2. What is Government?
• the institution through which the state maintains
social order, provides public services, and enforces
binding decisions on citizens.
• Characteristics
1. has one or more leaders that ensure it exists
2. there is no government without people (the
governed)
• Ex: The United States Government
• Non-Ex: Chaos; people stealing, looting, and killing
in order to survive
3. Social Order
• a set of linked social structures, social institutions
and social practices which conserve, maintain and
enforce "normal" ways of relating and behaving
• Characteristics
1. the type of government decides the “normal” ways of
behaving.
2. enforced through binding laws or agreements.
• Ex: Having to raise your hand in class
• Non-Ex: Everybody talking whenever they want to
4. Public Service
• services provided by the government to the public
with the purpose of enhancing the general well-
being, or welfare, of individuals, communities, and
states.
• Characteristics
1. provide people with items that they could not have
on their own
2. includes the enforcement of laws
• Ex: Welfare checks and road services
• Non-Ex: A police officer not following the laws
5. National Security
• maintain the survival of the nation through the use of
economic, military and political power, as well as
working with foreign countries.
• Characteristics
1. can protect people from harm and terrorism
2. includes creating good relationships with other
countries
• Ex: Having a navy defend the seas surrounding a
country
• Non-Ex: Having an alarm on all houses in a country
6. Economic Decisions
• financial decisions made in order to prevent conflict,
ensure well-being of the state, and make sure basic
needs of the people are met.
• Characteristics
1. includes taxing people
2. includes payments and public services
• Ex: Deciding how and where to build roads /
Budgets
• Non-Ex: Spending tax dollars on personal items.
7. Purposes of Government
• Government provides social order
• People need government to protect them
from themselves and others.
• Government prevents conflict and dispute.
• Creates laws and gives people an orderly way
of settling issues.
• Stop signs and stoplights are an example of social
order.
8. Purposes of Government
• Government provides public services
• Can do for people what an individual cannot
alone.
• Promotes the general welfare through projects
that serve the community.
• Promotes the general welfare by enforcing laws
that promote safety and health.
• State legislators pass laws that ban talking on the cell
phone while driving.
9. Purposes of Government
• Government provides national security
• Protects individuals within a society from outside
harm.
• Promotes positive relationships with other
countries through trade and treaties.
• Prevents attacks through the use of military
intelligence.
• Preventing terrorist attacks
10. Purposes of Government
• Government makes economic decisions
• Government can use this power to ensure basic
needs of all are met.
• Decide how to tax individuals in order to
provide public services, such as roads.
• Directs the economic growth of cities and
number of jobs in a community.
• Plan how and where cities should grow in order to
promote the well-being of citizens.
