Ch. 1: Principles of Government

1. Ch. 1: Principles of Government Section 1: Government and the State

2. A. What is Government? • Government is a system that we use to make and enforce public policies • Public policies are anything a government decides to do. Ex: pave a road, make a tax, go to war • Government is made up of lawmakers, administrators, and judges.

3. B. The State • A state is a nation or country. • There are 4 requirements for being a state. • Population: people • Territory: land with set borders • Sovereignty: the power to make laws, carry out its policies • Government: the institutions used to carry out policies

4. C. Origins of the State • There are 4 ways states are created. • The Force Theory: a person or group takes control over an area using force. • The Evolutionary Theory: states begin as a family and grow over time into nations • The Divine Right Theory: God gave individuals or groups the right to rule • The Social Contract Theory: People agree to give up power to the state in return for certain protections and benefits.

5. D. The Purpose of Government • The Framers had several goals when they created our new government: • To form a more perfect union: make ONE strong country • To Establish justice: laws should be reasonable and fair • To insure domestic tranquility: order, not anarchy • To provide for the common defense: can’t be weak • To promote the general welfare: public services &safety • To secure the blessings of liberty: freedom is necessary for democracy

6. FORMS OF GOVERNMENT • Historically, there have been many different forms of governments. • Although we might condemn some of these different forms of governments, they have met the needs of the states which adopted them • These different forms of government fall into two basic categories-DEMOCRACY or DICTATORSHIP

7. A. Classic Forms of Gov’t • Feudalism: Based on the rule of local lords bound to a king by ties of loyalty • Classical Republic: Representative democracy in which a small group of elected leaders represent the concerns of the electorate • Absolute Monarchy: A king or queen holds total control of the military and government • Authoritarianism: an individual or group has unlimited authority • Despotism: rule by someone with absolute power who uses his rule tyrannically • Liberal Democracy: based on the protection of individual rights and freedoms and on the consent of the governed • Totalitarianism: a government that tries to control all facets of citizens lives.

8. CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMOCRACY • ”Of the people, by the people, for the people” • Direct (pure)or indirect (representative) • People vote for representatives in elections • Representatives carry out the wishes of the people • People pursue their own interests, not those of the government • Job of government: protect the rights of individuals against the government • Freedom of choice • Freedom of movement • Free enterprise economy, or mixed • Examples: USA, Japan, many European countries

9. CHARACTERISTICS OF DICTATORSHIP • Oldest form • Government is not accountable to the people • Autocracy or despot: rule by one person • Oligarchy: power held by a small group of rulers • All are authoritarian-those in power hold absolute, unchallengeable power over the people • Totalitarianism: control of all areas of life • Militaristic-power gained by force-warlike • No freedom of choice, movement for people • Economy usually centrally controlled (command) • Examples: Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, North Korea

10. B. Classifying Government • Who can participate • Democracy: people hold the power • Dictatorship: participation limited to the ruler

11. B. Classifying Government • Who can participate • Democracy: people hold the power • Dictatorship: participation limited to the ruler • Geographic Systems of Gov’t • Unitary: power is held by a single, central agency • Federal: power is divided between a national government and state governments • Confederate: an alliance of independent countries

12. UNITARY SYSTEM Local Government Local Government Central Government Local Government Local Government

13. FEDERALISM Power is shared between the national government and local governments Local Government Local Government National Government Local Government Local Government

14. CONFEDERATE SYSTEM Power is held by state and local governments Local Government Local Government Central Government Local Government Local Government

15. B. Classifying Government • Who can participate • Democracy: people hold the power • Dictatorship: participation limited to the ruler • Geographic Systems of Gov’t • Unitary: power is held by a single, central agency • Federal: power is divided between a national government and state governments • Confederate: an alliance of independent countries • Relationship between Legislative and Executive Branches • Presidential: leg. And exec. Branches are separate and equal • Parliamentary: the executive is chosen by members of the legislative branch. It’s part of the legislative branch and under it’s control.

16. A. Foundations of Democracy • American democracy relies on people’s acceptance of certain basic concepts. • These concepts are difficult to do. • Fundamental Worth of the Individual • Equality of All Persons • Majority rule and Minority rights • Necessity for Compromise • Individual Freedom

17. Basic Concepts of Democracy, Continued • Democracy and Free Enterprise: they go hand in hand • Freedom of choice, freedom of movement • Everyone has the opportunity to decide what career to pursue • Entrepreneurs have the freedom to create new products or services to sell and to decide what to charge for those creations.