Unit 1 – Defining Government
and Understanding our
Constitution
Dr. East
Review Answers to the
Naturalization Test
• See
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Office%20of%20
Citizenship/Citizenship%20Resource%20Cen
ter%20Site/Publications/100q.pdf
• At this site, they also have versions of this
publication in Spanish and Chinese. They
also have vocabulary flash cards in these
languages too.
• These could help you a lot when you prepare
or study for the AP Exam and my tests.
Other resources that might help you, available via
Amazon or local bookstores.
Think! Why do we need
government?
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•
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For Order!
– What do we mean by “order”?
– Why is order good?
• To help promote Civility!
– What are the various meanings of civility?
• For personal and group
EmPOWERment!
– How can you be empowered?
By Augstine Rodin,
French Scuptor, 1902
What is the “American Dream” and how does
Government help (or hinder) people achieving it?
• Give me
examples of
Government
helping.
• Give me
examples of
Government
hurting
(hindering)
people.
Defining Government and Politics
• Government = body or group of people that makes laws
and policies (rules, procedures and statements, like our
dress code policy) and ensures that they are followed.
• Governments do this for their citizens.
– Citizens are those people that “by law” are members
of a political community and have certain freedoms
and rights because of it.
• Who in US are citizens?
• How can some non-citizens become citizens?
• What are some of their rights “by law”?
Defining Politics
• Studying government requires that people study
politics.
• The word “politics” refers to a process and this
process is how laws, policies, rules, etc. get
made. It is social activity that many people
engage in (by voting or by discussing, etc.) and
in the US people have free elections that help
determine our government/political leaders
• Politics determines who gets what when and
where and how!
Breaking down the “Preamble to the
Constitution” (written, 1787 by people we
call the Framers)
• “We the people of the United States, in Order to
form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility, provide for a
common defense, promote the general Welfare,
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.”
– Let’s tackle the words you don’t know:
– ????
Finish a Worksheet on Functions of
Government
Vocabulary Practice in Teams
What are the 3 basic powers of
Gov. outlined in our Const.?
BTW, a Constitution = a document that the describes the structure,
functions, powers, and limitations of a country’s government.
1.Legislative = power to make laws (Congress = Senate + House of
Representatives)
1. Our Congress is a bicameral group, meaning it has two
branches
2.Executive = power to execute, enforce, and administer laws, these
are the President and the bureaucracy
• What are some bureaucratic agencies?
3.Judicial = power to interpret laws, settle disputes that arise between
individuals or groups in society, the court system, Supreme Court,
federal courts, etc.