Headlines Activity: Read the following headlines and match each one with one

of the five purposes of government. As you read the headlines, underline the words that you believe
led you to the correct answer. Each purpose of government can be used more than once.

Purposes of Government: Provide National Security; Make Economic Decisions; Maintain Social Order;
Provide Public Services, Protect Individual Rights

Congress Approves Minimum Wage Increase
Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________

Mothers Allowed to March on D.C. to Protest Against Drunk Drivers

Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________

Nikki Haley Says Yes To Overtime and Bonuses for Teacher
Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________

Obama Increases Size of Military Force Fighting in Afghanistan

Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________

City Opens Residential Treatment Center for Drug Addiction

Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________

Jewish Children are Permitted to Miss School Without Penalty for Yom Kippur

Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________

NYC Forces All Residents in Lower Manhattan to Evacuate Before Hurricane Irene Hits

Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________

U.S. Border Control Tightens Security on U.S./Mexico Border

Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________

City Officer Arrested, Faces Expected Gun Charges

Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________

Myrtle Beach Increases Bus Services to Help Get Students to School On Time

Purpose of Gov:___________________________________________________________





HOMEWORK: Complete on a separate sheet of paper.
Write a short essay that includes the following information. 6 sentence minimum, no max.
Identify the five purposes of government.
Explain, in your own words, why it is necessary for us to have a government.
Explain which purpose of government you think is the most important to American society.
Include real world (things that you have actually seen OR could actually happen) examples to
support your answer.