What is Civics?

-Civics

-Study of Citizenship and Government

-Citizen

community member who owes loyalty to the government and is entitled to protection from it.

-Government

The ruling authority for a community.

The Common Good

--The ultimate role of the government is to do the greatest good to the greatest number of people without harming others

Why We Need Gov’t?

-Make laws

Help prevent conflicts and settle disputes

-Keep Order & Security

By using police and a court system

-Provide Services

Libraries, schools, parks, hospitals…

-prevent anarchy

-the absence of any form of government

Levels of Government

-National

“The government”

-highest level of authority

-Provides the basic framework for citizenship

-State

-Local

County

City

Levels of Government

-National

-State

Makes laws for that individual state

-when in that state citizens from other states must obey the laws

-Local

County

City

Levels of Government

-National

-State

-Local

“closest to the people”

County

ISS vs. CMS

City

Gun laws in NYC vs Lincoln, Nebraska

Democracy

-republics-- rule by the consent of the people

(Synonym for democracy)

-democracy

-direct democracy-a form of government where each citizens has an actual say in the affairs of government

-representative democracy-a form of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them

Democracy

What type do we have in the United States?

Why?

-democracy

-direct democracy-a form of government where each citizens has an actual say in the affairs of government

-representative democracy-a form of government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions for them

Monarchy

-monarchy-

-form of government led by a king or a queen

-absolute monarchy

Government has unlimited power to rule as they wish.

-limited monarchy

King is more of a figurehead with a legislature making most of the decisions for the country. (England today)

Socialist

-socialist-

Type of government where individuals and government share ownership in major businesses and government takes on a greater role in citizen’s lives.

Communist

-communist-

Type of government where the government owns and controls all aspects of life for its citizens

Authoritarian

-dictatorship-Type of government that is usually controlled by one person who allows very little freedom or opposition

(Saddam Hussein, Iraq)

-totalitarianism-Form of government where little freedom or opposition is allowed

-oligarchy-Government that is ruled by a small group of people

Oligos “a few”

Archo “to rule”

Religious

-theocracy-

Type of government that is ruled by religious leaders

Vatican City

Ecclesiastical, or sacerdotal- monarchical government.

American Population

-late 1700’s

less than 4 million people

-today

Over 300 million

-what caused the growth?

immigration

1600-1700 Mainly English

1600-1850 African Slaves

1700-1800 Western Europeans

1800-1900 Eastern Europeans

1900-2000 Latin Americans

birthrate/Life Span/Technology

African ImmigrantsAfrican Immigrants did not come willingly (slaves)did not come willingly (slaves) estimated 500,000 Africans were estimated 500,000 Africans were

brought to Americabrought to America for this purpose for this purpose WE ARE NOT A…….WE ARE NOT A…….

Diverse PopulationDiverse Population many different ethnic backgrounds, but many different ethnic backgrounds, but

many people do not identify themselves many people do not identify themselves w/ one ethnic groupw/ one ethnic group

Citizenship

-What is a citizen?

-2 ways to become a citizen (14th Amendment)

1. born a citizen-born anywhere in any part of the

United States

-If your parents are citizens no matter where you were born

-possible to be a dual citizen at birth?

Naturalization

-naturalization

-5 requirements

-file an intent form

Statement that you want to become a US citizen.

-live in U.S. for 5 years

If married to a citizen the wait is only 3 years

-be 18 years old

Naturalization

-naturalization

-5 requirements

-file an intent form

-live in U.S. for 5 years

-be 18 years old

-take naturalization test

Interview with agency and take an exam. Then a decision is made by the USCIS.

-take citizenship oath of allegiance to the United States.

-if they have children under 18 they also become a US citizen.

Naturalization Process

Sign a Declaration

of Intention

File it with the USCIS

Oath of Allegiance

Live in US- 3 yrs. If

Married to US citizen-5 yrs. If not

Pass aCitizenship

Exam

Have an interview

With USCIS

Can you lose your Can you lose your citizenshipcitizenship??

Only the federal govt can take it away- Only the federal govt can take it away- and it is rare.and it is rare.

Citizens may choose to give up the their Citizens may choose to give up the their citizenship. (you may have dual citizenship. (you may have dual citizenship- be a citizen of 2 countries)citizenship- be a citizen of 2 countries)

How do you lose citizenship?How do you lose citizenship? Denaturalization- cheating the processDenaturalization- cheating the process Punishment for a crime- treason, trying Punishment for a crime- treason, trying

to overthrow the govt., rebellionto overthrow the govt., rebellion

Legal Aliens

-Legal alien

1. Resident- established permanent residence but does not plan to become citizen. (Green Card)

2. Nonresident- stay for a short specified time. EX. Journalist

Visa

Both MUST carry ID at all times

Immigration Act of 1990

We now want people who have We now want people who have particular skills, talents, or money particular skills, talents, or money to invest in our economyto invest in our economy

-immigrant

Person who moves permanently to a new county

What ever happened to give us your What ever happened to give us your tired, your poor, your huddled tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free?masses yearning to be free?

Legal Aliens

-have written permission to be in the U.S.

Visa / Green Card- Formal permission for a non-citizen to be in a nation

-can’t vote or hold public office

-have same legal rights and protection from the government as citizens

Illegal Aliens

-Illegal Aliens

Estimated over 15 million in US today

-can not do anything legally in the U.S.

vote, hold office, work

-can be deported if found

-The process of being expelled from a nation

-why would someone come here if they would be an illegal alien???

Transforming AmericaTransforming America

Census is a population count done every Census is a population count done every 10 years.10 years.

mid 1800’s people began moving from mid 1800’s people began moving from rural areas to citiesrural areas to cities

separation of blue collar and white collar separation of blue collar and white collar workersworkers

shift to service economy from a shift to service economy from a manufacturing economymanufacturing economy (provide things for (provide things for others as opposed to manufacturing things) others as opposed to manufacturing things)

Our Changing IdentityOur Changing Identity

Current changes:Current changes: We are getting olderWe are getting older We are getting more educationWe are getting more education Hispanic Americans are the fastest Hispanic Americans are the fastest

growing population groupgrowing population group

E pluribus UnumE pluribus Unum (on back of coins)…(on back of coins)…means “Out of many, one.”means “Out of many, one.”

- reminds us that the diverse - reminds us that the diverse citizens of citizens of the U.S. join together to the U.S. join together to create one create one strong nationstrong nation

- linked by shared values & - linked by shared values & experiencesexperiences

- all of us descended from someone - all of us descended from someone who immigrated here (land bridge)who immigrated here (land bridge)

Homework for TonightHomework for Tonight

Would you classify America as a Would you classify America as a Nation of Immigrants? Why or why Nation of Immigrants? Why or why not?not?

Should we be? Why or why not?Should we be? Why or why not?

Census

-Census

-Started in 1790

needed to know population to determine representation in Congress

-completed every ten years (years ending with a 0)

-asks many other questions to find out information about the lives of Americans (confidential)

-Will result in more $$ for your area.

Nation of Immigrants

-All Americans are either immigrants or the descendants of an immigrant

-Native Americans

-Spanish

-English, French, Africans

-Other Europeans

-Asians

-Latinos

Immigration Limits

-mid 1800’s some discrimination begins against immigrants

-fear of jobs and land being lost by those already here

-1920’s saw National Origins Act which limited immigration based on nationality aimed at limiting the number of eastern Europeans and Asians

-1960 saw modern quota system implemented (millions apply for naturalization yearly-only 700K-900K accepted)

-refugees are the exception to the immigration quotas

People who have fled their homes because of war or famine

Population Growth

-Early population growth

-large influx of immigrants

-> Coming for a chance at a better life—”American Dream”—

-naturally high birthrates

-> Need help on the farms

-Today

-declining birthrate

Steady decline starting in early 1970’s

-fastest growing part of our population-> elderly and immigrants

Where We Live

-4 great shifts in our population

1.mid 1800’s saw people move from farms(rural) to cities (urban)

Went where the jobs were.

2.late 1800’s , early 1900’s saw African Americans moving into northern areas

1865- End of Civil

“Great Migration”

3.late 1900’s saw shift toward the south and southwest U.S.

4.late 1900’s saw move toward living in suburbs of cities

Changing Nation

-The United States changes with every Census

-Language barriers

bi-lingual areas

-cultural barriers

The more immigrants the more diverse the population becomes.

-religious barriers

-aging population

“Baby Boomers” becoming elderly

Members of Many Groups

-Many Americans play roles in most of these groups

-Family

-Friends

-Religion

-Education

-Economics

-Government

Values We Share

-American Dream

-Legacy of freedoms

-Government by the People

-equality of all persons

-Justice

-Imperfect Society in reality

Still the best in the world?