Logo: Project Citizen

Lesson 3: What is republican government?

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Lesson Purpose

This lesson introduces the ideas of republican government, the common good, and civic virtue. These were ideas the Founders learned from studying the government of the ancient Roman Republic. You will learn how these ideas shaped the Founders' thinking about the kind of government they believed to be best.

Lesson Objectives

When you finish this lesson you should be able to explain the ideas of republican government, the common good, and civic virtue.

Lesson Terms

aristocrats
People of the highest class of society who held inherited titles. They were often part of the ruling class in government.
civic virtue
common good
delegate
direct democracy
faction
representative
representative democracy
republic
republican government
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CCE LogoThe Center for Civic Education is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating an informed and thoughtful citizenry committed to democratic principles and actively engaged in the practice of democracy. We do this primarily through our flagship programs, We the People and Project Citizen, but we also provide high-quality, inquiry-driven curricular programs that bring civic learning to life. The Center additionally equips educators with professional learning that builds confidence and capacity to teach civics with depth and relevance, unlocks students’ civic agency by creating opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills, and share their voices through simulated hearings and other public forums. These initiatives build a national community committed to strengthening civic understanding and participation for all and root everything in decades of research and evidence. Learn more.

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