Gov: Nucountry – Day 1

__________________________________________________________________________

Content Objective:

Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of various forms of governments and economic systems.

Language Objectives:

• Understand, learn, and use new vocabulary that is introduced and taught directly through informational text and direct instruction.
• Identify and/or summarize main ideas, facts, supporting details, and opinions in an informational and/or practical selection.
• Read and synthesize information found in various parts of charts, tables, or diagrams to reach supported conclusions.

Learning Target:

Students will explain that there are different ways for governments to be organized and to hold power.

_______________________________________________________________

Nucountry Information

Nucountry is a midsize country of approximately 50,000 square miles, with a population of just over 21 million people. It is slightly larger in size and population than the state of New York.

Slightly more than 100 years ago, Nucountry was in a state of near chaos after the government failed. It was quickly occupied by its neighbor, Ayland, which has governed Nucountry ever since. Ayland has assisted in making Nucountry far more stable. At the end of this year, Nucountry will achieve its independence and a fresh start.

Nucountry Geography

The country is divided into three distinct geographic regions. The northern region of the country is arid and sparsely inhabited. The southeastern region is fertile, with two major rivers that flow to the ocean. The southwestern region is fertile and rich in valuable natural resources.

Nucountry has three distinct ethnic groups. The Nupeeple are the largest ethnic group, making up nearly 85% of the population. They live mostly in the southeast and tend to farm, work in the region’s many cities, or own businesses.

The Apeeple are a small ethnic group, making up about 10% of the population, who speak their own language and have cultural customs different from those of the Nupeeple. They live predominantly in the southwest and control the valuable natural resources in that area.

The smallest ethnic group, the Upeeple, make up almost 5% of the population and speak the same language as the Nupeeple. However, they live a more traditional, and sometimes nomadic, lifestyle in the northern part of Nucountry. With few exceptions, they do not share in the wealth that has been enjoyed in the southern regions of the country.

Economic Activity Map

_______________________________________________________________

Nucountry Constitutional Convention

A constitutional convention has been called to establish the basis of Nucountry’s new government and economic systems.

You will take on the role of representatives at a constitutional convention that is charged with creating a stable government and an economic system for Nucountry that has just achieved independence. You will be assigned to act as a representative of one of eight different interest groups within the society: military leaders, working professionals, wealthy business owners, religious leaders, working poor, former monarch’s family, Apeeple ethnic group, and Upeeple ethnic group. Each representative group will choose their preferred form of government, distribution of political power, and economic system.

Read the information on your handout to become familiar with the interest group you represent. Pay attention to what your interest group thinks is best for Nucountry and what interests and ideas you will advocate for at the constitutional convention.

Interest Group: Military Leaders

This group is made up of the leaders of Nucountry’s military forces and is ethnically mixed. You believe that security is the number one issue facing the country. Nucountry is about to gain its independence. Neighboring countries on all sides are more powerful and could take control if they sense weakness. The unemployment rate is high, and crime has always been a problem for Nucountry. Although crime had decreased under occupation by Ayland, you feel that it may surge again if the military is not given the power to enforce law and order appropriately. The three ethnic groups in the country have a history of conflict. You are the only group that can provide the kind of security Nucountry needs. You want to have a big say in running the government and securing the country.

Interest Group: Working Professionals

This group is made up of working professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, factory managers, large farm owners, small business owners, and bankers. Your group is Nucountry’s middle class and is mostly made up of Nupeeple. Your primary concern is with maintaining stability and creating jobs. As Nucountry gains its independence, you want to make sure that new companies will want to open businesses in your country. However, you also want to make sure that companies are regulated to protect workers and consumers. You realize that the only way to ensure this is to make Nucountry strong, secure, and stable. You are also concerned about social problems, such as the high unemployment rate. You do not want to see power in the hands of only a few people who might not represent your interests. You personally want to have a say in the government, its leaders, and the laws that are made.

Interest Group: Wealthy Business Owners

This group, which is made up of the few elite who have owned profitable businesses and factories in Nucountry, is mostly Nupeeple. During the period of instability that preceded the occupation of your country by Ayland, most of you moved your businesses to other countries. Many of you have now returned your businesses to Nucountry and are working to expand economic opportunities. You want to make sure the new government and economic systems that are selected for Nucountry do not inhibit your ability to do business as you see fit. You see yourselves as the main engine of economic growth for Nucountry. Any regulations -taxes, minimum wage laws, required health care coverage, or mandatory vacation and overtime for workers- will cut into your ability to stimulate the economy and create jobs. They will also decrease your profits. You are also concerned about security and stability in Nucountry. You want to see power in the hands of those who can protect your business without placing regulations on it.

Interest Group: Religious Leaders

This group is made up of the leaders of Nucountry’s primary religion, who are mostly Nupeeple. You are particularly concerned with social justice and feel that society -and the government in particular- needs to do more to help Nucountry’s working poor. Most of these people have to move around the country looking for work, and a consistently high unemployment rate has made their situation bleak. Violence, starvation, and unrest in your country can all be at least somewhat attributed to the difficulty in finding work. You want to see the government distribute wealth more evenly so that all people can have a decent standard of living. The only way you feel confident that this will take place is if the government controls the economy. You also want to make sure the government represents and passes laws that are in accordance with your moral beliefs. 

Interest Group: Working Poor

This group is made up of a large percentage of Nucountry’s population and is ethnically mixed. Many people in your group have very low-paying jobs and hardly make ends meet. You live mostly in the southeast. Because of Nucountry’s high unemployment, some of your people are forced to move from place to place to find work on farms, in mines, in factories, or in other unregulated industries, such as forestry or natural gas. No government in Nucountry’s history has ever represented your interests. You fear that the wealthier people in Nucountry will control the government and do little to further your interests. You want a government that represents the many over the few and that allows you to participate. To change your conditions, it is crucial that an economic system that protects you is put into place. Ideally, you want wealth redistributed so that you can improve your standard of living. At the very least, you want regulations that will protect workers.

Interest Group: Former Monarch’s Family

This group is made up of a large extended family that descends from Nucountry’s last monarch, who ruled more than 100 years ago. Your family is ethnically Nupeeple. Most of your family members have lived in exile since the monarchy was overthrown in a civil war that sent the country into chaos and led to the occupation by Ayland. Recently, members of your family have begun moving back to Nucountry. Some of the population still views your family as the rightful heirs of the government and would like to see the monarchy reestablished. Your pri- mary concern is seeing that this happens, or at least seeing that your family is able to play a large part in governing the country. You also feel that if your family controlled the government, you would be able to solve many of the country’s economic and social problems, such as the high unemployment rate, by taking control of the economy and enacting regulations on businesses to create jobs. 

Interest Group: Apeeple Ethnic Group

This group is an ethnic minority spread over a large area in the southwestern part of Nucountry. You speak a different language from the Nupeeple and Upeeple, and you have different cultural customs. The area where you live is rich in your country’s most valuable natural resource: diamonds. The Apeeple own and control the diamond mines in the region and have recently built a hydroelectric plant to bring power to all of your people. You also sell this power to neighboring countries. Because of these resources, and the jobs and income they create, Apeeple tend to have higher-than-average incomes and a high standard of living. Your primary concern is that Nucountry’s government does not interfere with your ability to control the natural resources in your area. Under no circumstances do you want resources and wealth redistributed. Also, because you speak a different language and have different cultural customs from the Nupeeple and Upeeple, it is crucial that you are able to participate in government to make sure the laws passed do not infringe on your rights

Interest Group: Upeeple Ethnic Group

This group is a very small ethnic minority spread over a large area of land in the northern part of Nucountry. You are mostly nomadic herders and farmers and do not control much, if any, of the nation’s wealth. Because you are geographically close to Ayland’s border and were the group most affected by the invasion decades ago, you are concerned about the safety and security of Nucountry after occupation by Ayland ends. You want to make sure the country’s borders are protected and that Ayland cannot invade again. You are also concerned about the valuable deposits of natural gas that lie within your area. These deposits are entirely controlled by wealthy business owners who all live in the southeastern region of your country and are from the Nupeeple ethnic group. For this reason, you would like to see the new government distribute resources and wealth more equally to all people living in Nucountry.

List the characteristics of your group:

List your group’s main concern or issues that you feel affect Nucountry:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the students and speakers of our government classes and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of this website, institution, or organization. Any views or opinions are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, or individual.