Principles of Civics

  • Civics – study of citizenship, government & the rights and duties of citizens
  • Citizen – member of a community with government and laws that has certain rights & responsibilities
  • Government – the power that rules a country or community
  • Makes laws, provides services, keeps order & guides the community (public policy)
  • Services include armed forces, police, fire department, schools, hospitals & road construction
  • Governments make laws & enforce them
  • Courts are established to decide truth & justice
  • Anarchy – a state of lawlessness, without rules or order
  • Thomas Hobbes
  • English philosopher
  • Wrote about the need to have government because people are naturally bad
  • Survival of the fittest – we act as animals

Types of Government

Aristotle

  • Ancient Greek philosopher
  • Identified 3 types of government

1. Dictatorship

  • Rule by one
  • Leaders have complete control over laws & government & therefore over citizens

2. Oligarchy

  • Rule by few

3. Democracy

  • Rule by many (citizens)

Modern Types of Government

  • Modern political scientists group them differently – Authoritarian and Democracy

1. Authoritarian

  • Power held by a person or group that is not accountable to the people
  • 3 types
  • Absolute Monarchy – King with unlimited power
  • Dictatorship – person who takes power by force – likely to control police & military
  • Totalitarian – state run media – control all aspects of citizens lives

2. Democracy

  • Rulers are accountable to its citizens
  • Usually includes many rulers
  • Usually limited by a constitution
  • Allows people to voice opinions by voting or participating in government
  • 2 types
  • Constitutional Monarchy
  • King whose power is limited by a constitution
  • Republic
  • Leaders do not inherit positions but are chosen by the people
  • 2 types
  • Direct Democracy – people have the power to write laws & rule – established in Athens
  • Indirect or Representative Democracy – citizens elect lawmakers allowing citizens to hold power over the lawmakers

Principles of Civics & Citizenship

  • Civics – ______
  • ______– member of a community with government and laws that has certain rights & responsibilities
  • Government – ______
  • ______, provides services, keeps order & guides the community (public policy)
  • Services include ______
  • Governments make laws & enforce them
  • ______to decide truth & justice
  • Anarchy – ______
  • Thomas______
  • English philosopher
  • ______
  • Survival of the fittest – ______

Types of Government

______

  • Ancient Greek philosopher, ______
  • Identified 3 types of government

1. ______

  • Rule by ______
  • Leaders have ______control over laws & government & therefore over citizens

2. Oligarchy

  • ______

3. Democracy

  • ______

Modern Types of ______

  • Modern political scientists group them differently – Authoritarian and ______

1. Authoritarian

  • ______
  • 3 types
  • Absolute Monarchy – ______
  • ______– person who takes power by force – ______
  • Totalitarian – state run ______– control all aspects of citizens lives

2. Democracy

  • ______
  • Usually includes many rulers
  • ______
  • Allows people to voice opinions by voting or participating in government
  • 2 types
  • Constitutional Monarchy
  • ______
  • Republic
  • Leaders do not inherit positions but are chosen by the people
  • 2 types
  • Direct Democracy – ______– established in Athens
  • ______– citizens elect lawmakers allowing citizens to hold power over the lawmakers

Citizens

  • Vote for ______
  • ______
  • Government is put in place by the people to serve the people

Paths to Citizenship

  • Birth – ______
  • Only kids born of ______that the US has no jurisdiction over are not considered U.S. citizens
  • ______– process by which foreigners can become citizens

Other types of people in the U.S.

  • Alien – person from another country living in the U.S. who has not become a citizen – can be legal or illegal
  • Immigrant – ______
  • Dual Citizenship – ______

Illegal Aliens

  • ______
  • Cannot legally hold a job in the U.S.
  • Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) investigates cases ______
  • ______
  • ______

Legal Aliens

  • ______
  • Must obey U.S. laws & pays taxes
  • ______
  • Cannot work most government jobs
  • Some eventually become U.S. citizens

Naturalization Process

  • Naturalization Process – ______
  • Declaration of Intent – intends to become a U.S. citizen
  • ______
  • ______
  • Background check
  • ______
  • All children of the naturalized citizen under 18 get automatic citizenship

Restrictions on Immigration

  • Quota – ______
  • ______– 1990
  • Increased the quota of immigrants allowed to enter the U.S.
  • ______

The Melting Pot that is our Country

  • Diversity
  • We live in a diverse society
  • ______
  • National Motto
  • ______
  • ______go against this concept

Other Important Civic Terms

  • Patriotism – ______
  • Nationalism – ______– can give rise to feelings of abhorrence to other nationalities
  • Terrorism – ______
  • Federalism – ______– different levels of government share power Ex: National, State & Local
  • Presidential System – ______
  • Parliamentary System – ______– this is the most common

Principles of American Democracy

  • ______
  • Everyone has to follow the rules
  • Limited Government
  • ______. WE decide how powerful it can get.
  • Consent of the Governed
  • ______
  • ______
  • Government protects rights. Ex. ______
  • ______
  • We elect leaders to govern us and make laws