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GOVERNMENT

GOVERNMENT. So what is Government?. What did you do today? How was government involved?. WHY Government ?. Was Hobbes right about human nature? Do you agree with Hobbes’ outlook on the ‘Right Kind of Government ? Would Hobbes agree with Locke’s idea of natural rights

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GOVERNMENT

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  1. GOVERNMENT

  2. So what is Government? • What did you do today? • How was government involved?

  3. WHY Government? • Was Hobbes right about human nature? • Do you agree with Hobbes’ outlook on the ‘Right Kind of Government? • Would Hobbes agree with Locke’s idea of natural rights • Do you prefer Hobbes of Lockes ideas about government?

  4. Social Contract Theorists & Enlightenment Thinkers Thomas Hobbes John Locke Jean-Jacques Rousseau Baron de Montesquieu

  5. Social Contract Theorists What is a social contract? An agreement among people defining the rights and duties of individuals with each other and with the government.

  6. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • Hobbes challenged Divine Right Theory • Did not challenge Monarchy - Any government is better than no government. • Why? Must examine the State of Nature: Life without institutions, a primitive state before governments.

  7. Hobbes and the State of Nature • Wrote the Leviathan • Pessimistic - Man in the state of nature is essentially equal and at “war” • Without government, life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” • A constant struggle to survive against the evil of others

  8. Hobbes and the Social Contract • Out of fear, people want to be ruled. • People enter into a social contract with the government. • People give up rights and liberties in order to control society and to safeguard property. • Individual obedience is necessary in order to stop the greater evil of an endless state of war.

  9. John Locke • English • 1632-1704 • An Essay Concerning Human Understanding • Second Treatise of Civil Government

  10. Locke and the State of Nature • State of perfect freedom and equality no king has the power to void those rights • All human beings in their natural state were equal and free to pursue life, health, liberty and possessions (inalienable rights). • In this state, everyone is the judge and jury. • Creates problems – Gov’t remedies these problems. • Governments allow man to pursue his goals more efficiently.

  11. Lockeand the Social Contract • Men enter into a social contract with the government to preserve life, liberty and property and to assure justice. • From this state of nature people would not choose an absolute monarchy, they choose a society governed by standing laws, with power distributed among different groups. • If the government acts improperly it breaks the contract with the people. Revolution in some circumstances is not only a right, it is an obligation.

  12. Review the Views on the Social Contract • Hobbes: the social contract restricts conflict in the state of nature by surrendering power and instituting justice. • Locke: the social contract carries man from the state of nature to be governed in order to preserve liberties and property rights. • Rousseau: the social contract limits the power of the state and brings citizens closer to the state of nature.

  13. Jean Jacques Rousseau • Swiss - French • 1712-1778 • On The Social Contract, 1762

  14. Rousseau and the State of Nature • “Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” (Thesis) • Natural State is freedom, but people in modern states are not free. Why? • The only natural society is the family. • Problems begin when people form societies. • Original “tribal” societies were alright, but the introduction of property created inequality and jealousy. • Cannot return to the natural state so we form governments to restore some of our freedoms.

  15. Baron de Montesquieu • “On The Spirit of Laws” 1748 • Admired British system • Separation of governmental powers into three divisions • the executive, who carries out (executes) the laws • the legislative, who makes the laws, • and the judicial, who interprets the laws. • Tyranny can be avoided by dividing political power among different groups. (Separation of Powers) • Tyranny can be avoided by keeping watch on the other branches of government (checks and balances) • These would prevent anyone from gaining a monopoly of power.

  16. State of Nature: • No laws • You are on your own • Social Contact • Government • Laws • Compromises are made • Rights are protected

  17. In both Categories: • Natural rights • Life • Liberty • Proberty

  18. Life, Liberty, Property • Life, Liberty and property are all natural rights that people are born with according to Locke

  19. State of nature/ War • In a state of nature, people are constantly in a state of war because there are no laws

  20. Government/Social Contract • A social contract happens when the people agree to give up some power and rights in exchange for protection and services

  21. The State The State • A body of people living in a defined territory, organized politically, who have the power to make and enforce laws without the consent of a higher authority. • Over 190 “States” in the world. • A state is a legal entity • Often called nations - an ethnic term describing race or other large groups of people • Often called country - geographic term referring to a place, region, or area of land.

  22. Four Characteristics of a State Territory Population Sovereignty Government

  23. Four Characteristics of a State • Population - Must have people • Territory – Land with known and recognized boundaries. • Sovereignty - It makes its own decisions. Not reliant on any other nation to decide for them. • Government - an organized way to make and enforce public policies.

  24. Origins of the State • Force Theory – A group of people claimed control over an area and forced all within to submit to the group’s rule • Evolutionary Theory – The state developed naturally out of the early family • Divine Right Theory – God created the state and gave royalty the “divine right to rule” • Social Contract Theory – People went into contract with the state for protection and promotion of society’s well-being

  25. The Purpose of Government • Form a more perfect union • Establish Justice • Insure Domestic Tranquility • Provide for the Common Defense • Promote the General Welfare • Secure the Blessings of Liberty

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