Transcript Influences on American Government

US – VA Government
Lesson 3: Roots of American Government
Presented by Ernest F. Lissabet
The American Revolution
DO NOW / HAGA AHORA
http://mrnussbaum.com/readingcomp/amcomp12/
Take out a sheet of paper. Read the following passage about the
American Revolution. Write down every word that you do not
understand.
Saque una hoja de papel. Lea el paso siguiente sobre la Revolución
americana. Anote (Escriba) cada palabra que no entiende.
The American Revolution
Now you may take out your I-Pod if you have
one. If you do not have one, ask to share an IPod with another student. If you have one,
share with someone else. Look up the definition
for every word you did not understand. Write
down the definition for every word you did not
understand. Put away your I-Pod once you are
finished.
Ahora puede sacar su I-Pod si tiene uno. Si no
tiene un, pide compartir un I-Pod con otro
estudiante. Si tiene un, comparte con alguien
más. Busque (Visite) la definición para cada
palabra que no entendió. Anote (Escriba) la
definición para cada palabra que no entendió.
Guarda tu I-Pod una vez que haya terminado.
Government is the way
that society organizes
itself to make and
enforce public policy.
Most governments are divided into three branches:
The Legislative Branch to make laws;
1
The Executive Branch to enforce the law and provide leadership;
3
The Judicial Branch to interpret laws and settle disputes.
2
A State is the
government of a group of
politically organized
people in a defined
territory.
It is not necessarily the
same thing as a nation
(people organized on an
ethnic, religious or
political basis), or country
(a particular region).
States have four characteristics:
Population (how many people live there)
Territory (the boundaries of the land claimed by
the State)
Sovereignty (the right and power to decide its
own domestic and foreign policies).
Government (the organization to make and
enforce its policies)
There are four theories about
how States came to exist:
Force (A person or group uses military power to
control the people and territory)
Evolution (States are formed from primitive families
where the family head becomes a ruler).
Divine Right (the idea that god created the state and
the rulers or government is chosen by god).
Social Contract (the idea that political authority is
from the people and there is a contract between
people and government to promote the common good)
Forms of Government
Parliamentary Democracy: Power is given to a central government which may
or may not delegate authority; the legislative branch holds both legislative and
executive power and the executive is chosen by the legislature.
Federal Democracy or Republic: Power is shared but separated between
different branches of government and the executive is chosen by general election.
Dictatorships: There are 3 forms of dictatorships: in an
Oligarchy, a small group of people hold power;
Plutocracy, the government is run by and for the rich;
Autocracy, a single person holds all political power.
Theocracy: a government where power is held by a religious elite, such as priests
or other spiritual leaders. Many people feel a Theocracy is also a Dictatorship.
Authoritarian: a government where power is held by a single person or
small group of people who forbid or discourage participation in government,
reserving all power to themselves.
Influences on American Government
American government has been influenced by three main sources:
Greek Democracy, Roman Republicanism, and British legal tradition:
England
Rome
Greece
Democracy originated in ancient Athens.
• Athens was the first known Democracy in the world.
• Known as “Direct Democracy” because all native-born
males who completed military training and were over
the age of 20 were classified as citizens, meaning they
could vote on all public matters.
• Slaves, women and foreigners were prohibited from voting.
The Romans created a different form of
Democracy known as a Republic.
Also called ‘Representative Government”
because the people elect others who
govern in their name.
Three Branches of Government:
* Consuls (Executives)
* Senate (Wealthy men, made of both
Aristocrats and Commoners)
* Assemblies (The common people,
voting in their tribes, and the Army
As in Greece, slaves, women and foreigners were not voting citizens.
English Legal Tradition
Magna Carta
In 1215 English noblemen forced King John to sign a
pact between them and the King, which made the
King to recognize that they had certain rights he
could not take from them such as “Trial by Jury” and
“Due Process,” the idea that government must act
fairly in accord with established rules and process.
This idea of rights was later extended to all
Englishmen and not just the nobles.
Were you Listening?
Roots of American Government
Sort the Words
Have students make a tri-fold from notebook paper.
Label each box. Put the words in the correct box.
This exercise is worth 8 points. Hand it in when finished.
Ancient Athens
King John
Every man votes
Republic
Direct Democracy
Ancient Rome
English History
Law & Order
Representative Democracy
Nobility
Magna Carta
Vocabulary
Instructions: Identify the cognate words by writing their
Spanish equivalent next to the English cognate.
Word
Definition
Govern
To officially control and lead a group of people
Vote
The power to choose
Elect
To choose by voting
Democracy
Government where people vote
Represent
To act or speak officially for someone or something
A person who is chosen to speak or act for others.
Representative
Direct Democracy
The citizens speak for themselves in Assembly.
Representative Democracy
The citizens elect a representative to speak for them.
Laws
Rules and regulations.
Person who has complete power to rule.
Dictator
Citizen
Person who lives in a country.
Roots of American Government Video
Athenian Democracy / 3:13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IndRAsYX4W4
Roman Republic / 3:32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGvGGyLn9Os
Magna Carta / 6:12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfAq0Lp-AmA