Chapter 1Chapter 1NotesNotes

GovernmentGovernment

The authority which carries on the work The authority which carries on the work of looking after public interest and of looking after public interest and consists of laws and customs and the consists of laws and customs and the public officials who execute these laws.public officials who execute these laws.

5 reasons as to why we 5 reasons as to why we need Governmentneed Government

1. to define the right and duties of 1. to define the right and duties of individualsindividuals

2. to compel people to perform their 2. to compel people to perform their dutiesduties

3. to protect life and property3. to protect life and property 4. to carry on activities performed by 4. to carry on activities performed by

public officialspublic officials 5. exercise police powers5. exercise police powers

Police PowersPolice Powers Passing laws to protect a majority of its Passing laws to protect a majority of its

citizens.citizens. 1. Health1. Health

Ex: CDC, immunizations, FDAEx: CDC, immunizations, FDA 2. Safety2. Safety

Ex: Speed Limits, Seat Belts, Safety seals on foodEx: Speed Limits, Seat Belts, Safety seals on food 3. Welfare3. Welfare

Ex: Emissions Inspections, Minimum Wage, RecyclingEx: Emissions Inspections, Minimum Wage, Recycling 4. Morals4. Morals

Ex: Curfews, outlaw gambling and prostitution, age Ex: Curfews, outlaw gambling and prostitution, age restrictionsrestrictions

4 Basic Characteristics of 4 Basic Characteristics of a Statea State

State – a body of people, living in a defined State – a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, with the authority to territory, organized politically, with the authority to make decisions. make decisions.

PopulationPopulation Size of state doesn’t matterSize of state doesn’t matter

SovereigntySovereignty Every state is sovereign because it has supreme powerEvery state is sovereign because it has supreme power

TerritoryTerritory Land and recognized boundariesLand and recognized boundaries

GovernmentGovernment Agency through which the state exerts its will and works Agency through which the state exerts its will and works

to accomplish goalsto accomplish goals

Origins of a State Origins of a State (Theories)(Theories)

Evolutionary Evolutionary belief that govt. evolved from the familybelief that govt. evolved from the family

Divine RightDivine Right Idea that early ruler thought their right to rule came Idea that early ruler thought their right to rule came

from a higher supreme beingfrom a higher supreme being Social ContractSocial Contract

A group of men got together and drew up a contract A group of men got together and drew up a contract and agreed to rule according to the will of the peopleand agreed to rule according to the will of the people

ForceForce One man seized control of a groupOne man seized control of a group

3 basic forms of govt. 3 basic forms of govt.

Unitary Unitary One main central govt. One main central govt.

ConfederationConfederation An alliance of independent statesAn alliance of independent states

FederationFederation Shared powers between 2 main govts. Shared powers between 2 main govts.

DemocracyDemocracy

Definition – a govt. of, for, and by the Definition – a govt. of, for, and by the peoplepeople

2 types2 types Pure or Direct – 100% participationPure or Direct – 100% participation Representative or Indirect – we the people Representative or Indirect – we the people

elect representatives to serve us elect representatives to serve us

5 Basic Concepts of 5 Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy

Majority Rule/Minority RightsMajority Rule/Minority Rights CompromiseCompromise Individual FreedomIndividual Freedom Worth and Dignity of an IndividualWorth and Dignity of an Individual EqualityEquality

Are the following groups Are the following groups equal?equal?

1. Women1. Women YESYES

2. Nonsmokers2. Nonsmokers YES, Gaining RightsYES, Gaining Rights

3. Smokers3. Smokers Losing RightsLosing Rights

4. Handicapped4. Handicapped YESYES

More Questions…More Questions…

5. Unborn Children5. Unborn Children No, during 1No, during 1stst trimester trimester

6. Minor Children6. Minor Children YES and NOYES and NO

7. Gays and Lesbians7. Gays and Lesbians Marriage – not legalMarriage – not legal Adoption – depends on stateAdoption – depends on state Denied jobs or lose custodyDenied jobs or lose custody

More Questions…More Questions…

8. Atheists8. Atheists YESYES

9. Criminals9. Criminals YES – Due processYES – Due process

10. Terminally ILL10. Terminally ILL NONO

Parliamentary vs. Presidential Governments

Parliamentary No Checks and

Balances No Separation of

Powers Direct Legislation Parliament and Prime

Minister No fixed term

Presidential Separation of Powers Checks and Balances No Direct Legislation Chief Executive –

President Elected by People Fixed Term

Different Types of RuleDifferent Types of Rule

Oligarchy – Rule by few Oligarchy – Rule by few Ex: South AfricaEx: South Africa

Monarchy – Rule by one man or womanMonarchy – Rule by one man or woman Timocracy – Rule by militaryTimocracy – Rule by military Aristocracy – Rule by the wealthyAristocracy – Rule by the wealthy Totalitarian – govt. gives rights to people Totalitarian – govt. gives rights to people

that they see fit. – Ex: Nazithat they see fit. – Ex: Nazi Dictatorship – one man seized control of a Dictatorship – one man seized control of a

group – Ex: Cuba group – Ex: Cuba

English Philosophers –English Philosophers –standard 1b.standard 1b.

Baron de Baron de Montesquieu Montesquieu Wrote Wrote Spirit of LawsSpirit of Laws Born Charles Louis Born Charles Louis

de Secondatde Secondat

State of NatureState of NatureAll people are not All people are not equalequalWomen weaker than Women weaker than men, but not in govt. men, but not in govt.

Government Government 3 branches – 3 branches – separation of powersseparation of powers

English PhilosophersEnglish Philosophers

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes Wrote the Wrote the LeviathanLeviathan

State of NatureState of Nature Humans desire to obtain Humans desire to obtain

power power Will do anything to get powerWill do anything to get power Naturally wicked and greedyNaturally wicked and greedy Free to pursue own desiresFree to pursue own desires

GovernmentGovernment Absolute monarchy because Absolute monarchy because

they can’t control themselvesthey can’t control themselves Avoid the “state of nature”Avoid the “state of nature”

English PhilosophersEnglish Philosophers

John LockeJohn Locke Two Treatises Two Treatises Physician Physician Admired by peersAdmired by peers

State of NatureState of Nature Consent of governedConsent of governed People are sovereignPeople are sovereign Equal Equal Religious freedom Religious freedom

GovernmentGovernment Natural rights – life, Natural rights – life,

liberty, propertyliberty, property Rule of lawRule of law Representative govt. Representative govt.

Limited GovernmentLimited Government Limited Government- Limited Government-

The idea that the The idea that the government should not government should not be involved too much be involved too much in peoplein people’’s daily lives.s daily lives.

What does this do to What does this do to the power of a the power of a government?government?

Magna CartaMagna Carta

Limited Government – government is not Limited Government – government is not all powerful.all powerful.

Trial by Jury ( 7Trial by Jury ( 7thth Amendment) Amendment)

English Bill of RightsEnglish Bill of Rights

No standing armyNo standing army Bear armsBear arms Right to free speechRight to free speech Regular sessions of legislatureRegular sessions of legislature No cruel or unusual punishmentNo cruel or unusual punishment

English Petition of Rights

Consent of Taxation No Quartering of Troops

Declaration of Declaration of IndependenceIndependence

Listed grievances of the colonists against Listed grievances of the colonists against the kingthe king

Stated that . . . Stated that . . . people have natural rightspeople have natural rights Government cannot exist without the peopleGovernment cannot exist without the people People have the right to abolish the People have the right to abolish the

governmentgovernment

Rule of LawRule of Law The idea that no one is above the law (even The idea that no one is above the law (even

kings and Presidents) and that citizens can only kings and Presidents) and that citizens can only be punished by the government IF theybe punished by the government IF they’’ve ve committed a crime using rules and procedures committed a crime using rules and procedures set by the law. set by the law.

What does this prevent a government from What does this prevent a government from doing to its citizens?doing to its citizens?

**Not right or wrong- it**Not right or wrong- it’’s legal or illegal**s legal or illegal**

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZDd2v18vfw

Social Contract Theory Social Contract Theory and Declaration of Indep. and Declaration of Indep. Both argued that people enter into a social contract with

the government and it violates that contract, the people have the right to rebel.

Radical for their time because most Europeans believed that their monarchs’ power was granted by God.

The D. of I. established a new precedent for holding monarchies accountable for their actions.