Unit #1 Interactive
Discussion with
imbedded activity
September 6-8
What is a Government?
• Government is the institution through which
the state maintains social order, provides
public service, national security, and
enforces public policy
•
Public policy is all of the goals a government sets and the various courses
of action it pursues as it attempts to realize these goals.
Origins of the States
Theories:

Evolutionary-based on an extended family/Tribe
idea that eventually evolves into a “state”.

Force-people were forced under the control of
those more powerful and a “state” was formed.

Divine Right- “gods” have chose those who rule.
Introduction
How do we begin to discuss what is government and
why do we have government?
Our modern day thought on westernized
government originated with the ideas of Aristotle
a scholar in ancient Greece. He studied and
debated the ideas of POLIS (Greek City-State),
POLITICS (Process), DEMOCRACY (People Rule)
and REPUBLIC (Representative Government).
State

Comes from the Latin word “to stand” .

Today “state” represents a “political community”
that is organized.

There are over 200 “states” in the world today.

In the United States our nation is a “state” and we
are organized into 50 “states”.

“Nation” is a group of people tied together by
race, language, culture, custom, tradition and
even religion.
Features of a Modern
State

Population-you need people and are those
people stable, mobile or ?

Territory-land, borders, issues

Sovereignty-who is in political control-who is in
charge? No outside control, State makes all
decisions

Government-institution through which decisions
are made and implemented.
Government Systems

Unitary: Gives all key powers to a national or
central government

Federal: Power is divided between the national
government and provincial (state) governments

Confederacy: Loose union of independent states
Elements of Government Power
GOVERNMENT
Unitary
Location
of
Power
Federal
Confederate
CITIZENS
Constitution

Constitution: Formal written document that is
known as the owners manual for a government’s
powers
HOUSE.CONGRESS RESOLUTION 331
WHEN Was the Great Law of Peace Written………
Historians have reason to believe 1100 or 1450 are
the years the Great Law of Peace was created
according to the Roman Calendar we follow

“The Iroquoian system, expressed through its
constitution, “The Great Law of Peace,” rested on
assumptions foreign to the monarchies of Europe:
it regarded leaders as servants of the people,
rather than their masters, and made provisions for
the leaders’ impeachment for errant behavior.
The Iroquois’ law and custom upheld freedom of
expression in political and religious matters, and it
forbade the unauthorized entry of homes. It
provided for political participation by women and
the relatively equitable distribution of wealth.”
(Bruce Johansen, “Forgotten Founders“)
2) Functions/Purpose of
Government Activity
- Step 1: fold sheet of paper to create 8 boxes
- Step #2: follow along lecture and develop your
notes on the 4 functions/purpose of government
- Step#3: Use the attached reading resource to help
complete each box and help with your paragraph
on the second part of this word document
Function #1: Maintain Social Order
Governments have the
power to make and
enforce laws
 Examples???
1:
 2:
 3:
 4:
Function #2: Provide Public Service
Provide essential
services that make
community life
possible and promote
the general welfare of
citizens
 Examples???
1:
 2:
 3:
 4:
Function #3: Provide Common
Defense (National Security)
Protect the people
against attacks by
other states or from
threats from other
nations
Examples???
 1:
 2:
 3:
 4:
Function #4: Making Economic
Decisions
Reduce the cause of
conflicts by
intervening in
economic systems
Examples???
 1:
 2:
 3:
 4:
2) Types of Government
Video Presentation
Click on link below to begin video
https://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=2KXZ2WlqwgE
3) Create Your Own
Government Project
- Step 1: Review the project guidelines, instructions, requirements
and rubric
- Step #2: think about who you will work good with and form
groups of 2-4 students
- Step#3: Brainstorm as a group and create an outline for your
fictional nation and what type of government you will adopt
- Step #4: think of how you will write your essay explaining
your nation (each student must write their own essay)
- Step #5: Create your introduction paragraph and thesis
statement