Do Now:-- What do you think is going on in this picture?-- Describe type of government you think this represents.

Objective 1.08: SWBAT compare the American system of government to other forms of government around the world.

Before we begin today, listen to this story…Imagine there once was an 8-year old girl who is abandoned by her mother one day. At first, she is scared and doesn’t know what to do. She doesn’t know how to take care of herself without her mom.

But over time, she learns how to take care of herself and becomes more independent.

Then, one day when the girl is 16, the mom returns. She tells her daughter that while she has been gone, she got addicted to gambling and lost all of her money so she was in debt.

THEN, the mom tells her daughter she must get a job. The mom will “tax” her pay in order to pay off her debt.

How do you think the girl is going to feel?

Questions of the Day

• Why did the Founding Fathers choose our system of government?– What type of government does America

have?

• What is a Citizen?– A legal member of any country

• What is Civics?– The study of what it means to be a US citizen

• What are the purposes of government?1. Help people cooperate2. Provide services: education, roads, protection3. Provide laws which guide and protect us4. Guarantee freedoms

REVIEW

1. What does it mean if you’re a “legal member” of a country?

TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS• A world with no government is

called anarchy

• Democratic Governments

– Democracy = rule by the people This is the USA

• Direct democracy = all citizens meet together in one place to make decisions and laws

• Representative democracy=citizens elect representatives to make decisions and laws FOR them This is the USA

– also called a Republic

2. Illustration of direct democracy:   3: Illustration of representative democracy:   4. What type of democracy does America have and WHY?

Which would you prefer?

• Direct Democracy, or a Representative Democracy?

• Direct democracy = all citizens meet together in one place to make decisions and laws

• Representative democracy=citizens elect representatives to make decisions and laws FOR them This is the USA

• Monarchial Governments– Monarchy = rule by a

king or queen, where power is inherited

• Absolute monarchy = king/queen has ALL of the power and control

• Limited/Constitutional monarchy = king/queen’s power is limited by the people

TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS

4. Draw a picture to show the difference between absolute and limited/constitutional monarchy

Constitutional Monarchy – Sharing Power

The Queen:Inherited Power

Parliament:Representatives; Elected by the people

Prime Minister:Like a President;

Elected by Parliament

England: Constitutional Monarchy

• Queen (and her immediate family) are limited to official, and ceremonial duties, such as bestowing honors, and appointing the Prime Minister.

• Prime Minister: is the head of the government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are accountable for political policies, and responsible to the electorate (the people).

David Cameron

• “Other” Governments• Dictatorship = ONE ruler has

complete power over the people and the gov’t

• Also called an autocracy or totalitarian government

• Ex: Hitler

• Oligarchy=rule by a few

TYPES OF GOVERNMENTS

5. What do you think would be a problem with a dictatorship?

Theocracy

• = gov’t is controlled by a religious leader who believes the “theory” that God gave him the power to rule– Ex: Iran (the

Middle East)

6. Critical Thinking: Why can’t the US be a theocracy?

Practice

• Write the answers to the following two questions somewhere on your notes

A democracy is a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by…

a. the President b. the Supreme Court

c. the military d. the people

• d. the people!

Practice

Which form of government is ruled by religious leaders?

a. Oligarchy b. Theocracy

c. Totalitarianism d. Monarchy

• b. Theocracy!

Which government is it??

Scenario 1: Melissa turned 18 and is going to city hall to vote in the presidential election for the first time. She will vote for candidates running for President, NC Governor and NC Senator.

Type of Government

Who/what controls decision making?

Explain why

Scenario 2: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia makes all the decisions for his country. He does not consult advisors and he never holds elections.

Type of Government

Who/what controls decision making?

Explain why

Scenario 3: The citizens of Hampton, New Hampshire hold 4 annual town meetings where they discuss town policies and make decisions regarding laws and the town budget.

Type of Government

Who/what controls decision making?

Explain why

Scenario 4: The government in Iran enforces religious laws contained in the ancient Islamic text, the Koran. The political leaders are also highest religious leaders, who claim they are chosen by God.

Type of Government

Who/what controls decision making?

Explain why

Scenario 5: In the ancient Greek city of Sparta a small group of elders made all the decisions. They even would decide which babies were strong enough to live in Sparta and which babies should be disposed.

Type of Government

Who/what controls decision making?

Explain why

Scenario 6: Adolph Hitler ruled over Nazi Germany with an “iron fist.” He controlled all the media and used his military and secret police (the SS) to exterminate any opponents.

Type of Government

Who/what controls decision making?

Explain why

Scenario 7: When Lenin came to power in Russia he tried to split all the property equally between the people by giving the government control over all property. He believed there should not be social classes and everyone should be equal.

Type of Government

Who/what controls decision making?

Explain why

II. Influence from England and Europe

A. Democracy-Greece (direct)

-Rome (representative

2. Illustration: Direct v. Representative Democracy

Direct

Representative

Enlightenment

Enlightenment = 18th century intellectual movement that said people should have protected freedoms and powers under their governments

-Enlightenment ideas came from 3 primary men (Montesquieu, Rousseau, and John Locke=the MOST IMPORTANT man)

Enlightenment Ideas

1. Self-government=people are allowed to create their own governments (choose their leaders)

2. Natural Rights of Man=all people are born with rights that cannot be taken away from anybody, including the government

-The right to life, liberty, and property

3. Social Contract=people agree to give up some rights to the government to have some order as long as the government is not corrupt

• 4. Out of the 3 Enlightenment ideas, which one do you think is the MOST important for democracy and WHY?

• Think about it then go and make your mark on the board.

III. Early Colonial Examples of Democracy

A. New England Town Meetings=people in NE (New England) gathered in one place to make laws together

B. Virginia House of Burgesses=the first representative legislature in the colonies where people sent a representative from their region to make laws/decisions for them

5. Categories: Sort the terms into the correct box below.

Mayflower Compact= the first social contract made by the people who came off the Mayflower ship and settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts

E. Maryland Toleration Act=the first act (law) that guaranteed freedom and tolerance for all Christian religions (Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Protestant)

Questions of the Day/Wrap Up

• Why did the Founding Fathers choose our system of government?

Answer this question on your own paper and turn it in at the end of class!