Government Notes.pdf - 1.1 Government- We the People This...

1.1
Government- We the People
This is a course about government- and more about our government. The Preamble to
the U.S. Constitution begins with the phrase, ‘We the People of the United States’ As a
citizen you are an important member of the ‘We’. For that reason alone, you should
know as much as you possibly can about government, Government affects you in an
uncountable number of the very important ways.
Flags represent a country’s government, resources, people, and pride; they have
unifying effect and area asymbol of the collective
State
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Developed from major political idea in history
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State is a body of living people living in a defined territory, organized politically
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Power to make and enforce laws
Every US State has four characteristics
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Population- state most be inhabited
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Territory- have land
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Sovereignty- state has absolute power
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Government- enforces political its enforces
2044 no group will be a minority in the US
One sovereign state in the US

How States Arose
Historians, philosophers, and others have questions the origin of states.
Four historical theories of the origins of the state
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Force Theory- group claimed control over territory and forced the population to
submit. (South america- Spain) Rule by force
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Divine Rights of the Kings Theory- God created state making it sovereign. Idea
that God gave the king power. (Europe)
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Evolutionary Theory- Population formed out of primitive family. The heads of
these families became government. Families settled in and claimed the territory.
(Native American)
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Social Contract Theory- People of territory give power to government and the
government agrees to give protection to their people.
Louis XIV had a portrait of him with an angel on it because he thought his power was
from God.
What does the Government does
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Perfect Union
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Establish Justice; Articles of Confederation- very poor binding agreement
between states.
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Insure Domestic Tranquillity
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Provide for Common Defense

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Promote the General Welfare
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Secure the Blessings of Liberty
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Patriotism
Preamble of Constitution has out values
Consider what you already know about the government of the United States.
What have you done recently that involved the government? How has the
government affected you or someone you know?