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6.3.8.CivicsPI.1 20. 1 Week Topic 2 Why do we Need Government?
Inquiry Questions: Why do we need authority, rules and government? What makes government legitimate?
To protect individual rights
To protect the weak from the strong
To keep us safe
To help us keep order
To settle arguments
To ensure the burdens and benefits are fairly shared
Supporting Questions:
What would life be like in a state of nature?
How does government balance the need for social order and individual liberty?
What is the difference between power and authority?
What is the source of authority?
What is meant by “consent of the governed”?
What is a social contract?
What forms can governments take?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each form of government?
What is the “rule of law” and why is it necessary for authority to be legitimate?
According to the Declaration of Independence what are the main purposes/goals of government?
Enduring Understandings:
In a state of nature, the strong would take advantage of the weak.
We need a government with the authority to protect individual rights, resolve conflicts and maintain order.
Through the social contract, people give up some of their freedom to the government to preserve order and peace.
A strong commitment to the rule of law has been crucial to efforts to limit the abuse of authority and the arbitrary use of power.
Governments establish and enforce laws to maintain safety and order.
There are many different forms of government that government may take. Some forms of government, such as dictatorships, are based solely on power.
The legitimacy of a government is based on consent of the governed, the rule of law and the protection of human rights.
Democratic governments work to balance social order and the protection of individual rights.
Vocabulary :
Authority
Autocracy
Consent of the governed
Democracy
Dictatorship
Government
Individual rights
Legitimate
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Order
Popular Sovereignty
Power
Republic
Rule of Law
State of Nature
Lessons, Activities, Resources:
What would life be like in a state of nature? Why do we need government?
Center for Civic Education: Why do we need a government
iCivics: Why Government? Hobbes & Locke philosophy Lesson
C-Span -https://www.c-span.org/classroom/document/?8394
Use IXL assignment to teach the purpose of government.
https://www.ixl.com/social-studies/grade-8/purposes-of-government
Social Contract Theory of Government
Locke argued that the best way for each person’s natural rights to be protected so that everybody could live in peace and enjoy their rights was for each person to agree with others to create and live in a government and give that government the authority to make and enforce laws
Individuals give up the right to do anything they please in return for security provided by government, including protection of individual rights
Individuals surrender those rights they do not want others to use against them in order to enjoy the rest of their rights
One of the most dominant theories within moral and political theory throughout the history of the modern West
Examples of social contracts: The Mayflower Compact, New Jersey and other state constitutions, U.S. Constitution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_NzZvdsbWI Schoolhouse Rocks- We the People
Student Activity: Monarchy/ Dictatorship vs. Democracy Divide students into groups of 4-7, give them paper, cardboard, legos (or anything else that you might have available) and ask them to build a house. Have some groups work under one individual in charge and able to make all decisions, others cannot make any suggestions Have other groups work as a “democracy” with nobody in charge and open to suggestions from all (the group may “select” someone to be in charge if they want to) Give the class time to build their house, then discuss the benefits or difficulties of the process they used Students should appreciate that when decisions are made by one individual without the input of anybody else (a “monarchy or dictatorship”) things may be built faster but the members of the group may feel frustrated because they had no input Students should appreciate that when decisions are made “democratically,” it may take longer because deliberation and consensus take time but everybody had input.
Discussion :
Is it power or authority?
1. A jury decided Maggie Smith is guilty of robbery and the judge sentences her to prison.
2. Bob Washington, who is bigger than most of his friends, cuts in front of the line at the movie theatre.
3. While his parents are out and leave him in charge, Chris Matthews tells his younger brother not to touch his computer.
4. The referee ejects two players from the game for fighting.
5. Richard Lee tells his son that he is grounded because he broke his curfew.
6. Johnny, an eighth grade student, tells third grade students Tony and Stan, that they have to clear his lunch tray for his group of friends.
Discussion :
Alternative Classroom Activity
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of a democratic republic. Which form of government is most likely to prevent abuse of authority and protect human rights, and why?
In a democracy, an individual or group is less able to abuse authority because of the rule of law, checks and balances, separation of powers, and the need for continual consent of the governed through elections.
A representative democracy (democratic republic) is most likely to protect individual rights because of the rule of law and consent of the governed--representatives are elected by the people and beholden to the people.
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