Questions from Last Class 1A
If people make the government, why is it so controlling?
How would the US be different under a different form of
government?
Who thought up the idea of government?
If government is supposed to help why are there so many
problems?
How long has there been organized government?
Is government doing anything to help the environment?
Why do we do exit cards?
Who made government?
What is republican government?
We The People: The Citizen & the
Constitution Level 2
Objectives
Students will be able to:
Explain the ideas of republican government, the
common good, and civic virtue
State some of the advantages and disadvantages
of republican government
Explain why the Founders thought republican
government was the best type of government
Describe how the ideas of republican government
were promoted
Terms to Understand
AristocratsCivic virtueCommon goodDelegateDirect democracyFactionsRepresentativeRepresentative democracyRepublicRepublican government-
What did the Founders learn about
government from the Romans?
Roman Republic – (509-27 BC) government in
which power is held by people who elect
representatives.
- Citizens have power to govern
- Citizens delegate or entrust their power to
leaders they elect to represent them and serve
their interest
- Citizens and their representatives work
cooperatively to promote the common good
rather than their own interest.
What Advantages did the Founders
see in Republican government?
+ Serve the common good
+ Make the laws more efficiently
 Good laws require understanding which
require time
+ People influence government
 Not direct, but more efficient
+ Representatives are responsible to people
 Can be removed/voted out
What were the disadvantages of
republican government?
- Works best in small communities; colonies
were not.
- Works best in homogenous communities;
colonies were not.
- People in large and diverse republics
divide into factions, who would work
towards private interest rather than public
good.
How did the Founders adapt the
idea of republican government?
Form
Direct
Democracy
Who makes
laws
People directly
What setting
does it work
best
Small,
homogenous
community
Republican/
Representative
Democracy
Reps. elected
by majority
Larger, diverse
areas
Why should citizens promote the
common good?
Read p. 26 and answer questions 1-5
1. What is the common good as
represented in this story? What are the
self interests in the story?
Common good: need to protect Rome from
invaders
Self-interest: Cincinnatus – farming
Leaders – asking Cincinnatus to assume
power
Why should citizens promote the
common good?
2. Describe a person you know or a leader
who has civic virtue. Give reasons for your
opinion based on the person’s life.
Why should citizens promote the
common good?
3. Explain some situations where you think
you should put the common good above
your own interests.
- Following school/family rules
- Obeying traffic signs
- Not interfering with other students learning
- Getting vaccinated
- Not coming to school when sick
Why should citizens promote the
common good?
4. Explain some situations in which you
might not want to put the common good
above your own interest.
- The state plans to build a freeway through
your home, or low income housing, or a
prison
N.I.M.B.Y
Not In My Back Yard
Why should citizens promote the
common good?
5. Explain some situation in which people
might disagree about what is best for the
common good. What should be done
when there are such disagreements?
- ex. Banning or allowing flag burning, how
should firearms be regulated (bullet
control?)
Why should citizens promote the
common good?
Zombie Infection Scenario:
We are uninfected humans,
but Mr. Szymanski has
been infected and will soon
become one of the undead.
If you leave me alive, I
could infect others. If you
throw me out into the group,
they will rip me apart.
Q: What action could be taken
to promote the common
good be?
Q: What would a natural right
philosopher suggest that
you do?
Why is civic virtue necessary for
republican government to work well?
Civic virtue – both citizens and leaders willing to
set aside private interest for public good
When citizens cease to participate, the
government ceases to represent the common
good. (i.e. voting)
People cannot always be counted on to make the
right decision.
Q: Can self-interest lead to common good? Give
an example.
How did the Colonists teach the
values of republican government?
- school, church, parenting
- Architecture, public leadership, use of
Latin, “Senator”,
- conscious comparison to Roman Republic
G. Washington = “our Cincinnatus”
British government served “self-interest” of
parent country instead of common good of
all British subjects.
Lesson Review
1. What is a republican government? What
are + / -?
+ Serves the common good
+ Representatives make laws
+ More efficient
+ People have say by:
1. Electing representatives
2. Representatives are accountable.
Lesson Review
1. What is a republican government? What
are + / -?
- Works best in small, homogenous
communities
- Large diverse populations divide into
factions who work toward private interest
rather than public good.
Lesson Review
2. What is the meaning of the term
“Common good”?
- The common good is that which is good
for the community as a whole.
Lesson Review
3. What is the difference between direct
democracy and representative
democracy?
In a direct democracy, people themselves
make the laws and control the
government.
In a representative democracy laws are
made by representatives.
Lesson Review
4. What is civic virtue? Why is it important
that citizens and representatives have
civic virtue?
Civic virtue is the willingness to put common
good before personal interest.
Who will citizens elect if they are self
interested?
What will representatives do if they are selfinterested?
Lesson Review
5. How were the values of republican
government promoted in the colonies?
Why were these values promoted?
-Parents taught children, etc.
The values were promoted because they
make effective republican government
possible.