Makes civic virtue a necessity. Putting the common good (your country) before your own interests This is done through moral education

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2 Foundations of Government Greece (400 s BC): Democracy: rule by the people Rome ( BC) Republic: Citizens govern, through elected representatives Focus on the common good Makes civic virtue a necessity Putting the common good (your country) before your own interests This is done through moral education

3 Foundations of Government (2) Kings and Queens rule (with nobles and lords) 1215 Nobles resist king s rule and write Magna Carta Limited king s power Can t tax without approval Rights of free men must be protected Right to a trial by peers Nobles can rebel if king breaks this agreement This is called limited government (limiting the king s power) 1300 s Advisors to the king turn into Legislature (Parliament) Law making body

4 Foundations of Government (3) 1628 King Charles (England) forced to sign Petition of Rights Which he breaks thus causing his removal from power 1688 William and Mary (Charles s daughter) sign English Bill of Rights Citizens have certain rights no one can take away Right to a fair trial No imprisonment without due process of law No loss of property without due process of law No cruel punishment No standing army in peace time without Parliament s consent No taxes without Parliament s consent Right to bear arms Right to petition the king Freedom of Speech in Parliament Parliament now has more POWER!

5 Life Liberty Property Philosopher John Locke

6 What would happen if you were in a state of nature? (i.e. no rules) so we give up some of our freedoms in exchange for protection and security.to consent to the law Social Contract: Agreement people make among themselves to create a government to rule and protect their natural rights.

7 Philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau Baron de Montesquieu Man is born free, yet everywhere he is found in chains. People have the right to decide how they are governed (legislature) Power of the government should be divided into branches Thus, none is too powerful to threaten people s rights separation of powers checks and balances Voltaire People should have free religion and free trade

8 Early American Government 1607 Jamestown Virginia Company: Appoint governor and council House of Burgesses: elect leaders to represent them and make own laws 1620 Mayflower Compact Written agreement to choose leaders, work together, and obey laws direct democracy town meetings used to discuss problems and make decisions

9 American Revolution and the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE!!

10 What is the purpose of government? How should government get the authority or right to make laws telling people what they can and cannot do? What should the people have the right to do if government doesn t serve the purpose for which it was created? Why do they have this right?

11 1) Protect natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness) 2) Government gets consent from the people: Explicit Consent Agree to a contract that establishes the society whose members then establish the government and choose its officers Join a society already established Implicit consent Accepting laws and services of a government and nation of your birth

12 How do Americans give consent to government: Ratified Constitution in 1787 Born here = implied consent You could choose to leave, but if you choose to stay, you accept laws and enjoy benefits Immigrants = explicit consent 3) If people have the right to give power to government, they have the right to take it away if it is not serving the purposes it was established for i.e. the right to a revolution!

13 Limited government Established and respected restraints on powers Unlimited government Government free to use power as chooses Americans choose limited (based on history) Constitutional government: Powers of a person or group controlling the government are limited by a set of laws and customs called a constitution

14 Set of customs, traditions, laws, and rules that set for the basic way a government is organized and operated Written or unwritten Good or bad Not all constitutions are part of a constitutional government need that higher law

15 What is the purposes of government? How is the government organize? How is the government supposed to go about doing its business? Who is considered to be a citizen? Are the citizens supposed to have any power or control over their government? If so, how is it to be exercised? What rights and responsibilities, if any, are the citizens supposed to have?