S

Principles of Government

Chapter 1

What is Government?

What is Government? Brainstorm & write it down

Chapter 1 – Section 1

Government & the State

Government is

…the institution through which a society makes & enforces its public policies

Many different systems of gov’t around the world, all have the same 3 basic kinds of power: Legislative, Executive, Judicial

Basics

A constitution – outline of a country’s fundamental principles, structures, & processes of gov’t

Democracy – gov’t where supreme authority rests w/ the people

Dictatorship – gov’t where power is held by single person or a small group No responsibility to the people ruled

Characteristics of a “state”

State describes a legal entity Nation technically ethnic term Country then a geographic term

1. Population – large or small

2. Territory – land w/ boundaries

3. Sovereignty – has absolute power

4. Government – politically organized

Origins of Gov’t

Force Theory – claimed control over a territory & forced people to submit

Evolutionary Theory – primitive families allowed heads of families to rule

Divine Right Theory – God created the state & the ruler “divine right of kings”

“Social Contract” Theory

People give up their “individual sovereignty” in exchange for the peace & order that gov’t provides

From Thomas Hobbes (1588-1678) English philosopher Humans had lived in a “state of nature”

but entered the “Social Contract” out of necessity

Natural Rights

Rights that cannot be taken away “God given rights” Rights not from gov’t

From John Locke (1632-1704) Also English philosopher Declaration of Independence largely based

on Locke Jefferson: “life, liberty, pursuit of happiness”

Hobbes & Locke

Purpose of Gov’t - US

Form a More Perfect Union help the states work together

cooperatively

Establish Justice citizens should be treated fairly

Insure Domestic Tranquility maintain order within society

Purposes (con’t)

Provide for the Common Defense Protect us against foreign enemies

Promote the General Welfare provide services to benefit citizens

Secure the Blessings of Liberty make sure that future generations continue

to enjoy the same freedoms that we have

Ch. 1 Sec. 2 - Forms of Gov’t

Gov’t can be classified in many ways; the most common include:

1. Who can participate

2. Distribution of governmental power within the country

3. Relationship between the legislative & executive branches of gov’t

1. Who can participate…

…in a Democracy – the citizens have the power & elect their political leaders “Government of the people, by the people, and for the

people.”

Two types of Democracies Direct Democracy – people vote directly on

policies Representative Democracy – (US) - citizens

elect leaders and then authorize those leaders to make decisions on their behalf

1. Who can participate…

…in a Dictatorship – rulers are not held accountable to the people Often totalitarian: controls nearly all aspects of

people’s lives

Autocracy – single person holds unlimited power

Oligarchy – small, often self-appointed elite hold the power

Key is the military power/ backing

2. Distribution of Power

Gov’ts differ in how power is shared with National, state, & local levels of authority

Unitary gov’t – system where the nat’l gov’t holds all legislative power & local gov’ts exist to carry out those laws Ex – Great Britain

2. Distribution (con’t)

Federal: system where powers are divided &/or shared among nat’l, state, & local gov’ts – Division of Powers This is what we have – US

Confederate: system with independent states join together to achieve common goals; states have authority over the central gov’t European Union**

3. Legislative & Executive Branches

Can be different ways to distribute power among the branches of gov’t

We have a presidential system – legislative branch (makes the laws) & executive branch (enforces laws) are separate & independent of one another

Each branch serves as a “check” on the other in the Checks & Balances System

3. (con’t)

Others nations have a parliamentary system – in which the chief executive (Prime Minister) is chosen by the legislature (Parliament)

Thus, the legislative branch has power over the executive – powers are NOT balanced

Who has this system?

Chapter 1 Section 3

Basic Concepts of Democracy

Basic Concepts of Democracy

American democracy is based on 5 fundamental beliefs:

1. Recognition of individual worth

2. Equality of all (of opportunity, not results)

3. Protection of minority rights

4. Need for compromise

5. Individual freedom

Responsibilities & Duties of Citizens

Part of that “social contract”

Duties: obeying the law, paying taxes, serving on a jury, & going to school & registering for the draft (currently men)

Responsibilities: voting, community &/ or political involvement, respect for other views

Free Enterprise System

Other name for the US economic system or capitalism which is based on similar principles in our democracy

Private ownership; investments made by private decisions; success/ failure determined by competition in the market

Individual initiative, profit

US Gov’t & Free Enterprise Syst.

Not totally laissez – faire

Gov’t has duty to protect the public and preserve private enterprise Done by all 3 levels of gov’t

Examples: antitrust laws regulate economic activities Zoning ordinances & building codes protect

safety & communities