Unit 1 Political and Economic

Structures

Purposes of Government
 Essential Question
What are the purposes of government?
Objective: Students will demonstrate an
understanding of the structure and the
functions of government and politics in the
United States.

Warm Up: What is government; why is

government important?
The Purpose of Government
What is Government?
Government - is an institution through
which leaders exercise power to make and
enforce laws affecting the people under its
control.
 The Preamble
★ Introduction to the Constitution

★ Lays out the purposes of the new

government that was created by the
Constitution

There are 6 purposes of government under

the preamble of the Constitution
 The Goals of the Constitution
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
🔸 secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and
our Prosperity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
States of America
The 6 purposes of government under the
preamble of the Constitution
 The Goals of the Constitution
1) “to form a more perfect Union”

❖ The framers wanted to make a better government

than the one that existed under the Articles of
Confederation.
Provide Leadership - Government officials
set priorities and make all sorts of decisions
on behalf of the people.
 The Goals of the Constitution

2) “establish Justice”

❖ The framers wanted to set up a legal system that

seeks fair ways to settle disputes
Maintain Order- Governments try to control
and contain conflict between people by
placing limits on what individuals are
permitted to do. They provide courts and
other ways for people to resolve conflicts.
 The Goals of the Constitution

3) “insure domestic Tranquility”

❖ The new government will try to establish a

peaceful society where people are protected from
unlawful acts.
Maintaining Order - Governments provide
some sort of domestic security force - police
or national guard- to enforce laws and keep
peace.
 The Goals of the Constitution

4) “provide for the common defense”

❖ The new government will seek to protect citizens

from foreign attacks
Providing National Security - another task
of government is to protect the people
against attack by another country or
terrorists.
 The Goals of the Constitution

5) “promote the general Welfare”

❖ The government will try to ensure that all people

will have a certain standard of living.
Providing Public Service - governments
create schools, build sewer systems, pave
roads, and provide other services that
individuals can not or would not do on their
own. Other government services promote
public health and safety.
 The Goals of the Constitution
6) “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves”

❖ The new government will work to protect people’s

freedom in all aspects of life
❖ And for future generations
Providing Economic Security and
Economic Assistance - Governments protect
the economic security of their people.
Governments negotiate trade deals with
other countries and they try to protect
Providing Economic Security and Economic
Assistance -
Businesses that are important to their own economies.
Governments might intervene in the economic affairs of
another nation to promote their national security.
Governments usually try to stimulate economic growth
and stability by encouraging trade and regulating the
development of natural resources.
Governments can provide assistance to people in need.
Activities 1 Activities 2

Click on the pictures for the activities