CHAPTER ONE

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?

PUBLIC POLICIES

All of the things a government decides to do or not do.

For example…..

Taxation

Defense

Education

Criminal Justice

Don’t taze me, bro!

Healthcare

Civil Rights

Transportation

The source of our government

All of our government’s powers are outlined in the Constitution.

Dictatorship v. democracy

Who holds the power? How are leaders chosen? To whom are leaders

responsible/accountable?

What is the dominant political unit in the world?

The state

Dictatorships v. democracy

Who holds the power? Who makes decisions? How are leaders

chosen? To whom is leadership

accountable?

The State of the State

The state is

A body of people, living in a defined space, with the power to make and enforce laws and an organization to do this.

Define the state by knowing its four characteristics:

Population ( a body of people)

Population

Definition: people who are members or citizens of a state

Size of population doesn’t matter

Population has a big influence on the type of government chosen by the state

Territory (a defined space)

Territory

Definition: the area in which a state’s rule applies

Must have set boundaries, but they are not always agreed upon

Boundaries can change bywarnegotiationpurchase

Sovereignty (power to make and enforce laws)

Sovereignty

Definition: the ability to rule absolutely within a given territory

Because of sovereignty states can set foreign policy and agenda

Sovereignty makes all states equal in theory, but in reality this isn’t always the case

Government (organization that makes and enforces laws )

Government

Government has many roles that all involve making public policy, but that are four main ways their governing affects the public: Keeping order Protecting the country Providing services Making economic decisions

By this definition of THE STATE,which of the following is “ a state?”

New York City?The United States?Texas?China?

True or False?

If there are less than 30,000 people, it can’t be considered a state.

True or False?

The boundaries of a territory can change.

True or False?

Sovereignty means that you have to check with a superior for permission.

True or False

The 50 States that make up the United States are not considered independent states internationally.

FOUR THEORIES OF THE CREATION OF

THE STATE

Force Theory One person or

group forced others to submit to its rule.

Evolutionary Theory The state evolved

from an original family

Family>clan>tribe>state

Divine Right Theory People believe that

God created the state and gave its leaders the right to rule; dominant in Western world through the mid-18th c.

Social Contract Theory People give up to

the state as much power as needed to promote the safety and well-being for all.

Philosophers : John Locke, James Harrington, Jean Jacques Rousseau,Hobbes

PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT

Listed in the Preamble to the Constitution

Constitution – the law of the land; the basis for our gov’t

Form a More Perfect Union

Establish Justice

Insure Domestic Tranquility

Provide for the Common Defense

Promote the General Welfare

Secure the Blessings of Liberty

CLASSIC FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Feudalism (kings and lords)

Classical Republic : small group of elected leaders make decisions for the electorate

Greek city-states and Roman republic

Absolute Monarchy – King or Queen has total control

Authoritarianism – individual or group has unlimited authority.

Despotism – absolute power of tyrant

Liberal Democracy – rights and freedoms of individuals protected

Totalitarianism – government controls all parts of people’s lives.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Who Can Participate

Geographic Distribution of Power

Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Who Can Participate

Geographic Distribution of Power

Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Democracy

Dictatorship

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Who Can Participate

Geographic Distribution of Power

Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Democracy

Dictatorship

Unitary

Confederate

Federal

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Who Can Participate

Geographic Distribution of Power

Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Democracy

Dictatorship

Unitary

Confederate

Federal

Presidential

Parliamentary

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Who Can Participate

Geographic Distribution of Power

Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Democracy

Dictatorship

Unitary

Confederate

Federal

Presidential

Parliamentary

Direct Democracy – purest form, all people vote

Indirect Democracy – representatives are chosen to vote.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Who Can Participate

Geographic Distribution of Power

Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Democracy

Dictatorship

Unitary

Confederate

Federal

Presidential

Parliamentary

Direct Democracy – purest form, all people vote

Indirect Democracy – representatives are chosen to vote.

Autocracy – single personOligarchy – small group (elite)All are authoritarian

Modern dictatorships are totalitarian

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Who Can Participate

Geographic Distribution of Power

Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Democracy

Dictatorship

Unitary

Confederate

Federal

Presidential

Parliamentary

Direct Democracy – purest form, all people vote

Indirect Democracy – representatives are chosen to vote.

Autocracy – single personOligarchy – small group (elite)All are authoritarian

Modern dictatorships are totalitarian

One central government agency

Alliance of independent states.

Power divided between central and local agencies

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

Who Can Participate

Geographic Distribution of Power

Relationship between the Legislative and Executive Branches

Democracy

Dictatorship

Unitary

Confederate

Federal

Presidential

Parliamentary

Direct Democracy – purest form, all people vote

Indirect Democracy – representatives are chosen to vote.

Autocracy – single personOligarchy – small group (elite)All are authoritarian

Modern dictatorships are totalitarian

One central government agency

Alliance of independent states.

Power divided between central and local agencies

Two branches are separate and coequal. Chief Executive is President chosen independently for a fixed term.

Executive branch made up of Prime Minister and cabinet who are members of legislative branch, the Parliament, as long still in favor.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY

DEMOCRACY A form of

government in which supreme authority rests with the people.

American Concept of Democracy rests on:

The worth of the individual All have it

regardless of station

Equality of all persons “All men are

created equal..” –Thomas Jefferson

Opportunity and before the law

Majority rule with minority rights Room for error Majority can’t be left

unchecked Must hear criticism,

arguments and suggestions Necessity of compromise

Blending and adjusting competing views

Essential to make policy “More than one way to skin a

cat” – Mark Twain

Individual freedom Do as you please

with limits “The rights of every

man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” – John F. Kennedy

Democracy and Free Enterprise

Free Enterprise = Capitalism

The American economic system. Does not rely on the government to

answer what, how, how many or for whom regarding items being produced.

Based on Four Main Factors Private ownership Individual initiative Profit competition

Works through system of Supply and Demand

When supplies of goods and services increase, prices drop and less is produced

When supplies are scarce, prices will rise and more will be made

Mixed Economy

Free enterprise with some government intervention

Regulations Protecting the public FDA Anti-pollution laws OSHA Zoning ordinances Building codes

Promotion Preserving private

enterpriseBuilding roadsGrantsWeather reports