Gov Honors Mod 1 DBA (FLVS)

What is government?

the governing body of a nation, state, or community.

Why does government exist?

Government exists to protect our basic rights and to provide order and safety to its citizens

The purpose of government is to keep the peace within its territory, protect its citizens, provide important

services, and maintain public institutions.

What are Laws?

Laws are rules established by government or other sources of authority to regulate people's conduct or

activities (US Constitution)

Citizens regarding the law

Citizens agree to follow the law because they protect the common good and our rights.

Citizen duty to follow the law and not even the president is above the law. Citizens can challenge the law

through the court system.

Citizen consent to laws, and upholding the rule of law affirms the legitimacy of government.

Anarchy

an absence or lack of any formal system of government or control

Authority

the right to command, or the holder of official power

Public Policy

a course of action accepted or used by a government to respond to a problem

Institutions

an established organization that is influential in the community

Infrastructure

the basic physical systems of a community's people, including roads, electric power, and

water supply

U.S. Constitution

the plan detailing the structure, functions, and powers of the government of the United

States, also known as the Constitution

Rule of Law

the principle that both those who govern and those who are governed must obey the law and

are subject to the same laws

legtimacy

lawful and complying with recognized rules, standards, or traditions

Natural Rights

rights that people are born with and that no government can take away

Enlightenment

a time of change in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries when philosophers focused on

reason as a way to solve problems

Natural Contract

the idea that people agree, or consent, to government authority and in return the

government protects the people and their rights

Representative Government

a form of government where the people elect leaders to make decisions on

their behalf, sometimes called a republic

Limited Government

- The founders of the United States wanted to prevent a government growing too

large, where it would become unrestrained and infringe on people's rights. They believed it should be as

small as possible and its powers limited to certain functions, any protection, or service that affected the

nation as a whole.

Federalism

the division of powers among local, state, and national governments

seperation of powers

the division of government powers into legislative, executive, and judicial

branches

What is citizenship?

Citizenship describes both the legal status of a person in society as well as a person's actions as a

citizen. There are two types of natural born citizens (jus soli or jus sanguinis). Those who reside within

the US and wish to become legal citizens go through the naturalization process to do so.

Jus soli

a citizen born on US soil

Jus sanguinis

"law of blood"- born to a least one parent who is a US citizen

14th Amendment

defines citizenship as a person either "born or naturalized in the US". Citizens are due

certain protections and privileges under the law that no state government may take away.

Naturalization

the legal process for nonnative residents to become U.S. citizens

Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution

- the Congress shall have Power To ... establish an uniform

Rule of Naturalization ... And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into

Execution the foregoing Powers.

US Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1952

a collection of laws that define the process of

naturalization. Prior to this act, laws regarding naturalization were not organized in one location as they

are now

Deportation

to force a foreign national to leave a country

Green card

a government identification card giving legal permission to an immigrant to live and work in

the United States permanently

Visa

special permission granted within a passport which permits entry into and travel within a particular

country for a specified period of time