Civics Principles &Civics Principles &CitizenshipCitizenship

What is Civics?What is Civics? Civics – study of citizenship, Civics – study of citizenship,

government & the rights and duties government & the rights and duties of citizensof citizens

Citizen – member of a community Citizen – member of a community with government and laws that has with government and laws that has certain rights & responsibilitiescertain rights & responsibilities

Class QuestionClass Question: Why is important to : Why is important to know about your rights and duties?know about your rights and duties?

What is a government and What is a government and what does it do?what does it do?

Government – the power that rules a Government – the power that rules a country or communitycountry or community– Makes laws, provides services, keeps order Makes laws, provides services, keeps order

& guides the community (public policy)& guides the community (public policy)– Services include armed forces, police, fire Services include armed forces, police, fire

department, schools, hospitals & road department, schools, hospitals & road constructionconstruction

– Governments make laws & enforce themGovernments make laws & enforce them– Courts are established to decide truth & Courts are established to decide truth &

justicejustice

What happens when there isn’t What happens when there isn’t a government?a government?

Anarchy – a state of lawlessness, Anarchy – a state of lawlessness, without rules or order without rules or order

Class Question: Class Question: What would What would life be like if we didn’t have life be like if we didn’t have rules?rules?

Thomas Hobbes on Thomas Hobbes on GovernmentGovernment

English philosopherEnglish philosopher Wrote about the Wrote about the

need to have need to have government because government because people are naturally people are naturally badbad

Survival of the fittest Survival of the fittest – we act as animals– we act as animals

Class Question:Class Question: Are Are humans naturally humans naturally bad? bad?

Aristotle’s 3 types of Aristotle’s 3 types of GovernmentGovernment

AristotleAristotle– Ancient Greek philosopher, student of Plato and Ancient Greek philosopher, student of Plato and

teacher of Alexander the Greatteacher of Alexander the Great Identified 3 types of governmentIdentified 3 types of government 1. Dictatorship 1. Dictatorship

– Rule by oneRule by one– Leaders have complete control over laws & Leaders have complete control over laws &

government & therefore over citizensgovernment & therefore over citizens– Ancient example: Julius CaesarAncient example: Julius Caesar

2. Oligarchy2. Oligarchy– Rule by few. Rule by few. – Ancient example: SpartaAncient example: Sparta

3. Democracy3. Democracy– Rule by many (citizens). Rule by many (citizens). – Ancient example: AthensAncient example: Athens

Modern Types of Modern Types of GovernmentGovernment

Modern political scientists group Modern political scientists group them differently – Authoritarian them differently – Authoritarian and Democracyand Democracy

Authoritarian Authoritarian Power held by a person or group that Power held by a person or group that

is not accountable to the peopleis not accountable to the people 3 types3 types

– Absolute Monarchy – King with unlimited Absolute Monarchy – King with unlimited powerpower

– Dictatorship – person who takes power Dictatorship – person who takes power by force – likely to control police & by force – likely to control police & militarymilitary

– Totalitarian – state run media – control Totalitarian – state run media – control all aspects of citizens lives all aspects of citizens lives

Absolute MonarchyAbsolute Monarchy

Dictatorship Dictatorship

TotalitarianTotalitarian

DemocracyDemocracy Rulers are accountable to its citizensRulers are accountable to its citizens Usually includes many rulersUsually includes many rulers Usually limited by a constitutionUsually limited by a constitution Allows people to voice opinions by Allows people to voice opinions by

voting or participating in governmentvoting or participating in government 2 types of Democracy2 types of Democracy

The Two Types of DemocracyThe Two Types of Democracy Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy

– King whose power is limited by a constitutionKing whose power is limited by a constitution RepublicRepublic

– Leaders do not inherit positions but are Leaders do not inherit positions but are chosen by the peoplechosen by the people

– 2 types2 types Direct Democracy – people have the power to Direct Democracy – people have the power to

write laws & rule – established in Athenswrite laws & rule – established in Athens Indirect or Representative Democracy – Indirect or Representative Democracy –

citizens elect lawmakers allowing citizens to citizens elect lawmakers allowing citizens to hold power over the lawmakers – ex. United hold power over the lawmakers – ex. United States States

CitizensCitizens Vote for national, state & local Vote for national, state & local

officialsofficials Join political parties & interest groups Join political parties & interest groups

to express viewsto express views Government is put in place by the Government is put in place by the

people to serve the people people to serve the people

Paths to CitizenshipPaths to Citizenship Birth – born in the U.S. boundaries Birth – born in the U.S. boundaries

including territories (jus soli – law of including territories (jus soli – law of soil) or your parents are U.S. citizens soil) or your parents are U.S. citizens (jus sanguinis – law of blood)(jus sanguinis – law of blood)o Only kids born of foreign diplomats that Only kids born of foreign diplomats that

the US has no jurisdiction over are not the US has no jurisdiction over are not considered U.S. citizensconsidered U.S. citizens

Naturalization – process by which Naturalization – process by which foreigners can become citizensforeigners can become citizens

Other types of people in the Other types of people in the U.S.U.S.

Alien – person from another country Alien – person from another country living in the U.S. who has not become living in the U.S. who has not become a citizen – can be legal or illegala citizen – can be legal or illegal

Immigrant – people who permanently Immigrant – people who permanently move to a new countrymove to a new country

Dual Citizenship – a citizen of two Dual Citizenship – a citizen of two countriescountries

Illegal AliensIllegal Aliens People in the country without permission People in the country without permission

from the U.S. governmentfrom the U.S. government Cannot legally hold a job in the U.S.Cannot legally hold a job in the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS)

investigates cases – ICE todayinvestigates cases – ICE today– Ceased to exist after 2003 w/ formation of Ceased to exist after 2003 w/ formation of

Dept. of Homeland Security. Now part of the Dept. of Homeland Security. Now part of the ICE (US Immigration and Customs ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement)Enforcement)

– Major problems in Mexico today Still pay taxes – sales tax, income, payroll, Still pay taxes – sales tax, income, payroll,

propertyproperty

Illegal Aliens

Legal AliensLegal Aliens Lives are similar to U.S. citizenLives are similar to U.S. citizen Must obey U.S. laws & pays taxesMust obey U.S. laws & pays taxes Cannot vote in elections or run for Cannot vote in elections or run for

officeoffice Cannot work most government jobs Cannot work most government jobs

or serve on a juryor serve on a jury Some eventually become U.S. Some eventually become U.S.

citizenscitizens

Naturalization ProcessNaturalization Process Naturalization Process – where an Naturalization Process – where an

alien becomes a U.S. citizenalien becomes a U.S. citizen– Declaration of Intent – intends to Declaration of Intent – intends to

become a U.S. citizenbecome a U.S. citizen– Take citizenship classesTake citizenship classes– Take citizenship test – in EnglishTake citizenship test – in English– Background checkBackground check– Ceremony & Oath in courtCeremony & Oath in court

All children of the naturalized citizen All children of the naturalized citizen under 18 get automatic citizenshipunder 18 get automatic citizenship

Naturalization ActivityNaturalization Activity You will now be given a sample of You will now be given a sample of

questions that are on the questions that are on the naturalization test. naturalization test. – How many did you get right?How many did you get right?

Oath of Allegiance– Remember you must give up your old Remember you must give up your old

allegiance to your former countryallegiance to your former country

Restrictions on ImmigrationRestrictions on Immigration Quota – the U.S. restricts the amount Quota – the U.S. restricts the amount

of immigrants that come into the of immigrants that come into the country every yearcountry every year

Legal Immigration & Revision Act – Legal Immigration & Revision Act – 19901990– Increased the quota of immigrants Increased the quota of immigrants

allowed to enter the U.S. (about 675,000 allowed to enter the U.S. (about 675,000 per year)per year)

– Gave special considerations to those Gave special considerations to those with needed job skillswith needed job skills

Immigration to the US by Decade

School House Rock ClipSchool House Rock Clip Class Discussion: Class Discussion:

– What does it mean that America is a What does it mean that America is a melting pot?melting pot?

– Where did your ancestors come from?Where did your ancestors come from?– What things in America have we What things in America have we

adopted from immigrants?adopted from immigrants?

The Melting Pot that is Our The Melting Pot that is Our CountryCountry

DiversityDiversity– We live in a diverse We live in a diverse

societysociety– We are a nation of We are a nation of

immigrantsimmigrants Changing Face of A

merica National MottoNational Motto

– E Pluribus Unum – E Pluribus Unum – Out of many we Out of many we become one – become one – shows our diversityshows our diversity

– Slavery & Slavery & segregation go segregation go against this conceptagainst this concept

Nation of Immigrants

Other Important Civic TermsOther Important Civic Terms Patriotism – love for one’s countryPatriotism – love for one’s country Nationalism – extreme devotion to Nationalism – extreme devotion to

one’s country – can give rise to feelings one’s country – can give rise to feelings of abhorrence to other nationalitiesof abhorrence to other nationalities

Other Important Civic TermsOther Important Civic Terms Terrorism – using violence to achieve political goalsTerrorism – using violence to achieve political goals

Other Important Civic TermsOther Important Civic Terms Federalism – system of divided power Federalism – system of divided power

– different levels of government share – different levels of government share power Ex: National, State & Localpower Ex: National, State & Local

Presidential System – system like ours Presidential System – system like ours where the President is the leaderwhere the President is the leader

Parliamentary System – system like Parliamentary System – system like the U.K. where the prime minister is the U.K. where the prime minister is the leader – this is the most commonthe leader – this is the most common

Principles of American Democracy

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