American GovernmentPrincipals of Government

Chapter 1 Section 1

Aristotle was a great philosopher. He studied government.

Aristotle felt man was by nature a political animal.

That is was his nature to want the order and laws of society.

The main political unit of his day was the Greek city-state known as a polis.

The word politics comes from the word polis.

Four Basic Characteristics of States. Population - all states must have people. Territory - a geographic area on the earth’s

surface. Government - the people and institutions

with authority to establish and enforce public policies.

Sovereignty - the political authority to act independently.

Population

May be large or small. May be very similar or very diverse in

language, race, customs and culture They are given a special status known as

citizenship Responsibilities - allegiance, paying taxes,

obeying the law, serving the state in some way Rights - take part in politics, protection against

attack

Territory The area within a definite, recognizable

boundary that separates one state from another.

Includes not only land but also coastal waters, inland waters, the air above the land and all natural resources on or under the land.

Size of territory can vary greatly. Disputes over territory and boundaries have

been the cause of many conflicts in history.

Government

The people who run a nation may be called by a variety of terms.

The institutions may include a constitution, a court system, a legislature, and army, and other established practices of a state.

The government carries out public policies. Any course of gov’t action directed toward a

national goal. Medical care, space program, welfare…...

Government (cont)

The people and institutions of the gov’t need: Authority

Right to make the rules. Power

Force to be sure rules are followed Legitimacy

People accept its authority and its right to lead.

Sovereignty

The right of a country to make its own decisions and foreign policy without consulting anyone.

Send and receive ambassadors. Protect it’s borders and keep foreigners out

if it chooses.

Origins of Government Beginnings of organized gov’t took place

more than 5000 years ago. Four birthplaces of civilization:

Mesopotamia in western Asia Egypt along the Nile in northern Africa Yellow River plains in northern China Indus Valley in northeast India

In each of these, wandering people settled down to build villages, plant and cultivate crops, and tame herds of animals.

Theories of Government Evolutionary-A natural state in the

evolution of human society, growing out of the family relationship between parents and children.

Force -A ruler took power by force. Divine Right - believed that a ruler’s power

came from God and he could not be challenged.

Social contract - idea that people willing contracted to give power to a government, in return they were protected.

Social Contract Theory

Thomas Hobbes, English Philosopher, 1651 first to describe this theory

John Locke, English Philosopher, 1690 made changes to Hobbes’ theory, made it more

optimistic

Hobbes’ TheoryPeople lived in a “state of nature”. They had complete freedom to do as they pleased, provided they were powerful enough to do so. This was a dangerous way to live so they came together to create a state in which they made an agreement or “contract” in which one person was selected to rule over the rest. It was one sided because the people surrendered all their freedoms in return for protection.

Locke’s TheoryPeople had “natural rights” to life, liberty, and property. People made a social contract and agreed to obey the government or ruler, to pay taxed, and to follow any reasonable laws. In return, the ruler was obliged to protect their “natural rights”. If he did not, the people were free to revolt and establish a new social contract with a new government.

Purpose of Government

Four areas of policies-gov’t establishes and enforces Social order/Social standards National security/common defense Public services Control economic system

Social Order

First responsibility of gov’t is to keep the society orderly and peaceful. (Aristotle)

Burke believed that only in an orderly society can people achieve their individual and collective goals.

Pass laws, set up courts, employ police, build prisons, issue money, enforce legal contracts, make traffic regulations, etc.

National Defense Gov’t must establish a defense system that

provides security for the nation and its people.

Maintains well-trained, well-equipped military force.

Watch for internal threats such as treason or rebellion.

Establish intelligence gathering agencies. Negotiate agreements, and treaties with

foreign nations to protect national security.

Public ServicesNational-State-Local Essential services that would be difficult or

impractical for individuals to provide for themselves.(helps to keep order) Health-safety-transportation-communications-

education-general welfare

Economic Decisions No government provides their citizens

with everything they need or want. Pass the laws that shape the economic

environment of the nation. Make choices about how to distribute

public services and benefits. Control inflation, encourage trade,

regulate use of natural resources.

Division of Authority

Centralized power - unitary gov’t Sovereign states - confederation Divided powers - federalism

Centralized - Unitary Gov’t Central gov’t has authority over all political

subdivisions within the state. Political subdivisions of such countries

have only the limited authority that the central gov’t grants them.

Main advantage- uniform, consistent policies, that apply basically to every person in the state.

Main disadvantage - inflexibility.

Sovereign states: Confederation Two or more independent states join together to

achieve some common goal. Each state retains its own sovereignty, giving

only limited power to the central gov’t. Very unstable -not used in modern times. 1st gov’t of colonies was confederation, Articles

of Confederation. American Indians formed confederations to

fight white man. The south during the Civil War formed a

confederacy.

Divided powers: federalism

Constitution of 1787 was framework for the world’s first federal system.

Political authority is divided between a national gov’t and its political subdivisions.

Blend of the unitary and confederate system U.S., Canada, Australia, India, Mexico,

Switzerland, Germany