What is Government?What is Government?

The Ideals of GovernmentThe Ideals of Government

StandardsStandards 1.2 – define the terms and explain 1.2 – define the terms and explain

the relationship between politics, the relationship between politics, government, and public policygovernment, and public policy

Overview of GovernmentOverview of Government Government used to organize societyGovernment used to organize society Government – institution by which Government – institution by which

societies establish and enforce lawssocieties establish and enforce laws First recorded gov’t – Mesopotamia (in First recorded gov’t – Mesopotamia (in

present-day Iraq) around 5,000 BCpresent-day Iraq) around 5,000 BC Around 500 AD, gov’ts established all over Around 500 AD, gov’ts established all over

worldworld Between 500 to 1500 more centralized Between 500 to 1500 more centralized

monarchies and empiresmonarchies and empires

Modern Era of Gov’tModern Era of Gov’t Revolutions overtook powerful Revolutions overtook powerful

monarchies in 17monarchies in 17thth and 18 and 18thth century century

Democracy followed revolutionsDemocracy followed revolutions

Democracy – form of gov’t in which Democracy – form of gov’t in which supreme power is held by the peoplesupreme power is held by the people

Modern Era (cont)Modern Era (cont) 2 antidemocratic forms of gov’t 2 antidemocratic forms of gov’t

developed in 20developed in 20thth century century FascismFascism

• Gov’t in which the state is all powerful, Gov’t in which the state is all powerful, individuals exist to serve its needsindividuals exist to serve its needs

CommunismCommunism• State marked by one-party ruleState marked by one-party rule• Developed from ideas of Karl Marx and Developed from ideas of Karl Marx and

Frederick EngelsFrederick Engels

What is a State?What is a State? Four characteristicsFour characteristics

• PopulationPopulation• TerritoryTerritory• Sovereignty (being sovereign means Sovereignty (being sovereign means

independent)independent)• GovernmentGovernment

Four Theories of Origins of StateFour Theories of Origins of State

The Force TheoryThe Force Theory• Simple theory that people forced to Simple theory that people forced to

submit to rule by group or individual submit to rule by group or individual The Evolutionary TheoryThe Evolutionary Theory

• Theory that families evolved from Theory that families evolved from nomads to farmers and settled in one nomads to farmers and settled in one location; families joined together and location; families joined together and became a tribebecame a tribe

Four Origins (cont)Four Origins (cont) The Divine Right TheoryThe Divine Right Theory

• Suggests God created stateSuggests God created state• Gave certain royal families divine right to ruleGave certain royal families divine right to rule

The Social Contract TheoryThe Social Contract Theory• A significant theory A significant theory • Social Contract Theory guided American Social Contract Theory guided American

colonists and founding fathers in developing colonists and founding fathers in developing concept of democracy in USconcept of democracy in US

• Big idea is Big idea is sovereignty sovereignty should be in hands of should be in hands of peoplepeople

Four Origins (cont)Four Origins (cont) Social Contract Theory (cont)Social Contract Theory (cont)

• Thomas Hobbes’ contribution to this Thomas Hobbes’ contribution to this theory – he thought state only existed to theory – he thought state only existed to serve the will of the peopleserve the will of the people

• People could give or take away power People could give or take away power from gov’t whenever they wantedfrom gov’t whenever they wanted

• Individuals surrender private rights in Individuals surrender private rights in exchange for protection and stability exchange for protection and stability provided by gov’tprovided by gov’t

Questions to ConsiderQuestions to Consider Which theory do you believe?Which theory do you believe?

What impact have these theories had What impact have these theories had on development of gov’t of the US?on development of gov’t of the US?

What is your theory of the role gov’t What is your theory of the role gov’t should play in your life and life of should play in your life and life of nation?nation?

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What is the Purpose of Our What is the Purpose of Our Government?Government?

Constitution Constitution contains fundamental contains fundamental rules and procedures for U.S. nat’l rules and procedures for U.S. nat’l gov’tgov’t

Preamble Preamble sets out purpose of the sets out purpose of the ConstitutionConstitution

Purpose (cont)Purpose (cont) Purpose of the Constitution Purpose of the Constitution

(Preamble):(Preamble):• Form a more perfect unionForm a more perfect union• Establish justiceEstablish justice• Ensure domestic tranquilityEnsure domestic tranquility• Provide for the common defenseProvide for the common defense• Promote the general welfarePromote the general welfare• Secure the blessings of liberty to Secure the blessings of liberty to

ourselves and our posterityourselves and our posterity

Purpose (cont)Purpose (cont) People function best when society is People function best when society is

orderlyorderly Anarchy – when no laws or law Anarchy – when no laws or law

enforcement are in placeenforcement are in place No societies have existed in state of No societies have existed in state of

anarchyanarchy Oldest function of gov’t?Oldest function of gov’t?

• protect society against hostile outsidersprotect society against hostile outsiders

Purpose (cont)Purpose (cont) The Framers believed:The Framers believed:

• Government should guarantee libertyGovernment should guarantee liberty• A too-powerful gov’t could destroy A too-powerful gov’t could destroy

libertyliberty• The Constitution to be a contract with The Constitution to be a contract with

the futurethe future• Gov’t has responsibility to Americans Gov’t has responsibility to Americans

yet to comeyet to come