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7.
8.
9.
Civics
Citizen
Government
Values
Popular Sovereignty
Institution
Immigrant
Naturalization
Alien
Public Policy
Democracy
Authoritarian
Monarchy
Totalitarian
Republic
Direct democracy
Representative
Democracy
18. Federalism
19. Majority Rule
10.
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13.
14.
15.
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17.
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Civics – study of citizenship, government &
the rights and duties of citizens
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Citizen – member of a community with
government and laws that has certain
rights & responsibilities
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Class Question: Why do you think it is
important to know about your gov’t, and
your rights and duties as citizens?
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Vote for national, state & local officials
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Join political parties & interest groups to
express views
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Government is put in place by the people to
serve the people
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Birth – born in the U.S. boundaries including
territories (jus soli – law of soil) or your
parents are U.S. citizens (jus sanguinis – law
of blood)
o Only kids born of foreign diplomats that the US
has no jurisdiction over are not considered U.S.
citizens
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Naturalization – process by which foreigners
can become citizens
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Alien – person from another country living in
the U.S. who has not become a citizen – can
be legal or illegal
Immigrant – An alien who permanently
moves to a new country – there is a quota
Dual Citizenship – a citizen of two countries.
Occurs when a child is born outside US
boundaries and has only one parent that is a
US citizen
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People in the country without permission from the
U.S. government
Cannot legally hold a job in the U.S.
If found, they will be deported
Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE - )
investigates cases
2003 formation of Dept. of Homeland Security.
Now part of the ICE
Still pay taxes – sales tax, income, payroll,
property
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Lives are similar to U.S. citizen
Must obey U.S. laws & pays taxes
Cannot vote in elections or run for office
Cannot work most government jobs or serve
on a jury
Some eventually become U.S. citizens
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Naturalization Process – where an alien becomes a
U.S. citizen
 Declaration of Intent – intends to become a U.S.
citizen
 Take citizenship classes
 Take citizenship test – in English
 Background check
 Ceremony & Oath in court
All children of the naturalized citizen under 18 get
automatic citizenship
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"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely
renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign
prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I
have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support
and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of
America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will
bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear
arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law;
that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces
of the United States when required by the law; that I will
perform work of national importance under civilian direction
when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely,
without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help
me God."
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You will now be given a sample of questions
that are on the naturalization test.
 How many did you get right?
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Oath of Allegiance
 Remember you must give up your old allegiance
to your former country
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Quota – the U.S. restricts the amount of
immigrants that come into the country every
year
Legal Immigration & Revision Act – 1990
 Increased the quota of immigrants allowed to
enter the U.S. (about 675,000 per year)
 Gave special considerations to those with needed
job skills
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Class Discussion:
 What does it mean that America is a
melting pot?
 Where did your ancestors come from?
 What things in America have we adopted
from immigrants?
Diversity
 We live in a diverse society
 We are a nation of
immigrants
 National Motto
 E Pluribus Unum – Out of
many we become one –
shows our diversity
 Slavery & segregation go
against this concept
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Rule of Law
 Everyone has to follow the rules
Limited Government
 Government is limited by the people. WE
decide how powerful it can get.
Consent of the Governed
 Citizens = Power
Individual Rights
 Government protects rights. Ex. Bill of Rights
Representative Government
 We elect leaders to govern us and make laws
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Patriotism – love for one’s country
Nationalism – extreme devotion to one’s country
– can give rise to feelings of abhorrence to other
nationalities
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Terrorism – using violence to achieve political goals
Oklahoma City Bombing
4/19/95
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Presidential System – system like ours
where the President is the leader
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Parliamentary System – system like the U.K.
where the prime minister is the leader – this
is the most common
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Government – the power that rules a
country or community
 Makes laws, provides services, keeps order &
guides the community (public policy)
 Services include armed forces, police, fire
department, schools, hospitals & road
construction
 Governments make laws & enforce them
 Courts are established to decide truth & justice
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Anarchy – a state of lawlessness, without
rules or order
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Class Question: What would life be like if
we didn’t have rules?
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English philosopher
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Wrote about the need
to have government
because people are
naturally bad
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Survival of the fittest
– we act as animals
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Class Question: Do
you think humans
naturally bad?
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Aristotle
 Ancient Greek philosopher, student of Plato and teacher
of Alexander the Great
Identified 3 types of government
1. Dictatorship
 Rule by a small group or a single person
 Leaders have complete control over laws & government
& therefore over citizens
 Ancient example: Julius Caesar
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2. Oligarchy
 Rule by few.
 Ancient example: Sparta
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3. Democracy
 Rule by many (citizens).
 Ancient example: Athens
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Modern political scientists group them
differently – Authoritarian and Democracy
Power held by a person or group that is not
accountable to the people
 3 types
 Absolute Monarchy – King with unlimited power
 Dictatorship – person who takes power by force –
likely to control police & military
 Totalitarian – state run media – control all aspects of
citizens lives.
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Rulers are accountable to its citizens
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Usually includes many rulers
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Usually limited by a constitution
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Allows people to voice opinions by voting or
participating in government
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2 types of Democracy
Constitutional Monarchy
 King whose power is limited by a constitution
 Republic
 Leaders do not inherit positions but are chosen by
the people
 2 types
▪ Direct Democracy – people have the power to
write laws & rule – established in Athens
▪ Indirect or Representative Democracy – citizens
elect lawmakers allowing citizens to hold power
over the lawmakers – ex. United States
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Directions –You will create analogies to enhance your
understanding of various forms of government. To do this,
think about the key characteristics of a particular type pf
government then think of another thing that has those
same qualities.
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Type of gov’t is like a Analogy Explanation/Characteristic
both have in common
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PICTURE
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Dictatorship is like a game of “Simon Says.”
In “Simon Says” the people do exactly
what Simon tells them to do. In a
dictatorship a single individual has absolute
power.