Dont forget Always put your name and the

Don’t forget. Always put your name and the date on the top of each section heading.

Section 2: The Formation of Governments

Reflection Question: u In what other ways do governments organize themselves if they do not have a written constitution?

Key Terms u Define - Unitary system, federal system, confederacy, constitution, preamble, politics, industrialized nation, developing nation (pg. 12)

Government Systems u Unitary u Federal System - The U. S. (and some other (countries have this form)

Constitutions and Government Major purposes of a constitution: - Sets out ideals that citizens believe in and share Establishes govt. structure and defines govt. ’s powers and duties Provides supreme law for the country.

A constitutional govt. is a limited govt. - DISCUSS -

Constitutions (cont. ) u Incomplete Guides u A Statement of Goals u A Framework for Govt. u The Highest Law

Politics and Government The effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of govt. is called politics. In a large, diverse nation like the United States, there is a constant struggle over what benefits and services govt. should provide, how much they should cost, and who should pay for them.

Politics and Govt. (cont. ) u Seeking Government Benefits u Importance of Politics u Special Interests – Constitution says govt. should promote the general welfare. Vague language?

Governing in a Complex World u Major Inequalities Among States - Contrast between developing and industrialized nations - Controversial connotation of term “developing” or “Third World. ” - DISCUSS -

Governing in a Complex World (cont. ) u Growing Interdependence u Nonstate International Groups (I won’t spend too much time on these sections because there is a lot of crossover with our C. E. discussions. )

Section Assessment u Read the preamble to our constitution (pg. 14. ) Examine the goals defined by our govt. ’s founders, ie. -“establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, ” etc. Considering your understanding of American history and/or your modern-day experiences, do you feel that the founders goals are an accurate reflection of our nation’s experiences.

Assessment (cont. ) u Answer Critical Thinking #5 (pg. 17) James Madison wanted to prevent “factions, ” or special interest groups. Would it be possible to have govt. without interest groups? Explain.