Introduction to Government and Forms of Government

1. Introduction to Government and Forms of Government a powerpoint of revolutionary proportions!!!

2. Group Talk Brainstorm: >>> list types of governments that you know or have heard of. Q: Is there one form of government that is better than all others, or does it depend on the situation? (make an argument)

3. What is government? • Definition- Institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.

4. What is the “state” in which a government exists? • A body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically. • It has the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority. • Must have (1) population, (2) territory, (3) sovereignty and a form of (4) government.

5. What is political power? Power is the ability of one person to get another person to act according to their intentions. Who will hold government office? What will (US federal) government do ? (what actions will it take?) Mary Fallin –Current Governor of Oklahoma!!!

6. More about Political Power • People who use political power may or may not have the authority to do so. • Authority is the right to use power. Formal authority is the right to exercise power that is vested in a government office (i.e. president, senator, federal judge…). • Legitimacy is political authority conferred by law or by a state/national constitution. (i.e. U.S. Constitution).

7. Division(Separation) of Powers

8. 3 Ways to Classify Forms of Government • (1) Who can participate in government? • (2) Where is government power geographically located? • (3) Who rules?

9. 2 Basic Forms to consider: Democracy Compromise Dictatorship (1) Who Can Participate? Is there any truth to this?

10. (b) Dictatorship • “Oldest,” most common form of government • Rulers are not held responsible to the will of the people • Autocracy – single person holds unlimited power • Oligarchy – the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite • Examples: Fascist Italy (1922-1943), Nazi Germany (1933-1945), Soviet Union (1917-late 1980s), People’s Republic of China (1949 to present)

11. (2) Who has the power? • Where is it located geographically? • 3 basic forms of government: • (a) Unitary • (b) Federal • (c) Confederation Why do people go to Washington D.C. to march?

12. (a) Unitary Government: Centrally Located • Centralized Government – all powers held by government belong to a single, central (national) agency • Local units of government are only created at the convenience of the national government and lack real power Example: Britain’s parliament!!!

13. (b) Federal Government: Divide it Up!

14. (c) Confederate Government: Totally Weak! • Alliance of independent states • CG has Limited powers that states assign • Rare today • Kind of Example: European Union (1993-present) - Free trade, common currency (except stubborn Brits), and attempts to coordinate members’ foreign and defense policies • American Examples: U.S. under the Articles of Confederation (1781-1789) and the Confederate States of America (1861-1865)

15. Location of Power: Geography “

16. (3) Who rules? • Is it… (a) the legislative (parliamentary) or (b) the executive (presidential)?

17. (b) Parliamentary Government • Executive branch = prime minister/premier + cabinet = All are members of the legislative branch(parliament) So, they perform both functions. • Prime minister is leader of the majority party and is thus chosen by the legislature, and subject to its direct control • Executive remains in office as long as they have support of parliamentary majority • “Vote of no confidence” causes prime minister to resign then a new government must be formed! Example: Britain /most other democracies +++Advantages - Avoids conflict and deadlock of presidential governments

18. (a) Presidential Government Separation of powersbetween the executive and legislative branches = independent, coequal Chief executive (president) is chosen independently of legislature (Citizens VOTE), holds office for fixed term, and has some independent powers Separation of powers is usually spelled out in a written constitution . Branches can block other branches (Cks/Balances)

19. The Roman Republic: 1st Senate! • Open forum debate. • Political Elite • Council of 500 included the poor. • US Senate patterned after • ****Representative lawmaking***. • Ben Franklin “Gentlemen, we have ourselves a Republic.”

20. Roman Republic: • Best society promotes “the common good”. • Common good achieved by good citizens. • Citizens must share 3 characteristics: 1) Civic virtue 2) public education 3)small, uniform communities Natural Rights necessary for citizens to govern themselves included : right to vote; freedom to assemble, and open debate.

21. Roman Empire: The Senate

22. Was the Republic truly Representative of the people???

23. Athenian Demokratis Peaks 400 BC All freedmen are citizens. Any citizens could attend Assembly, introduce laws, speak or vote (suffrage). “Polis” = city state The Philosophers: Socrates (469-399 BC) Plato (429-347 BC) Aristotle(384-322 BC)

24. The Polis (city-state) • Developed in many places into 2 levels: • (1) the Acropolis (high city) featuring great marble temples dedicated to different gods and goddesses • (2) Flatter ground below lay the walled main city with its marketplace, theatre, public buildings, and homes • Small city-states helped citizens (free male landowners) share a sense of responsibility The Acropolis at Athens… today

25. the Acropolis at Athens… today

26. Philosophers: Lovers of Wisdom • Rational thinking (logic) to understand the universe • Debated morality, ethics, and the best kind of government… 3 significant philosophers: 1. Socrates 2. Plato 3. Aristotle

27. Socrates • “The unexamined life is not worth living” • Socratic Dialogue • Questioned assumptions, accepted values • At 70, put on trial for “corrupting city’s youth and failing to respect gods” by jury of 501 citizens • Accepted death penalty of drinking poisonous hemlock • Died for his beliefs

28. Plato • The Republic sets up his ideal of Just Society • Rejected democracy (mob rule) b/c of excesses (i.e. Socrates death) • State should regulate every aspect of citizens’ life in their best interest • 3 classes (first 2 are guardian classes): • Workers (produce necessities) • Soldiers (defend state) • Philosophers (to rule in best interest) • Philosopher-King with Ultimate Authority • Men and women equal in some sense • State child care, no families

29. One of brightest students at Plato’s Academy. Studied there for 20 yrs until Plato’s death. Most often quoted Greek philosopher His work was the basis for the Scientific method used today. Opened the Lyceum , rivaled Plato’s Academy. Came close to summarizing all the knowledge up to his time. Aristotle

30. (a) Democracy Popular sovereignty • supreme political authority lies with the people; the people are sovereign Athenian Democracy • DEMOS= People • KRATOS= Rule • 2 types of Democracy: • Direct- (Polis/Greece) • Representative(Republican) Rome >> Founders later called it rule by “Philosopher Kings” (Intellectual rulers).

31. Classical Influences on the Founding fathers Roman Republic Representative Republic Virtuous Citizens Senate Open Forum Vigorous Debate Problem: Slavery/ Inequality Ancient Greek(Athenian) Direct Democracy Popular sovereignty Philosopher kings Plato, Aristotle, Socrates Suffrage Referendum Problem: Lack of Diversity, size • Greek Demokratis /Roman Republic

32. Why Ancient Greece? Why Ancient Rome? • (1) They have written history • (2) Founders looked to Ancient Greece in writing Constitution • (3)Founders liked idea of scholars as leaders “philosopher kings”. • (1) They promote civic virtue. Favor rep. govt- natural rights. • (2) Founders looked to Rome to construct Legislature. • (3) Founders like public education, the common good, a moral society supports a stable gov’t.

33. What kind of government did the Framers prefer? The Framers of the Constitution strongly favored representative government.RepublicWhy? They thought most citizens did not have the time, information, interest, or expertise to make reasonable choices among competing policy positions! Is a direct democracy impractical today? (larger population ,but internet…) Am Stu Stops Here….

34. Who REALLY has the power in a Democracy ? (unofficial answer) • How is political power distributed in the U.S.’s representative democracy? • 4 Popular Theories: • (1) Marxist View • (2) Power Elitist View • (3) Bureaucratic View • (4) Pluralist View

35. (a) Marxist View • Even Democratic governments merely reflect(mirror) underlying Economic forces. IOW- Moneymakers call the shots. • Capitalists (bourgeoise) and workers (proletariat) contend for power.(Class wars) • Who really rules?: For Capitalists - “big business” and “multinational corporations” Q:Any evidence of this in US today????

36. Marxist View What is this cartoon saying? What would Marxists think about this cartoon?

37. (b) Power Elite View • Who really rules?: A few top leaders, mostly outside of government and enjoy great advantages in wealth, status, or organizational position – thus, corporate leaders, top military officials, handful of elected officials... A democratic Oligarchy? Sociologist C. Wright Mills

38. (c) Bureaucratic View • Who really rules?: Appointed officials - career government workers (bureaucrats) exercise vast power by deciding how to translate public laws into administrative actions. • Bureaucrats do not simply implement public policies, but they effectively make them as suits their own ideas and interests. Sociologist Max Weber

39. (d) Pluralist View(No conspiracy, just conflicting interests…) • While pluralist theorists do not go so far as to say that resources are distributed equally (on a majoritarian basis), they DO assert that competition among all affected interests shapes public policy.

40. The End