Intro to the Study of Government and Politics

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INTRO TO STUDY OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Have you ever wondered if there any limits on when, where and how the police can search your house and even you?

Have you ever wondered why the drinking age is 21, but for smoking, gambling and voting it's 18?

Have you ever wondered why you need licenses to do stuff; for example drive a car, or cut hair?

Have you ever wondered about why the government does the things that it does?

Learning about the government, politics and how these systems operate will make you a more intelligent citizen; capable of meaningful participation. In addition, it will give you the knowledge to combat unscrupulous individuals who want you to do what they want, instead of what is right.

DEFINITIONS

Government: A set of rules and institutions that are set up by people so that they can function together as a unified community.

Politics: A term used to describe how power is distributed within a government

The United States is a democratic republic; but what does that mean?

A republic is a a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

A democracy is a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.