Lesson #3
NAME _________________________________________ PERIOD _________ DATE _____________________
Smart Start
What is better: more freedom and less protection? Or more protection and less freedom? Why?
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o SWBAT explain the development of government and its purpose.
o SWBAT compare and contrast limited and unlimited governments.
Notes
Government:
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Governments have
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Governments are supposed to help make the country
3-2-1! Read and annotate the article.
3 purposes of government
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2 interesting facts about government
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1 question you have after the reading
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Lesson #3
Government
Introduction
A government is a system of people and rules for managing a community or country. Governments set
the laws and make sure the laws are followed. A government can cover a community of many different sizes,
including small towns, large cities, counties, states and nations. There are even organisations that serve as
governing bodies over many countries.
The government of a modern nation, or country, is made up of a group of people that does many things.
It protects the country from outside enemies. It keeps order within the country. And it provides services for its
people. In return, the people of the country must pay money called taxes to the government. They also must
obey the government’s rules, which are called laws. States and cities have governments, too.
What a Government Does
The role of government differs from place to place. Early governments mostly focused on defending the
borders of a location. In the case of monarchies, or countries ruled by kings or military rulers, the main goal of
government was often to expand the wealth and power of its ruler. In these cases, there was very little interest in
creating laws for the benefit of all the people.
Modern governments are very different. The role of government has been expanded to cover many
issues that benefit all of society. The government now does many things: it creates laws, approves those laws
and then enforces them, and then judges the laws in courts.
There are many other functions of modern governments besides making, enforcing and judging laws.
Today, most governments manage at least part of a local or national economy. A government may try to keep
unemployment low, or it may lower the cost of borrowing money in order for people to start new businesses.
Many governments also concern themselves with civil rights, or ensuring that all people remain free from
discrimination and have the right to vote
Institutions of Government
The nations of the modern world are not all governed in the same way. Some have kings or queens and
are called monarchies while others are constitutional states, or democracies. Still others are ruled by dictators.
They are distinguished by the ways they use the roles of government.
Independent Practice
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What is government?
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What are the purposes of government?
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What would happen if countries didn’t have governments?
Lesson #3
Limited Government:
EXAMPLE:
Unlimited government:
EXAMPLE:
Characteristics of limited government
 the _____________ in the country have a say in their ________________
 the rules or _____________ protect ____________
 everyone has to follow those rules, even the __________!
 the _____________ have ___________ powers.
 don’t have the power to do anything they want
 ____________________ are a form of Limited Government that began in Greece
Characteristics of unlimited government
 the ______________in the country do ___________ have a say in their __________________
 the ____________ or ___________ do not ________ everyone
 everyone has to follow those rules, __________ the _______________!
 the _____________ have ____________ powers. There is no limit to what they can do.
 Leaders have the ______________ to do ____________ they want
 A ________________________ is a form of unlimited government
How is limited government different than unlimited government?
Lesson #3
LIMITED GOVT
BOTH
UNLIMITED GOVT
Which type of government do you think is the best? Why?
Compare and contrast limited and unlimited government (6 sentences). Then, using what you
know about social studies and your own personal beliefs, discuss the following question: How
should people decide who gets to make decisions for a country?
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Lesson #3
Types of Government