Understanding American Civics: Diversity, Citizenship, and Government Insights

1. Chapter 1 Section 1 The Diversity of Americans

2. What is Civics • The study of rights and duties of a citizen • Gender and wealth are no longer requirements

4. Citizens • Certain rights • Whether they live abroad or in the country • Common history • Common customs • Common beliefs • They accept the governments authority • This makes government legitimate

5. Diversity

6. Diversity • Many different groups have joined together to make the United States • Land Bridge • 1600’s=France & England • 1700’s & 1800’s=Northern Europe • Late 1800’s to early 1900’s=Southern Europe/Russia • Africa with Slavery

7. Diversity • All these cultures brought different • Religion • Customs • Traditions • From 1830 to 1930 America went from 12 million people to 120 million people • Today 310,000,000 million people

8. Difference Customs

9. Values & Institutions • Principles or beliefs you use to make judgment • Values are broad ideas about what is good or desirable. • These are usually shared by others • Influencing

10. American Values

11. American Values • Freedom • Equality • Opportunity • Justice • Democracy • Unity • Respect • Tolerance

12. Popular Sovereignty • The government has its authority because we as a people give it the authority to rule us. • In other words we give up freedom (personal) in return the government gives us peace and order in society.

13. American Institutions • Family • Religion • Education • Clubs or Volunteer Organizations • Government

14. Family

16. Education

17. Volunteer Groups/Boy Scouts

18. Government

19. Section 2 Who are American Citizens?

20. Citizenship • U.S. Constitution • Birth • Naturalization: Legal process to become a citizen • Dual Citizenship

21. Naturalization Process • Alien • Non-Citizen • Immigrant • People that move permanently to a new country

22. Illegal Immigrants

23. Naturalization Process • Begin Process by signing a statement • Interview and Exam • Oath of Allegiance

25. Citizenship • Hold citizenship forever • Unless • Convicted criminal • Improperly obtained • Denaturalization • Expatriation

26. Aliens in America • Illegal Aliens • Deport • Big problem on what to do with them…What happens with them when they have children while living in the United States? • If you are writing this you are not paying attention to the words coming out of my mouth.

28. Illegal Aliens • Most come for a better life • Immigration Act of 1990 • Those who want to work, produce and contribute will be given consideration • United States Border Patrol • Law enforcement unit • Prevent and detect illegal entry into the United States

33. Fastest Growing Group • The fastest group that is growing in the United States is Latino Americans

34. Section 3 Government and the People

35. The Need for Government • Government • Ruling authority • Power to make and enforce rules for its people • What do they do? • Keep Order • Provide Security • Provide Service • Guide the Community

36. Order and Security

37. Levels of Government • Federalism • National • State • Local

38. Democracy • Ruled by the people • Direct Democracy • All citizen participate and vote on every governmental decision • Would this work? • Representative Democracy • Citizens choose someone to make decisions for them • Republic

39. Democratic Principles • Voting • Choices • Majority Rules

40. Authoritarian Governments • Absolute Monarchy • Dictatorships • Totalitarian