example, you could call this larger
bill The Better Education Bill.

Homework:
Choose 2 of the types of
governments
Find 1 current (within the last 5
years) example of each.
Be prepared to share those with
your classmates next class period

Day 2

Origins of Government
ie. howd we get one?!

Evolutionary Theory
Head of the primitive family was the
authority that served as a government.

Divine Right Theory

Government set up by a divine being; the
gods have chosen certain people to rule.
Opposition to the ruler is opposition to the
gods

Force Theory
Government emerged when all people
of an area were brought under the
authority of one person or group.

Social Contract Theory

Governments are
formed when the
people get
together and
create a
government.
This government
protects their
rights and is held
responsible to the
will of the people.
The people

Types of Government
Autocratic
Totalitarian Dictatorship
Absolute Monarchy
Constitutional Monarchy
Oligarchy
Direct Democracy
Representative Democracy
Theocracy
Anarchy

Totalitarian Dictatorship
Who rules: Single leader
No Constitution
Legitimacy: Ruthless use of military
police power
Human Nature: People are like children
who need to be controlled to do what is
best.
Example: North Korea

Absolute Monarchy
Who rules: King, queen, or emperor
No Constitution
Legitimacy from Inheritance
Human nature: people are like children
need to be controlled to do what is
best
Example: Saudi Arabia

Constitutional Monarchy
Who rules: king, queen, or emperor
AND elected legislatures
HAS a Constitution
Legitimacy is based on
inheritance/election
Human Nature: people will usually
choose the best option, but need
boundaries.
Example: Great Britain

Oligarchy
Who rules: a small group
No Constitution
Gets legitimacy from a combination of wealth,
military power or social position
View of Human Nature: People are like
childrenneed to be controlled to do what is
best
Example: Hunger Games (the Capitol)

Direct Democracy
Who rules: the people through voting
HAS a Constitution
Legitimacy from the consent of the people
Human Nature: people will choose the best
optionput all trust in the people
Example: Ancient Greece, New England Town
Meetings

Democracy vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=
04n6qrBwFBE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
BBbcS0YodRM

Representative
Democracy
Who rules: elected representative
HAS a Constitution
Legitimacy from the consent of the people
Human Nature: people will usually choose the
best option but need boundaries.
Example: The United States

Theocracy
Who rules: prophet is both civil
and religious leader
Constitution: Leader receives
laws as revelation from God
Legitimacy: Civil and religious
leader is called of God;
opposition to leader is
opposition to God
View of Human Nature:
Religious and secular life are
inseparable, therefore you only
need one leader; people need a
Shepherd to lead them.
Example: Moses for the

Anarchy
Who rules: nobody uses force to promote their
ideals of society.
No Constitution
No legitimacy
Human Nature: people will be virtuous without
leaders, they can govern themselves without
being organized.
BUT: usually describes groups separated from
larger central governments
Ex: American Western Frontier (law taken into the
hands of local sheriffs, mining camps)

Groups!
1. Autocracy
2. Dictatorship
3. Monarchy
4. Oligarchy
5. Theocracy
6. Communism
7. Anarchy
8. Direct
Democracy

In your group, come up

with a short skit that
portrays your assigned
government type- you
will then present to the
class
(keep skits 1-2 min)

g
n
i
t
e
p
m ps
o
C rou
G

High on Freedom
Low on Order

Anarchy

tio

The
Human Predicament

lu

High on Order
Low on Freedom

vo
Re

Tyranny

Forming Government:
A Social Contract

In a state of nature people

are free to do whatever they
please and the world is
basically in anarchy.
Because humans desire
some safety and protection
in their lives, they make a
social contract, agreeing to
be governed in exchange
for order.

The Human Predicament: Tyranny

Human nature
propels those with
power to abuse
their power,
causing pain and
hardship among
those they govern.
People have 3
options:
do nothing and
remain miserable,
leave, or revolt.

The Human Predicament: Revolution

Those who seek freedom from tyranny plot to
remove it. If their revolution fails, the pain and
hardship is sure to worsen. If it succeeds, the result
is often no better and sometimes actually worse
than the tyranny.

Bolshevik Revolution

French Revolution

No one person or
group maintains
power. Mass
disorder. There is
complete freedom
and no order. The
forces who disposed
of the tyrant cannot
agree on a common
course of action and
fight among
themselves for
control. Sometimes
the conflict will go on
and on in a cycle of
violence and terror.
Sometimes it will be
short until a new
tyrant brings some
sense of order.

Anarchy and Competing Groups

The Second Congo War or
African World War. 5.4 million dead.

The Human Predicament

The Human Predicament: Alternatives?

For most of human history, people have been forced to choose

between tyranny and anarchy. But is it possible to balance
freedom and order and escape the human predicament, creating
the good society? Did the United States?

Human Predicament

Tyranny
Revolution

Competing
Groups

Anarchy

DEBATE
Which would you prefer to live
under:

TYRANNY or anarchy?
Why?

DAY 3

JIGSAW :
Forms of Government
No two governments are exactly alike,
because governments are products of human
needs and experiences
General Classifications:
1. Who can participate in the governing
process
2. The geographic distribution of
governmental power within the state
3. The relationship between the legislative
(lawmaking) and the executive (law-

Democracy
The government is conducted only by and
with the consent of the people

Direct democracy:

where the will

of the people is translated into the public
policy (laws) directly by the people
themselves, in mass meetings
Possible in small communities
Direct democracy does not exist at the
national level anywhere in the world today

Representative
Democracya small group of persons chosen by the people
to act as their representatives, express the
popular will
They are held accountable to the people for
that conduct (periodic elections)

Dictatorship/ Autocracy
Oldest, most common form of government

Authoritarian: absolute authority over

the people

Totalitarian:

exercise complete power

over nearly every part of life

Front: hold total control. Underneath: may have

many groups competing for control (such as
religious, military, industrialists)
Examples: Nazis Germany; North Korea

Unitary Government
Centralized government:

all

powers held by the government belong to a

single, central agency. The central (national)
government creates local units of government for
its own convenience (no power)
Example: Great Britain. Parliament holds the
power but local governments exist only to help
Parliament. Parliament can do away with these
locals at any time. Not a dictatorship, though.

Federal Government
Powers of government are divided between a
central government and several local
governments.
Ex: USA. Division of powers set forth in
Constitution, granting National government and
the 50 states different powers. Constitution
stands above national and state governments.
Others: Australia, Canada, Mexico, Switzerland,
Germany, and more

Confederate
Government
Alliance of independent states. The central
organization has the powers limited to what the
members have assigned it; typically limited to
defense and foreign affairs.
Several states can cooperate in matters of
common concern and retain their separate
identities
Examples: European Union is the closest modernexample
Historical US: Articles of Confederation (17811789) and Confederate States of America (18611865)

Graphics

Federal, Confederate,
Unitary

Presidential Government
Chief Executive (president) is chosen by the
people independent of the legislature
Holds office for a fixed term, and has a number of
significant powers that are not subject to the
direct control of the legislative branch
Each branch has powers that can block the
actions of the other branch.
US invented this form.

Parliamentary
Government
Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party
or a like-minded group of parties (a coalition) in
parliament and is chosen by that body. Executive
is chosen by legislative and is under their direct
control.
Remain in office as long as their policies and
administration have the support of the majority in
parliament. New government (prime minister and
cabinet) is formed when receive a vote of no
confidence from parliament.
Majority of countries

Basic Concepts of
Democracy
Soil of Democracy

Day 5

State of the Union: Extra Credit- Write

1 page

Where is Egypt on
the Human
Predicament cycle?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGuJpVr8OiI

Rule of Law

Rule of Law
A society where the law rules, not men
or an institution.
The law is fair and people are free to
choose their fate as they know both
the rules and associated
consequences.

Rule of Law: 5 parts

1. Generality
2. Due Process
3. Prospectivity
4. Publicity
5. Consent

1. Generality

The law applies generally (the same way)

to everyone.

The law itself is fairit doesnt single out

any specific group or person.

Generality applies when you are MAKING

the law.

Generality Violation Examples

Jim Crow laws

Age restrictions on voting/drinking
Male drivers only in Saudi Arabia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct0atsNF2
XY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnw2PzldX
e0

2. Due Process

The laws are enforced fairly and

consistently.
No individual or group is singled out in the
enforcement of the law.
If Due process is violated, the law itself is
fair, but the enforcement is not.
Due process applies when you are
ENFORCING the law.

Due Process Violation

Examples

Racial profiling

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
JTYbhMZNosk

3. Prospectivity

The law applies only to the

future.

No ex post facto laws

Prospectivity Violation
Examples

After the fact tax hike

4. Publicity

Laws are well publicized.

People know the laws.
No secret laws.

Publicity Violations Examples

Danny Malpeli and tree abuse

o Deli owner fined $1000 for chaining his bike to
a tree, when hed never been fined before and
didnt know it was a law.
o Fine removed.
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFH0zRUklto

5. Consent
The people agree with the government
and have given their consent to those
making the laws.

Consent Examples

Original Consent: at the institution

of the governmentratification

Periodic Consent: voting and

participating in government

Consent Violation
Example
Not allowing the people to vote on
changes in laws or leaders.
Some dictatorships take away the
peoples ability to vote.

Rule of Law: Skit Groups

1. Generality
2. Due Process
3. Prospectivity
4. Publicity
5. Consent

Road the Independence Video

Day 6

Learning Targets:
1. I can show my knowledge of basic
principles of government.
2. I can actively participate in my group's
video project.

DAY 7
VIDEO WORK DAY

DAY 8
TEST