THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD

VOCABULARY

• Nation-state
• International law
• Humanitarian
• United nations
• Treaty
• Diplomacy
• Nongovernmental organizations (NGO)

NATION-STATES

• A country is a nation-state
• The government of a nation-state claims authority to govern those who live within its boundaries

THE NATION-STATE

• Has the highest form of authority over world populations
• There are over 200 nation-states in the world

HOW DO COUNTRIES INTERACT?

INTERNATIONAL LAW

• Rules that regulate how countries relate to one another
• Usually made by treaties

ISSUES ADDRESSED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW:

• Human rights
• Disarmament
• International crime
• Refugees
• Migration
• Problems on nationality
• The treatment of prisoners
• Conduct of war

INTERNATIONAL LAW ALSO DEALS WITH

• The global commons: concerns that effect all nations
• The environment
• Sustainable development
• International waters
• Outer space
• Global communications
• World trade

EXCHANGES

• Cultural: people living in different countries share ideas
• Science: Doctors, Scientists and Educators meet to share advances in their fields of study

TRADE

• Business people exchange goods
• Countries buy and sell factory goods, food, and services to one another

TREATIES AND AGREEMENTS

• Countries agree to promote trade amongst its citizens
• Assist one another in war
• Agree to do certain things to protect the environment

HUMANITARIAN AID

• Relief for natural disasters
• Relief for refugees of war zones

DIPLOMACY

• Diplomacy
• The act of carrying on formal relations with other countries
• Leaders from nations meet to discuss various issues that are important to their governments
• Goal is to solve issues in a peaceful manner

MILITARY FORCE

• When diplomacy fails, countries often threaten military force
• Sometimes disagreements result in war

WHAT POWERS DOES THE CONSTITUTION GIVE

THE LEGISLATIVE

• Congress has the power to approve treaties, regulate trade, declare war, fund the military and punish crimes committed in international waters

THE EXECUTIVE

• Has the power to make treaties, name ambassadors (with approval from congress), and act as commander-in-chief

THE SUPREME COURT

• Power to hear all cases affecting ambassadors
• Cases in which the U.S. Is involved
• Cases involving a foreign state, its citizens or subjects

HOW HAS THE U.S. INFLUENCED OTHER COUNTRIES?

DEMOCRATIC IDEALS EXPRESSED IN OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS

• Power comes from the people
• People in government serve the people; they are not masters
• All people are political equals: no vote counts more than any other

DEMOCRATIC IDEALS CONTINUED

• The people consent to be governed only so long as those in power fulfill their responsibilities
• The people can take back powers given and change their government
• The purpose of government is to protect natural rights and promote the common good
• A nation's constitution should be the highest law that everyone must obey
• A nation's constitution should include a list of rights of the people