The Purposes of Government
V. Martinez
The Government of the U.S. began when
colonists decided they did not want to have a king.
 The colonists didn’t want to be ruled by King
George because he was unfair.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofYmhlclqr4&feature=related
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School House Rock “No More King”
So they established their own government.
Everything about our government is described
in the constitution.
The Constitution
 The constitution is a “living
document”. We say that because it
can be changed or amended.
The beginning of the constitution is called the
Preamble to the Constitution.
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Preamble
to the U.S.
Constitution
We the People of the United
States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice,
insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the 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.
The Preamble to the Constitution
 Listen to this video on the Preamble:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q
_TXJRZ4CFc
The Purpose of Government
C-1A-E2 Explain the purpose of government.
 There are 6 purposes for government.
 Form a more perfect union (a common set
of rules)
 Establish justice (fairness)
 Ensure domestic tranquility (peace)
 Provide for the common defense
(protection)
 Promote the general welfare (help the
needy)
 Secure the blessings of liberty (freedom)
Government- helps meet basic
needs of society.
—providing education
—supplying social welfare
—building and maintaining roads
—providing and maintaining public
facilities (post office, hospitals,
schools,
 libraries)
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Government Provides Education
 Public education is education mandated
for or offered to the children of the
general public by the government, and
paid for, in whole or in part, by taxes.
Government Supplies social welfare
 Social welfare refers to any program
which seeks to provide an income,
service, or other support for
disadvantaged peoples such as the poor,
elderly, disabled, students, unpaid
workers such as mothers and other
caregivers, and underprivileged groups.
Government - Builds and Maintains
Roads
 Interstate highways are an example.
 Interstate highways receive federal
money but they are repaired and
operated by the states.
Government Provides and Maintain
Public Facilities
 Post office
 Public Library
 Hospitals
 Schools