Protect Civil Rights
The U.S. government is set up to ensure that all Americans regardless of race, gender or creed are afforded the same rights, privileges and participation in government. When the Founding Fathers ratified the U.S. Constitution, they included the Bill of Rights to protect freedoms of speech, freedom of the press and freedom from unlawful searches and seizure of their property. The Bill of Rights was later amended to abolish slavery after the U.S. Civil War and extend the right to vote to former slaves, then women, then to citizens 18 and older.
Maintain a Justice System
The federal government and each state have laws to protect citizens from criminal activity and punish offenders. Local, city and state governments hire and maintain police forces and court systems to enforce laws. The Federal Bureau of Investigation enforces laws that cross state lines. The FBI enforces the law against terrorists, bank robbers, embezzlers and corrupt federal politicians. The U.S. Department of Justice also defends federal laws. A network of courts metes out punishments for criminal offenders, starting with 94 district courts. You can appeal decisions to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court.
ilitary Protection
Whether it’s a world war or civil war, the U.S. government has provided military protection for its citizens starting with the American Revolution. The U.S. Department of Defense is the umbrella over the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard. In this century, U.S. armed forces invaded Iraq to depose dictator Saddam Hussein and invaded Afghanistan following the destruction of the twin towers in New York City by terrorists. In 2010, the U.S. military had 1.4 million people deployed in active duty and 833,000 in the reserves.
Build and Maintain Infrastructure
The U.S. government is responsible for building and maintaining the nation's network of highways. The Federal Highway Administration oversees more than 46,000 miles of interstate highways, plus all the bridges, tunnels and ramps built into the system. The federal government subsidizes mass transit systems, such as the New York subway system overseen by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, as well as commuter rail lines and public bus systems. The government has taken a leading role in some energy production projects, such as the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada.
Explanation:
