Purposes of Government

Purposes of Government

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.