Community Explorers is all about taking a closer look at what is going on in our own community and how we can help to change it for the better. Small actions can make a BIG difference in people's lives. For example a simple smile, or being kind, volunteering your time. But sometimes we need to think BIGGER. Sometimes certain problems can best be solved through a part of the government. For this reason, it is important for us to understand how our government works.
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Political Scientists
Many Community Explores are called Political Scientists. They study how different political systems of government began, how they have changed, and how they are structured today. They compare and contrast the different systems of government, the ideologies behind them, and the direct effects they have on the people of that government. They also spend time examining current events or recent political decisions and try to explain why they happened. Finally, they gather information or data and analyze it to predict political, economic, and social trends.
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Questions THEY AskWhat does government do?
- Governments are supposed to keep us safe, promote the common good, and protect individual rights. What are the basic values and principles of American Democracy? - The Core Democratic Values are our nation's fundamental beliefs of our society which unite all Americans. What is the relationship of the U.S. to other nations? - Governmental organizations like The United Nations work to maintain international peace and security. What are the roles of the citizen in American democracy? - U.S. citizens elect representatives to make the laws. What are the effects of government involvement and decisions? - When new laws are passed, political scientists look at how the laws affect people's lives (positive and negative). |
The Purpose of Government
Governments are important for many reasons such as safety, promoting the common good, and protecting individual rights. They are created to help us avoid problems that can arise when people try to create a community. There would be many serious consequences if schools, communities, and our country tried to function without government and rules or laws. Still, while government is important, we don't want it to become too powerful. A government with absolute authority or all the power can become destructive and does not meet the intended purpose of government.
Governments are important because can they establish rules that protect the people.
Governments also act as a way to enforce the rules. Governments keep us safe, promote the common good, and protect individual rights. |
BUT governments should also not be too powerful.
Limiting the power of a government is important because it helps keep things fair and equal, it prevents one person or one group of people from having all the power, and promotes the common good. |
Setting up a NEW Government
A Brief Timeline of How the U.S. Government Started
1750s - King George III rules. Britain is in control of America and the colonists.
1773 - King George III made lots of laws that the colonists didn’t like. They protested. For example, the Boston Tea Party was a protests against the Tea Acts. 1775 - The colonists fight in the Revolutionary War against the British and WIN! America signs the Declaration of Independence in 1776. late 1770s - The founding fathers needed to set up a new government and quickly. They came up with the Articles of Confederation – but it gave government too much power. 1780s - The founding fathers began meeting to try to figure out how to change the government so it worked better. They started to write a new constitution. |
After declaring independence from Britain, the founding fathers had to create a new government for America. It wasn't easy and it took a lot of discussion and compromise. But when they were done they had created the Constitution. It is the same document that we still use today to govern our communities.
Click HERE to watch Liberty's Kids! |
Writing the Constitution - "Race to Ratify"
Race to Ratify drops you into 1787, where the ink is still drying on the new Constitution. Will it become the law of the land or will it fall into the dustbin of history? The fate of the young nation is in your hands! Dive deep into the heated national debate over the future of a radical new plan for American government. Travel across the 13 states to hear from a diverse and opinionated cast of characters and use what you have learned to influence others through the social media of the time...pamphlets. Can you be a ratification influencer? |
The Preamble
THE PREAMBLE
“We the People of the United States of America, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” |
The Preamble is the introduction to the Constitution.
It identifies the values and beliefs that our country was founded on. It explains the intended purpose of our U.S. Government. |
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What the Preamble SAYS...
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What the Preamble MEANS...
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We the People of the United States of America,
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All the people who live in our country.
(Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Brothers, Sisters, Neighbors, etc.) |
in Order to form a more perfect Union
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We want to come together and make things better for everyone.
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establish Justice
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Make things fair and even for everyone.
(jails, courts, juries, laws) |
insure domestic Tranquility
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We want to have a nice and peaceful life where we all get along with one another.
(public parks, road signs, peaceful protests, airport security) |
provide for the common defense,
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We want to be protected from other people or countries that could hurt us.
(air force, navy, army, military, marines) |
promote the general Welfare,
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We want everyone to have enough to eat, a place to live, be safe, have friends and have fun.
(National Laboratories, Veterans, Wildlife Refuge, Post Office) |
and secure the Blessings of Liberty
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We want to protect our rights and freedoms.
(freedom of religion, the press, of speech, right to assemble) |
to ourselves and our Posterity
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We want this for us and our kids, and our grand-kids.
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do ordain and establish this Constitution
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We write all this down so that everyone knows the rules. We all promise to follow the rules.
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for the United States of America.
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For our country... where we live!
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Article 1: The Legislative Branch
Article 1 - The Legislative Branch - "LawCraft" Are you ready to learn how laws are made? In LawCraft, select a district to represent in the House of Representatives. You'll then review letters from constituents, dig into survey data, and select an issue that's important to you and the people that live in your district. You'll then take that issue to the House and start crafting your bill as you jump into the law-making process. See if you can make the compromises necessary to get your bill passed by the House and Senate and still make a law you're proud of. And remember, your constituents are watching! |
Article 2: The Executive Branch
Article 2 - The Executive Branch - "Executive Command" Ever wanted to be President for a day? In Executive Command, you can be President for four years! Try to accomplish what you set as your agenda while facing the challenges and responsibilities that crop up along the way. Being commander-in-chief and chief executive is no easy job! See how you do! |
Article 3: The Judicial Branch
ARTICLE 1-3: Checks and Balances
Checks and Balances - The way in which the different branches of government keep each other from having too much power. Each branch of government has powers that keep the other branch in check - or keeps them from having too much power.
Articles 1-3 - The 3 Branches of Government - "Branches of Power"
Do you like running things? Do something that no one else can: control all three branches of the U.S. government. Our new Branches of Power gives you the ability to introduce presidential agendas, write legislation, sign or veto bills, and even judge passed laws. That’s a lot to juggle, so don’t let all the power go to your head! In Branches of Power you:
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ARTICLE 4: Levels of Government
LOcal GovernmentThe government of a city
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STATE GovernmentThe government of a state
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FEDERAL GovernmentThe government of a country
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Article 4 - Levels of Government - "Counties Work" Do you want to try your hand at running your own county government? In Counties Work, you can! You will need to stay on top of resident requests as you develop the local community, make important budgeting decisions, and solve crises that pop-up along the way. In Counties Work, you will:
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The first 10 Amendments: The Bill of Rights
Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition. The First Amendment provides several rights protections: to express ideas through speech and the press, to assemble or gather with a group to protest or for other reasons, and to ask the government to fix problems. It also protects the right to religious beliefs and practices. It prevents the government from creating or favoring a religion. |
Protects people from being held for a crime, unless accused, double jeopardy, or self-incrimination. The Fifth Amendment provides several protections for people accused of crimes. It states that serious criminal charges must be started by a grand jury. A person cannot be tried twice for the same offense (double jeopardy) or have property taken away without just compensation. People have the right against self-incrimination and cannot be imprisoned without due process of law or fair trials. |
The right to a fair and speedy trial. The Sixth Amendment provides additional protections to people accused of crimes, such as the right to a speedy and public trial, trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases, and to be informed of criminal charges. Witnesses must face the accused, and the accused is allowed his or her own witnesses and to be represented by a lawyer. |
The First 10 Amendments - The Bill of Rights - "Do I Have a Right?" In Do I Have a Right? you can run your own firm of lawyers who specialize in constitutional law. Decide if potential clients have a right, match them with the best lawyer, and win their case. The more clients you serve and the more cases you win, the faster your law firm grows! |
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