Name:
Unit 1 Packet
Principles of Government
Bring this packet with you to class every day. All of the assignments for this unit are contained within and will be turned in the day of the unit test.
Quick Write: Why is government necessary?
Purposes of Government
Step One:
In the box below, draw a colored image representing life WITHOUT government. What would it look like? / In the box below, draw a colored image representing life WITH government (or the benefits of having a government. What would it look like?Describe the above scene: / Describe the above scene:
Step Two: Read pages 8-10 (the Preamble to the Constitution), and do the following:
Form a more perfect union
Define:Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government: /
Establish justice
Define:Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government: /
Insure domestic tranquility
Define:Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government:
Provide for the common defense
Define:Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government: /
Promote the general welfare
Define:Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government: /
Secure the blessings of liberty
Define:Draw a picture/icon to represent this purpose of government:
Look back over your “Life With Govt.” picture…which of the 6 purposes of government does your picture look like? Why?
Somalia Video Notes:
Quick Write: Where did government come from? What is its purpose?
Government and where it came from…
1. What is government?
n Government is the institution through which a society ______its public policies.
n Public policies of a government are all of those things a government decides to do ( ______, education, crime, health rights, working conditions).
2.Every government has…
n Legislative power- the power to make______
n Executive power- the power to ______law
n Judicial power- the power to ______, and settle disputes in society
3. The four main theories…
The Force Theory
The ______Theory
The Divine Right Theory
The ______Theory
4. The Force Theory
Many scholars believe that the idea of ______came about because of force.
One person or a small group claimed ______over an area and forced all within it to ______to their ______.
When that rule was established the basic elements of the ______; ______, ______, ______, and ______were present.
Draw a picture here to illustrate this theory.
5. The Evolutionary Theory
Other scholars argue that the idea of government developed naturally out of the early ______.
Within the primitive family there was one person at the ______, in other words the one that ______.
Over time the one family developed into a ______of related families or a ______.
Eventually the clan became a ______.
Eventually the tribe went through the ______and tied itself to the land- a state was ______. (Awww!)
Draw a picture here to illustrate this theory.
6. The Divine Right Theory
When you learned about European politics from the 15-18th centuries you learned about ______.
Divine Right stated that ______created the state and that God had given those of ______a “divine right” to rule.
The people had to obey their ______as they would obey God.
Any who opposed Divine Right were charged with ______and ______sin.
Draw a picture here to illustrate this theory.
7. Questioning the Divine Right Theory
Remember that event in European history called the ______?
During the Enlightenment many people started to question ______and people eventually began to govern using the present-day ______government model.
8. The Social Contract Theory
Before governments all people were free to do what they pleased. Meaning they could take what they wanted from whoever they wanted…utter ______right?
The Social Contract Theory states that people decided to form a ______so that they could all be safe.
All people living in the given area of the state gave up the same ______of ______and in return received ______and ______.
The state exists only to serve the ______.
Draw a picture here to illustrate this theory.
What acronym will help you remember all 4 theories?
Systems of Government
Using your book pages 13 – 16 complete the charts below. Then answer the questions that follow.
System based on geographic distribution of powerConfederation/
Confederate
Government / Federal / Unitary
Define and explain the system. Who has power? How is it shared?
Structure (Draw a diagram/picture to illustrate the structure)
Example Countries
Advantages of this system?
Disadvantages of this system?
Parliamentary / Presidential
Define and explain the system. Who has power? How is it shared?
Structure (Draw a diagram/picture to illustrate the structure)
Example Countries
Advantages of this system?
Disadvantages of this system?
1. Could a parliamentary or presidential system also be a dictatorship? Why or why not?
2. Based on what we have discussed, what geographic distribution of power do you think a dictatorship would best operate under? Explain your reasoning?
3. What does it mean to be sovereign and why is it important (page 6)
4. What is legitimacy and why is it important?
5. Based on the map below and the definition of a federal government, why do you think so many large countries have a federal government?
Communism vs. Democracy
Democraticandcommunistpolitical systems are based on different ideological principles. Although superficially they seem to share the "power to the people" philosophy, in practice the two systems of government structure the economic and political fabric of society in markedly different ways.
In the economic sphere,communismcalls for the government to take control of all the capital and industry in the country in an effort to get rid of economic inequality. On the other hand, ademocracyrespects individuals' right to own property and means of production.
The political landscape is also very different in a democracy vs. under communism. In a democratic society people are free to create their own political parties and contest in elections, which are free of coercion and fair to all contestants. In a communist society, however, the government is controlled by one political party and political dissent is not tolerated.
Comparison chart
/ Communism / Democracy /Philosophy / From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs. Free-access to the articles of consumption is made possible by advances in technology that allow for super-abundance. / All eligible citizens get equal say in decisions
Political System / No leader, directed directly by the people. This has never been actually practiced, and has just used a one-party system. / Elected officials
Economic System / The means of production are held in common, negating the concept of ownership in capital goods. Production is organized to provide for human needs directly without any use for money. Communism is predicated upon a condition of material abundance. / Usually capitalist
Social Structure / All class distinctions are eliminated. / Class distinctions can become pronounced due to capitalist society. Varies from state to state
Definition / A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, with actual ownership ascribed to the community or state. / is ruled by the all-powerful majority. In a Democracy, an individual, and any group of individuals composing any minority, have no protection against the unlimited power of the majority.
Religion / Abolished - all religious and metaphysics is rejected. / Permitted
Private Property / Abolished. The concept of property is negated and replaced with the concept of commons and ownership with "usership". / Permitted
Free Choice / In a communist society, where a leader does not exist, everything is chosen freely.In those that have been practiced though, all choices, including education, religion, employment and marriage, are controlled by the state. / Permitted within legal limits
Discrimination / In theory, all members of the state are considered equal. / In theory, all citizens have an equal say and so are treated equally. However often allows for the tyranny of the majority over the minority
1. In your opinion what is the biggest difference between communism and democracy?
2. In your opinion what is the biggest similarity between communism and democracy?
3. If you had a choice, which of the two ideologies would you rather live in?
Democracy: Representative vs. Direct PP Notes
1. What is democracy?
______
– People have a ______in what happens
Direct Democracy
Aka- “Pure Democracy”, or “Athenian Democracy” because it was first used in Athens, Greece
Definition: ______
There are small towns that still operate like this
– US
– ______
– Germany
But no ______operate like this today…too many people
Many countries that are representative democracies allow for three forms of political action that provide limited direct democracy:
– Referenda-people vote, and can reject (______) a current law
– Initiatives-people vote, and ______
– Recalls-give people the right to ______before the end of their term, although this is very rare in modern democracies (Kwami Kilpatrick-Detroit Mayor).
Representative Democracy
Aka- “Indirect Democracy”, because the people are indirectly involved
Definition: ______
Video clip:
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64zihFzj8Iw
What is happening?
Who has a representative democracy today?
• The United States (Congress, President)
• Canada (Parliament, Prime Minister)
• England (Parliament, Prime Minister)
• Germany (Chancellor, Bundestag)
• Etc…many more!
Why are we a RD?
• Our founding fathers insisted from the beginning that we be a RD.
• BUT-could we have a direct democracy today?
Pros to having a direct democracy / Cons to having a direct democracyDo you think a direct democracy could work in the US today? Explain.
Initiative & Referendum
Directions: Students will weigh the pros and cons of direct democracy by investigating the practice used in Michigan and one of the 24 other states: allowing public policy to be made through the initiative process. Students will debate this issue by taking and defending positions on the use of direct democracy as opposed to the representative democracy envisioned by the framers of the Constitution. Go to the website “Initiative & Referendum Institute” (http://www.iandrinstitute.org/statewide_i%26r.htm) to answer the following questions below.
1. Define the terms “initiative” and “referendum” in your own words.
a. initiative-
b. referendum-
2. What is the major difference between an initiative and a referendum?
3. List one other state that has the initiative and popular referendum process besides Michigan by looking at the map.
4. What year was the state-level initiative and referendum adopted for Michigan? For the one other state you choose what year was the state-level initiative and referendum adopted?
a. Michigan -
b. ______-
(Write chosen state in blank)
5. Describe the basic steps to undertake an initiative campaign for Michigan.
6a. Describe the basic steps to undertake an initiative campaign for your one other chosen state.
6b. Are there any differences compared to the basic steps for Michigan? (Explain your reasoning).
7. What are some examples of initiatives that have come before the voters in Michigan? (Explain at least 3).
8. What are some examples of initiatives that have come before the voters in your chosen state? (Explain at least 3).
9. Look at a state that has popular referendum only. What differences do you noticed about the amount of ballot propositions come before voters compared to Michigan and the one other state you examined?
10. Take a stance: Initiatives and referendums are two examples of direct democracy, which involve voters directly in the law making process. Keeping in mind that initiatives and referendums are examples of direct democracy and the Framers of our Constitution were concerned about the common citizen being directly involved in the law making process do you think we should be fearful or see any dangers to these procedures? Or do you believe the initiative and referendum procedures of the use of citizen initiative to create laws in individual states of the United States to be an advantage? (Take a stance and provide reasoning for your decision).
Core Democratic Values reading/note assignment
Use pages 18-24 to answer the following questions.
1. The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions: worth of the individual, equality of all persons, majority rule with minority rights, the necessity of compromise, and individual freedom. These are what we as Americans should value, and hold dear. Describe each below.
a. Worth of the Individual
b. Equality of all Persons
c. Majority Rule with Minority Rights
d. the Necessity of Compromise
e. Individual Freedom
2. In the United States, we DO NOT have equality of condition. What does this mean? Why do we not have it?
3. Sometimes CDVs conflict with other CDVs. Give an example of where individual freedoms and life (worth of the individual) might conflict.
4. Why is “Necessity of Compromise” so tough in a diverse society?
5. Which Core Democratic Value seems to be the MOST important? Explain.
6. Describe some basic elements of the American economy. Does a Democracy HAVE to be a free-enterprise (capitalist) society? Explain.
Make 2 Generalizations about the video history clip: “March of Democracy”
ISIS: The First Terror Group to Build an Islamic State
Video: http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/12/world/meast/who-is-the-isis/
(CNN) -- The face of a balding, middle-aged man stares unsmilingly into the camera. He is dressed in a suit and tie and could pass for a midlevel bureaucrat.
But the photograph is that of Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who has transformed a few terror cells harried to the verge of extinction into the most dangerous militant group in the world.
The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has thrived and mutated during the ongoing civil war in Syria and in the security vacuum that followed the departure of the last American forces from Iraq.
The aim of ISIS is to create an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria.
With the seizure of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, and advances on others, that aim appears within reach.
ISIS controls hundreds of square miles where state authority has evaporated. It ignores international borders and has a presence all the way from Syria's Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad.
What are its origins?
In 2006, al Qaeda in Iraq -- under the ruthless leadership of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- embarked on seemingly arbitrary and brutal treatment of civilians as it tried to ignite a sectarian war against the majority Shia community.