Citizenship and Government in a Democracy

1. Citizenship and Government in a Democracy

2. “If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.” Atistotle

3. Civics • The study of the rights and duties of citizens

4. Citizen • community members who owe loyalty to the government and are entitled to protection from it

5. Government • the ruling authority of a community

6. Functions of the Government • Keeping order and provide security • Enforce laws, courts for accused, defend citizens from enemies • Provide public services • Schools, hospitals, collect garbage, deliver mail, repair roads, fire departments, help the needy • Guide the Community • Set public policy, creating a budget, communicating with other governments

7. Public Policy • The course of action the government takes in response to an issue

8. Budget • A plan for making and spending money

9. Levels of U.S. Government • National Government (Highest) • Based in Washington D.C.; makes and enforces laws for the entire country • State Government • Based in each of the 50 states; makes and enforces laws for the people in that state • Local Government • Makes and enforces laws for the people in counties, cities and towns

10. Dictatorship • government controlled by one person or a small group of people

11. Dictator • The leader of a dictatorship

12. Vladamir PutinRussia

13. Xi JinpingPeoples Republic of China

14. Kim Jong-unNorth Korea

15. Raul CastroCuba

16. Democracy • a government in which citizens hold the power • 1st democracy was in the ancient Greek city of Athens

18. Direct Democracy • a form of government in which the people voted first hand • Citizens met to discuss government issues and vote right there

19. Representative Democracy • a government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf • The United States is the oldest representative democracy in the world

22. Abraham Lincoln • Described America’s democracy as a “government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

23. Principles of American Democracy • The power of the government comes from its citizens • Americans, through their elected representatives, run the government • The purpose of the government is to make the United States a better place for its citizens

24. Majority Rule • a political principle providing that a majority of the members of a community has the power to make laws binding for all the people

27. 14th Amendment • Defines a U.S. citizen as anyone “born or naturalized in the United States”

28. Naturalization • a legal process to obtain citizenship.

29. Citizenship by Birth • Being born in any of the 50 states or the District of Columbia • Being born in an American territory (Guam, Puerto Rico or a U.S. military base) • Born in another country but at least one parent is an American citizen

30. Aliens • Noncitizens

32. Immigrant • a person who moves permanently to a new country

33. Steps to acquiring citizenship • Sign a Declaration of Intention • Declaration is filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) • After living the U.S. for 5 years (or 3 if married to a citizen) file an application for citizenship • USCIS interviews applicant • Pass a citizenship exam • Pledge an oath of allegiance to the United States of America

36. Declaration of Intention • Document stating that an alien wishes to become a citizen of the United States

37. Only the Federal government can grant or revoke a person’s citizenship

38. Illegal Aliens • a foreigner who has entered or lives in a country without the country’s authorization

42. Deport • To send an alien or immigrant back to his or her own country

46. E pluribus unum • A Latin phrase meaning “Out of many, one”