The story of Governmentville.
Be prepared to write notes and
pay attention.
Believe it or not, the story has a point!
The characters for the story include-Farmer Bill
Milkshake
And some pigs
Let’s begin the story.
Imagine a farm in a
far away country…
We’ll call that country
Governmentville.
On that farm lived
a farmer.
We’ll call him Bill.
Hi Bill.
Hi 6th
graders!
Now the country of
Governmentville had
gone through many
changes. Right, Bill?
Right!
When the country first
started we were under
the control of a
dictator. It was awful.
Why’s that Bill?
Well, for
one, the
dictator ruled
as an
absolute
power.
What’s that mean?
That means that
he claims his
power was given
to him by god.
Did he also run an
unlimited government?
Yes, he did. An
unlimited government is
where all power belongs
to the ruler but the ruler
doesn’t have to follow
the laws.
How so?
Well, for example, a
few years ago I
used to have this
cow.
I called her
Milkshake because
she liked to dance.
Anyway, the ruler of
our country made a
law that said no one
could drink milk on
Wednesday’s
But every Wednesday
he would come and
drink a glass of milk in
front of us farmers.
So that is what I
mean by unlimited
government. The
rules didn’t apply to
the ruler.
Now usually an
unlimited
government does
much worse then just
drinking milk.
Like what?
Well they may raise
taxes, take land or
create other unfair
laws that they don’t
have to follow.
Oh.
This type of government
is also known as a
totalitarian government.
I see.
Students I suggest you
write down a brief summary
of what an unlimited
government, totalitarian,
and dictatorship is on your
note sheet.
OK times
up let’s
continue.
Well, we decided to
overthrow the ruler
and gain our
freedom.
So what did
you do?
Not exactly.
Did it work?
Why not?
Well after we overthrew the ruler a
small group of the
richest farmers took
power.
They did?
Yep. We didn’t think
anything of it. They
said that they knew
how to run the
country fairly.
They did at first but
then the whole
unlimited government
problem arose.
Did they?
How?
Well you see I also
raise pigs on my
farm.
So?
Well, this group of rich
people didn’t like pigs
and made laws
against owning them.
It gets worse. They
then found out that
pigs were worth more
money then cows.
That doesn’t
sound fair!
Well I’ll tell you.
What happened
then?
They made laws
against us owning
pigs, but they had
pigs.
That government doesn’t
sound much better then
a dictatorship. What was
it called?
It was known
as an
oligarchy.
That’s where a
few rich
powerful
people make
all the
decisions.
An oligarchy, I’ll
have to remember
that one.
You do
that.
And I suggest y’all
take some time to
write down a brief idea
of what an oligarchy is
on your note sheet.
What happened to
the oligarchy?
Let me tell
you. Do you
have a
minute?
Sure.
What
happened
was one of
the farmers
got greedy
and wanted
more and
more power.
He imprisoned
all the other
powerful farmers
and declared
himself king of
Governmentville
So what did
he do?
I know what
you’re thinking.
And you guys let him?
That we must be
a couple of fools
if we let another
person gain
control like that.
What’s that?
Well for your
information we
didn’t let that
happen.
You said it, not me.
Yep. He
became king of
Governmentville.
That’s good.
You’re
interrupting.
So you did let it happen?
Sorry.
A government
where one
person is in
charge is known
as a monarchy.
But was it still an
unlimited government?
I’m getting to
that.
Oh, sorry.
That’s O.K.
Yes and no.
So Governmentville
has a monarchy?
Well we had a
monarchy for a
few years.
What?
But the king died
and his son took
control.
But?
Yes, but his son
was really dumb
and wanted to
make all types of
rules.
That’s what usually
happens in a
monarchy.
Yep and we
realized that
being an
unlimited
government
wasn’t good.
Uh oh…
We all got
together and sat
the king down
and made him
sign a charter.
So what did you
do?
It said that any laws
that the king made
would have to be
followed by
everyone—including
the king himself.
What did the
charter say?
It also said that all
the farmers would
have a say on
decisions being
made.
So we went from an
unlimited
government to a
limited government.
You’re interrupting
again.
So you have a monarchy
with a limited government?
Sorry.
Sort of. We called it
a constitutional
monarchy.
And that means?
It means the king
has to follow the
rules that the
farmers agree upon.
Did it work?
Soon after the king
signed the charter,
he tried to break it.
Uh oh!
Well, we knew better
and we overthrew
him.
So who gained control?
We all did for awhile.
What?
Since we
couldn’t decide
who should be
in charge we
decided that
everyone should
vote on any
decisions that
were made.
But before I go
into that let’s
have our friends
write a brief
definition of a
monarchy and a
limited
government
down.
Where was I?
Oh yeah, I was
talking about
voting on every
issue that was
going to take
place.
Interrupting!
Yeah that sure did seem
like a lot of work!
Sorry!
It was. We were
constantly going to
meetings and
voting on issues:
many I didn’t care
about but some I
did.
It was known as a
direct democracy.
That’s where all
citizens vote on
every issue.
What type of government
was that?
Usually a
democracy is where
the people have a
say in what
decisions are
made.
But the time involved is
large.
Yes! Over time our
farms began to be
neglected because
of all the voting.
That’s not good!
Nope. We decided
to switch to another
form of government
that we had heard
about in the United
States.
What was that?
It is known as a
representative
democracy or
republic, for short.
How does it work?
We elect people to
vote for us.
Forever?
No, only for a few
years. That way if
they break their
promise we can
elect someone new.
Sounds good!
It’s worked so far.
What about a leader?
We elect him as
well. Our current
leader is named
Chad Hanging.
I heard about that election.
Yeah. We had some
problems counting the
votes from the
southern part of
Governmentville but
eventually we sorted it
out.
Now he is the
president of
Governmentville.
How has he done?
Just fine. At times he
has had to raise taxes,
but our elected officials
kept us informed to
why and how much.
Sounds like it’s working.
For now. The important
thing is that everyone
votes. In some
countries everyone can
vote, but they don’t
take advantage of it.
You’re kidding!
No, I’m not. Take the
United States, for
example.
What about them?
In the last election
many people didn’t
vote.
So?
Well, then when they
are unhappy with
something that happens
they complain but do
nothing about it.
Oh, I see.
O.K. But what do you
say we let the students
do it?
Let’s recap the types of
government…
O.K.
First question. Who
can tell me the
difference between a
limited and an unlimited
government?
Next question. What is
something a dictator
may do in an unlimited
government?
What can the citizens of
a country do if their
leader is ruling unfairly?
What type of
government is it where
a small group of people
have the power?
What problems can
arise in an oligarchy?
How can an unlimited
government become
a limited
government?
Looks like Milkshake
has some questions.
Yes, I do.
What type of
government allows
everyone to vote on
every issue?
What type of
problems are there
with this type of
government?
Does the United
States have a limited
or unlimited
government?
How can a country
react to a leader that
is unfair in a republic?
O.K.! Enough
questions!
Yes, but can I tell
a joke before I get
moooving along?
O.K., but if it’s as bad
as that last one I’m
having hamburgers for
dinner!
Why didn’t the chicken
cross the road?
Why?
Because he lived under
a dictator!
Get it? Dictator? Not
being able to do
anything?
Ha! Ha! Ha! Just call
me David Hefferman!
I’m out of here!
Me, too. Need to go
heat up the grill.