CITIZENSHIP & GOVERNMENTS

Political scientists concern themselves with such questions as: How do people organize themselves? How is power used in this society? What are the important public issues? Is there such a thing as the common good? These basic principles of citizenship and governments vary according to time and place. Leadership models include loosely defined models where people follow if they choose and strict models where people must follow the leader or else. Governments can be limited (as in a democracy) or unlimited, totalitarian governments. The ideal principles and ethics of any form of government are embodied in major documents, symbols, or the oral history of the people. People constantly try to make the reality of everyday living match this ideal. Sometimes the "ideal" leaves out certain people, e.g. serfs, slaves, women. This leaves citizens struggling to close the gap between the ideal and the reality of their times or trying change their nation's documents to include them.

6.9 Meaning of Citizenship
Students examine and debate the meaning of citizenship and act as citizens in a democratic society.

6.10 Types of Government
Students compare and evaluate the philosophical underpinnings and the working of different types of government, including constitutional governments.

6.11 Institutional Access
Students analyze the access that various groups and individuals have had to justice, reward, and power, as those are evident in the institutions.

6.12 Human Rights
Students identify and evaluate the concept of human rights.

4.2 Democratic Processes
Students participate in democratic processes.

Sample Questions:

How are citizens expected to respond according to the values of the time and place?

How did the citizens respond?

Are any people left out of citizenship or allowed only partial rights as citizens?

How did these non and partial citizens respond?

What are the basic principles of government?

Did the government live up to those principles?

Did the events help to close any gap between the ideal principles and everyday realities?

Was the gap widened?

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