The Role of Government and Policy

Our government’s primary role in the American free enterprise system is to follow the Constitution.  Our Constitution makes the government responsible for protecting its citizens.  Americans have come to expect the government to promote the public interest in order to benefit society as a whole.  In answer to these expectations, the government passes and enforces laws to fulfill its responsibilities.

In this topic, you will learn about the role that our government plays in stabilizing the economy, creating the federal budget, and providing a legal structure—including examples of some of these government regulations.

Essential Questions

• How does the government help to stabilize the economy?
• How does the government budget and spend?
• What role does our government play in protecting property rights and enforcing contracts?