Government Chapter 1

People and Government

What is government?

An institution through which a state maintains social order, provides

public services, and enforces decisions that are binding on all its

residents.

Why take an interest in government?

“He who has the power to take part in the deliberate or judicial administration of any state is said by us to be a citizen of that state.”

--Politics, II, Aristotle

Section 1: Principles of Government

• Greeks firsts analyzed politics & gov.

• Aristotle studies of Polis gave us the term state (city-state)

• To him, territory of a town and its surroundings, face-2-face communication possible

• Today, states that form the political world share this features:

• Population: the of people of a state

• Territory: established boundaries of a state

• Sovereignty: a states' authority within its boundaries

• Government: (see slide 3)

• Nation- Common race, language, customs, traditions.

• Nation-state- boundaries coincide, such as France.

Theories of the origin of the State

• Evolutionary Theory- evolve from the family

Head of family, ex. Abraham’s

• Force Theory- Government formed when the people came under the rule of one or a group. Need of protection form enemies, walls built to keep enemy out.

• Divine Right Theory- Idea that Gods chose certain people to lead. Egyptians, Aztecs. More recent, European monarchs. 1600s and 1700s

• Social Contract Theory- In the 1600s, some European like Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, opposed divine right. Hobbes believed that people surrendered their freedom to maintain order and be protected. Locke, right to life, liberty, and property.

What features do modern-day states that form today’s political world have

in common?

Sovereignty

The Purposes of Government

• Governments get authority from:

• Legitimacy- willingness to obey.

• Coercive force- police, courts, and military.

• Maintaining Social Order

• Provide Public Services

• Providing National Security

• Making Economic Decisions

Section 2: The Formation of Government

• All nations must have an organized government to function

• Government Systems

• Unitary System- All key power goes to central government to create state, provincial, or other local governments. It also limits their sovereignty.

Ex. Great Britain, Italy, and France

• Federal System- Shared power between nation & state. US, Canada, Switzerland, Mexico

• Confederacy- a loose union of independent states. When it failed, the Constitution made the national gov. supreme in US.

What is a constitution and what does it provide?

• It’s a plan providing rules for gov.

• Sets out ideals (standards) for people bound to it

• Provides structure of gov. and defines gov.’s power & duties

• It is limited gov.

• Provides supreme law

Sec. 2: The Formation of Government Cont.

Constitutions and Government

• Written versus Unwritten

• U.S. oldest written in 1787

• Great Britain unwritten

•base on hundreds of years of legislative acts, court decisions, and customs.

• Incomplete Guides- constantly adapting

• Not possible to embody all the ideals developed over time

• Preamble (see slide 14)

• Statement of goals

• Framework for government

• Main body sets up the plan for Government

• In federal states, it describes the relationship between national and state gov.

• Most, (such as US ) describe the procedure for amending/changing it

• Main body, dived into parts called articles & sections

• US: 7 articles, 21 sections

Constitutions

1787

• It provides the highest law/supreme law for a state

• Typically accepted as moral binding force

• drawing its authority from the people or assembly chosen by the people

• Constitutional Law:

• the field of law that studies questions on how to interpret the Constitution

•Ex: the reach of its powers

Constitutions cont.

Politics and Government

• Politics: effort to control or in fluency the conduct of and policies of government.

• Seeking Government Benefits-

• Through politics, individual and groups seek rewards and benefits.

• Turning values and beliefs into policies

• Importance of Politics- it manages conflicts in society by way of compromise.

• Special Interests- looking out for specific ideals

James Madison and the Framers were weary that factions (special interest groups) would impede the launching of the new government.Today, a check and balance is put in place to avoid it, three branches of governments.

Governing in a Complex World• Major Inequalities Among States

• Industrialized – Ex. US and 20 other countries, including Japan and Canada

• Developing nations – have a fraction of income of industrialized nations

• Growing Interdependence – Nations must interact or depend upon one another, economically and politically.

• increased technology, manufacturing, and telecommunication

• Global economy and trade agreements (NAFTA) singed in 1993

Governing in a Complex World cont.

• Nonstate International Groups

• They work beyond national boundaries

•Al Qaeda

•World Trade Organization

•Multinational Corporations – have great influence in international and domestic policies in their host country

•General motors, Nabisco, American Telephone and Telegraph…

What is the purpose of Government?

Current Event

Time-honored system – based on Aristotle key question: Who governs? He proposed that all governments belong to one of the of three groups:

Autocracy Oligarchy Democracy/RepublicLast one, Czars of Russia, 1918

Section 3: Types of Governments

• Autocracy- system of government in which one person rules• Term used for dynastic kings and emperors• Maintain power through army and police

power• Last true autocrats were the Czars of Russia,

ruled until 1918• A dictator is also a single rulers-• Hitler, Nazi Germany • Stalin, Soviet Union• Mussolini

•

Autocracy

• Monarchy – is also a government where one person rules• Ex. King, queen, or emperor who inherits

the throne• Autocracy and monarchy originated in

ancient times• Rulers considered sacred • Difference between autocrats and

monarchs• Monarchs had limited powers by

tradition and law • Until King Louis XIV, reigned 1660-

1714, he had absolute power, he brought about change in France. A new government, granting him absolute and unlimited power. Technically, a autocratic government.

• Today, monarchies are limited in power or constitutional. Ex. Great Britain, Sweden, Japan

Monarchy Similar to Autocracy

• Oligarchy- rule by a few persons• Derive power from wealth, social status,

and military power• Some scholars argue that ancient Roman

Republic was an oligarchy• Only a few wealthy Roman families

dominated the Roman Senate• Today, communist countries such as China

are considered an oligarchy.• Dictators in oligarchy, often suppress any

opposition• Control over the people • Control over elections

Oligarchy

• Democracy/Republic- a government ruled by the people, through representative or directly.

• The term democracy, comes from the Greek demos, meaning “the people” and kratia meaning “rule.”

• Ancient Greeks practiced democracy, a government where the people ruled rather than the elite.

• Not everyone was considered a citizen with rights:• women, foreigners, and slaves could not vote.

Democracy

• Direct Democracy – all citizens cast a vote directly on matters of government or laws.• Possible in small societies• Ex. Ancient Athenians• In modern times, New England town

meeting, cantons of Switzerland

• Indirect/Representative Democracy – the people elect representatives and give them consent to make laws and conduct government ensuring their rights.• This is carryout through an assembly of the

people’s representatives:• a council, a legislature, a congress, or a

parliament

Democracy

• The head of state is not a king or queen• Small percentage of the people might vote• US has a democracy that is a republic• Not every democracy is a republic• Ex. Great Britain is a democracy, not a

republic• Why?

Republic

Characteristics of Democracy• Individual Liberty

• With limitations (free as possible to develop talents )

• Equal opportunity

• Majority Rule with Minority Rights

• Government decision based on will of majority

• Certain rights guaranteed

Characteristics of Democracy cont.

• Minority rights hard to maintain

• WWII—ore thn 100,000 Japanese were put in camps for fear of disloyalty.

War creates contempt…Tyranny can happen in a democracy due to racism.

1942 After 911

• Free Elections

• Choose their leaders and voice their opinion

• Public officials pay heed to public opinion

• Characteristics of democracy:

1- Everyone's vote has equally valuable, “One person, one vote,”

2- Candidates express views freely

3- Citizens may help candidates or support issues

4- Restrictions minimal (age, residence, citizenship)

5- No coercion or fear

Characteristics of Democracy cont.

• Competing Political Parties

• Political party– group of individuals with common interest who organize to;

• Nominate candidates for office

• Win elections

• Conduct government

• Determine public policy

• Since 1800s, US has had two political parties Dem. & Rep.

• Any number of parties may compete servings as “loyal opposition,” criticizing the party in power making them accountable

Characteristics of Democracy cont.

Elements for Democracy• To sustain a democracy five elements are

needed:

1- Citizen Participation—stay inform, partake in campaigns, serve on juries

2- Favorable Economy—prosperous, such as having a large middles class.

• Free enterprise, freedom to have private business

3- Widespread Education—1835, Pennsylvania voted on

funding public schools.

• Thaddeus Stevens spoke of the need of informed citizens.

4- Strong Civil Society—refers to nongovernmental society, voluntary associations such as:

• Red Cross

• Local churches

• National Riffle Association

5- Social consensus—general agreement on purpose and limits of Government.

• Colonial America provide us with a consensus of political and social value. Eventually the benefits of democracy will extend to all Americans.

Elements for Democracy cont.

Section 4: Economic Theories

• The Role of Economic Systems is to answer

these questions:

• What and how much to produce?

• How do we produce?

• Who gets the goods and services produced?

• Societies with more political freedom have less regulated economies. Societies with less political freedom have economies regulated by government.

Section 4: Economic Theories cont.

• Capitalism- is an economic system in which freedom of choice and individual incentive for workers, investors, consumers, and business enterprises are emphasized.

• In Europe, capitalism began in 1200s.

• Explorers and merchants opened the trade routes to Asia.

• By 1700, Europe, had national states, wealthy middle class with banks and markets, and aggressive work and wealth attitude.

• In 1776, Adam Smith, a Scottish philosopher proposed the idea of Free market, a Laissez-faire—French for “Let alone.”

Economic Theories cont.

• Capitalism cont.

• Private property, competition, and profit are key

• There is no pure capitalist system

• Government influence

•Grew during the depression

• In America, we have a mixed-market economy

• Ex. Food and the FDA

• Food and Drug Act, 1906

Economic Theories•Socialism

•Government owns basic means of production, distributes wealth equally, provides, and provides social services.

•Democratic Socialism- People elect officials, government controls production.

•Ex. Denmark, Sweden, and Norway

Economic Theories• Communism- Karl Marx predicted capitalism would

collapse, and communism would evolve. In said system, there would be one class, the working class. All property would be held in common, no need for government.

• The Communist Manifesto, Das Kapital

• Proletariat—industrial working class

• Bourgeoisie—the middle class, to Marx they were the owners of industrial capital.

• Based on class struggle—between workers and owners of means of productions.

• Leads to Command Economy—governments make decisions on the economy.

•Ex. China