Metaphors Discussed in Class:

Unitary Government

Parent and small child:

·  Parent = strong central government & constitution that gives certain duties and responsibilities to the states. States = small children

·  Parents make most all the decisions, planned and unplanned; children are given certain choices & responsibilities (choosing what to wear, making their bed, etc.)

·  Powers can be given or taken away by strong central government (parent).

Aquarium

·  Glass enclosure represents the constitution that limits states’ priviages (fish, the states, can swim anywhere within the enclosure, but cannot leave the boundaries set by the glass; filtration system and motor are the strong central government that provides the guidance and structure for the states to operate under.

Tambourine

·  Round frame/drum head = strong central government/constitution

·  Silver jingles are the states; rights and responsibilities are controlled by the strong central govt.; little opportunity to make decisions or change beyond the confines of the wood frame. Hit the drum and the vibration is felt throughout the system.

Federal Government

Parent and Age 16+ child

·  Tell how the power within this system is like that of a Federal government, and the constitution that outlines specific powers for the national government, but freedoms for the states to make all other decisions---written and unwritten

Automobile

·  Tell how the basic parts of a car make it a car (these basic parts are the constitution)

·  Tell how the parts can be customized or changed by the car manufacturer or owner to make the car different and unique. How does this relate the rights states have under our federal government in the US?

·  No matter how these options are customized, none really work alone. They all work together with cooperation to help a car run smoothly and safely. In our federal government the national government does certain things and the states have the option to provide all else for the comfort and safety of the citizens.

Confederation

The best example of a confederation is the European Union. The different, individual countries (27 of them) are joined together for three purposes:

  1. trade (free trade zone, common currency),
  2. to improve environmental issues
  3. human rights.

Characteristics: weak central government, voluntary association (usually for the benefit of all members), each state has the ability to govern in any manner as long as they conform to the rules set up by the weak central government for those unified purposes. A member can leave at anytime if they choose not to follow the rules set up by the central govt.----but then they would loose the advantages (ie. Trade in EU)

Metaphors:

Parents (now grandparents) and adult children and their families:

·  Tell how this level of family relationships parallel those found in a confederation system of government.

Watercraft on a lake

·  Weak central govt.= the lake; all boats use this as the unifying feature

·  Each boat can be unique and different in how it operates, its purpose, etc.

·  Each boat is on the lake voluntarily, can leave if it wants

Merry-go-Round

·  How do the horses and animals on the carousel resemble the countries in the EU?

·  How does the platform the animals are attached to illustrate the purpose of the organization?

·  What part of the confederation is illustrated by the machinery that makes the carousel rotate?