CIV 1.1 Historic foundations of Democratic concepts of government

CIV 1.1Historic foundations of

Democratic concepts of government

GOVERNMENT

• Definition:– The institutions and processes through which

public policies are made for society.

• This definition leads to two basic questions:– How should we govern?– What should government do?

PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT• Helping people cooperate

– Safety, Protection

• Providing Services– Transportation, Education, Municipal Utilities

• Providing Rules– Laws, Organization, Constitution

• Putting Ideals into Practice– Protecting basic liberties, assuring people the

chance to live peaceable and productive lives

FOUNDATIONS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENTS

• European Enlightenment Thinkers (Philosophers)– Rousseau, Locke, Hobbes, etc.

• Higher Law• Rule of Law• State of Nature• Social Contract (Compact)• Natural Rights• Documents:

– Magna Carta (1215 A.D.)– English Bill of Rights (1689)– John Locke’s Two Treatises on

Government

HIGHER LAW• A law that has to be obeyed by those in authority in the

government.1. lists the basic rights of citizens2. establishes the responsibility of the government to

protect these basic rights3. it places limits on how people in the government can

use powers in three important areas:-citizens rights-how conflicts are resolved-how resources are distributed

4. establishes the principle of private domain5. can only be changed with the consent of the citizens.

RULE OF LAW• The rule of law is a

fundamental component of democratic society – all members of

society -- both citizens and rulers -- are bound by a set of clearly defined and universally accepted laws.

RULE OF LAW

• Essential to the safekeeping of social order and civil liberties

• relationships with people and the state governed by a set of rules

• not governed by groups of individuals• less likely to fall victim to authoritarian rule• calls for individuals and government to

submit to the law's supremacy

STATE OF NATURE• The "natural condition of

mankind" is what would exist if there were:– no government– no civilization– no laws– no common power to restrain

human nature.

• "war of all against all," --- human beings constantly seek to destroy each other in an incessant pursuit for power.

• Life in the state of nature is "nasty, brutish and short."

SOCIAL CONTRACT

THEORY

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau: 1762• “agreement among members

of an organized society or between the governed and the government defining and limiting the rights and duties of each”

• Promoted by John Locke

SOVEREIGNTY - Popular Sovereignty

• “the exclusive right to complete control over an area of governance, people, or oneself.”

• Popular Sovereignty = “the belief that the state is created by and therefore subject to the will of its people, who are the source of all political power”

NATURAL RIGHTS• Inborn OR innate

rights of humanity such as: – Life

– Liberty

– Equality

– Property

– Pursuit of happiness

• cannot be denied by society

ORIGINS OF GOVERNMENT

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LIMITED GOVERNMENT• System in which government

powers are carefully spelled out to prevent government from becoming too powerful.

MAGNA CARTA

• 1215• English Nobles

(Leaders) forced King John to sign the “Great Charter”

• Limited the King’s power

• Protected certain rights of noblemen

ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

• 1689• During the Glorious

Revolution (Bloodless), English monarchs William of Orange and Mary signed

• Spelled out specific rights of Englishmen

Enlightenment Ideas on Government


TWO TREATISES OF GOVERNMENT

• John Locke• Spelled out

Government philosophy

• Natural Rights• Social Contract

theory

NATURAL RIGHTS ACCORDING TO LOCKE

Ideas on Self-Government


THE Declaration of Independence• Thomas Jefferson

• Listed reasons for colonies separation from Great Britain

• Condenses Enlightenment thinking into one document

• Outlines the philosophy of the United States government– Based on ‘consent of the

governed’

– If will of the people ignored, we have a right to change the government

– Purpose of government is to PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS