Foundations of Government

1. Foundations of Government Chapter 1 Mr. LeHew

2. Foundations of Government • Government - institution through which a society makes/enforces public policies • Public policy - all things a government decides to do • Governments exercise legislative, executive, and judicial powers.

3. Foundations of Government • Constitution - body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of government • Politics is a process - the means by which government is conducted (how power and resources will be distributed within a society) - while government is an institution

4. State vs. Nation vs. Country • State - a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, and having the power to make and enforce laws without the consent of any higher authority; a legal entity • Over 200 states in the world today

5. State vs. Nation vs. Country • Nation - a group of people who are united by the common bonds of language and customs (ethnic term referring to races and other large groups of people • Country - a geographic term referring to a particular place

6. The State … not “a U.S. State” • Four characteristics of The State: • Population - people who live within a certain area • Territory - with known and recognized boundaries • Sovereignty - supreme and absolute power within its own territory; in theory, no state has the right to interfere with another • Government - the institution that makes/enforces public policy (machinery and personnel by which the state is ruled

7. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Does it make a difference what kind of government a country has so long as the citizens are safe, well-fed, and comfortable? Agree or Disagree?

8. Origins of the State • Force Theory: Government developed gradually because one person or a small group claim control and forced others into submission • Evolutionary Theory: • Government developed naturally and gradually out of the family unit • Father was ruler • Developed into clans, then tribes, then civilizations when they turned to agriculture, and thus the state was born

9. Origins of the State • Divine Right Theory: • God gave those of royal birth the right to rule. • They were chosen by God • To go against the ruler meant going against God (treason and sin) I am the state!

10. Origins of the State • Social Contract Theory: • Developed by Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Harrington • Man lived in a state of nature - no government; everyone protected themselves • Agreed to come together under a contract, giving up some rights to protect others • Therefore, the state exists to serve the people because they are the source of its power • Can change the government if it is not serving the needs of the people

11. Purpose of Government • Defined by Textbook • Maintain the Social Order • Provide public services • Provide for National Security and a common defense • To provide for and control the economic system

12. Purpose of US Government • Stated in the preamble to the Constitution • Form a more perfect Union • From colonies to Articles of Confederation to the Constitution • Linked states/people more closely together • Establish justice • the law in its content and administration • must be reasonable, fair, and reasonable

13. Purpose of US Government • Insure domestic tranquility • Keeping peace at home • Provide for the common defense • To defend against enemies both foreign and domestic • Defense mentioned more in the Constitution than any other government power

14. Purpose of US Government • Promote general welfare • Government acts as servants to citizens as seen in the various government programs designed to fit the needs of the people **Not welfare as in government assistance but the “well being” of the citizenship of the country**

15. Purpose of US Government • Secure the blessing of liberty • Liberty a relative matter – no such thing as absolute liberty • Clarence Darrow (defense attorney) – “You can only be free if I am free.” • Benjamin Franklin - “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

16. Purpose of US Government • Government’s job is to protect personal liberty as evidenced by the inclusion of the Bill of Rights • Thomas Jefferson - “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

17. Classifying Governments by who may participate • Democracy • Abraham Lincoln defined democracy as “government of the people, by the people, and for the people” in the Gettysburg Address • Political authority rests with the people and the government is conducted by/with consent of the people

18. Democracy Continued • Types of Democracy • Direct democracy - people represent themselves • Indirect/representative democracy – people represented by someone else • Republic – power is in the hands of the people but there are limitations based on citizenship

19. Classifying Governments by who may participate • Dictatorship • Oldest and most common form of government • Those in power are not accountable to the people • Authoritarian - those in power hold absolute and unchallengeable authority • Totalitarian - exercise total control over every aspect of human life

20. Dictator Continued • Government is not responsible to the people and cannot be limited by the people • Types: • Autocracy - a single person holds unlimited political power • Oligarchy - power to rule held by small, self-appointed elite

21. Classifying Governments by Distribution of Power • Unitary governments • A centralized government • All powers belong to a single central agency • The central government creates the local units of government • Most world governments are unitary • Ie: Great Britain - Parliament holds power though it is limited

22. Classifying Governments by Distribution of Power • Federal government • Powers divided between a central government and smaller units of government both levels of government act directly on the people through their own set of laws, officials, agencies • We have federal, state, and local governments with the Constitution standing above all • Ie: U.S., Mexico

23. Classifying Governments by Distribution of Power • Confederate government • An alliance of independent states • Central government only has the powers the states give to it-they are usually limited • Very rare today • Ie: U.S. under Articles of Confederation, Confederate State of America

25. Classifying Governments: Relationship between the Executive and Legislative • Presidential Government • Features a separation of powers between branches • Branches are independent and co-equal • A constitution usually provides for the separation

26. Presidential Government Con’t • Chief executive chosen independent of legislature • Holds office for a fixed term • Constitution explains the separation of powers between the two branches

27. Classifying Governments: Relationship between the Executive and Legislative • Parliamentary government • Executive composed of Prime Minister and Cabinet • Prime Minister and Cabinet part of the legislative branch • PM is the leader of the majority party • Cabinet members are chosen from legislature

28. Parliament Continued • PM remains in office as long as a majority of Parliament support him/her • May have a vote of no confidence - if Parliament defeats PM/Cabinet on an important matter he/she must resign • Most governments today are this form David Cameron Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

29. Choosing a Chief Executive Presidential System Parliamentary System

30. "No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.“ ~Sir Winston Churchill Sir Winston Churchill Prime Minister of United Kingdom during World War II

31. Basic Concepts of Democracy • Fundamental worth of the individual • Each individual is a separate/distinct being • Each person’s worth/dignity must be recognized and respected by all people at all times • Equality of all persons • “All men are created equal“ • Not equality of condition - everyone doesn’t have the same mental/physical abilities rather, equality of opportunity and equality before the law • Person must be free to develop him/her self as fully as he/she can or cares to

32. Basic Concepts of Democracy • Majority rule and minority rights • Public policy is made by the will of the people • Majority will be right more often than it is wrong and will be right more often than the individual or small group • Still must safeguard the rights of those who disagree with the majority

33. Basic Concepts of Democracy • Necessity of compromise • Compromise needed to achieve majority agreements • Compromise is the solution acceptable to the largest number of people • Individual freedom • Not absolute freedom-absolute freedom can only exist in anarchy as free as the freedom of all will allow

34. Duties and Responsibilities of Citizenship • Duties include those things that center around obeying the law • Serve on jury • Serve as witness when called • Attend school • Pay taxes • Register with Selective Service • Obey laws • Respect the rights of others • Responsibilities deal with respecting the core beliefs/values on which democracy is based • Voting • Volunteering • Participating in civic life • Understanding how the government works

35. Economic Theories • Democracy and Free Enterprise • Aka capitalism, free market, market economy • Based on ideas of private ownership, individual initiative, profit and competition • Means of production and distribution are privately owned • Market determines what/how much will be produce

36. Economic Theories • Owners compete with each other to earn a profit • Laissez-faire • Government plays a limited role in society • Adam Smith, “The Wealth of Nations” • “That government is best that governs the least” • Mixed economy • Private enterprise combined with government regulation • Purpose is to protect public and preserve private enterprise