WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?

______is the institution through which the state maintains ______, provides public ______, and enforces ______decisions on citizens.

How is government involved in your life? ______

______

What signs of government do you see everyday in your community? ______

______

Why do you think governments began? ______

______are the decisions and laws that a government makes in a particular area of public ______.

Give an example of the following: a state = ______a State: ______

Four characteristics of a ______:

  1. ______: All of the people who live in the state. It will be stable if the people agree about basic beliefs (have a political and social ______)

Smallest: ______Largest: ______

  1. ______: The area within established boundaries. Can change through ______, ______, or ______.

Smallest: ______Largest: ______

  1. ______: having ______and ______power over the people within the territory; do not have to seek approval from a higher authority

Is the State of Alabama sovereign? ______Why? ______

  1. ______: how the state maintains social order, provides public ______, and enforces its ______

Theories of the origin of the state:

  1. ______theory: ______of families served as the earliest government and as families grew, the need for ______grew
  2. ______theory: all the people of one area were forced to accept the ______of one person or group
  3. ______theory: God or gods chose certain people to rule
  4. ______theory: without authority people are nasty and ______to each other so people ______to the state the power needed to maintain order. People give the state power and in return, the state ______its citizens.

On which theory is the government of the United States based? ______

The purposes of government:

  1. Maintaining ______Order: provide ways of ______conflict; make and ______laws
  2. Providing Public ______: provide the essential services that make ______life possible and promote the general ______
  3. Providing ______: protect the people against attack by other ______or from threats such as ______
  4. Making ______Decisions: bridge the gap between ______and ______to prevent civil war; decide on a ______system; can influence every ______economic decisions

The purposes of the United States government originated from the Preamble to the Constitution.

  • Form a More Perfect Union: keep state working together in a friendly way
  • Establish Justice: treat people fairly
  • Ensure Domestic Tranquility: keep order
  • Provide for the Common Defense: keep people safe from enemies
  • Promote the General Welfare:help the people
  • Secure the Blessings of Liberty:protect each person’s freedom

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

What is the relationship between a nation’s national government and its smaller governments?

  1. ______system: ____ key powers are held by the ______or central government

Ex’s: ______

- they _____create other parts of the government and give them ______sovereignty

  1. ______system: ______the powers of government between the ______government and ______or ______governments

Ex’s: ______

-______level has sovereignty in ______areas

  1. ______: independent ______join together; each state is represented in a ______organization Ex’s: ______

What are the major types of government? What are some examples of the major types?

  1. ______– rule by ______
  2. ______: seeks control over ______aspects of citizen’s lives Ex’s: Fidel Castro – ______; Qaddafi – ______

- ______through force, social position, or economic position

* ______dictator: leader has ______control over citizens’ lives but decisions ______the people rather than only the leader

  1. ______: have complete and ______to rule their people; ______position

Ex’s: King Abdullah – ______; Pope Benedict XVI – ______

  1. ______: share governmental powers with ______or serve mainly as the ______leaders of their governments; inherits position

Ex’s: Queen Elizabeth II - ______; Emperor Akihito - ______

  1. ______– rule by ______persons

- derives power from ______, military power, social position, or ______

Ex’s: ______– communist party (President – Hu Jintao)

- usually ______all political ______

  1. ______– rule by ______persons
  2. ______democracy: the people govern themselves by voting on issues ______as citizens

Ex’s: ______country today; small states in ______(cantons)

  1. ______democracy: people elect representatives and give them the ______and ______to make laws and conduct government; representatives are held accountable through ______elections

Ex’s: ______

  1. ______: voters are the source of ______

** not all democracies are republics (______)

What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches?

  1. ______system: voters ______the legislative and executive branch ______; both branches of government are ______and ______

Ex’s: ______

  1. ______system: voters ______the legislative branch; the legislature then selects a ______; the chief executive is responsible to and holds office at the ______of the legislature

Ex’s: ______

What system of government do we have in America? ______

What type of government do we have in America? ______