PRINCIPLES OF PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

By Ms. CroneBy Ms. Crone

Government and the StateGovernment and the StateObjectivesObjectives

How is government defined?How is government defined? What are the basic powers that every government What are the basic powers that every government

holds?holds? What are the four defining characteristics of the state?What are the four defining characteristics of the state? How have we attempted to explain the origin of the How have we attempted to explain the origin of the

state?state? What is the purpose of government in the United What is the purpose of government in the United

States and other countries?States and other countries?

What Is Government?What Is Government? Government is the institution

through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. Public policy-things the government

decides to do Every government has and uses 3

types of power: Executive, legislative, and judicial

The powers of the government are outlined in the constitution.

The ultimate responsibility for the The ultimate responsibility for the exercise of the powers maybe held byexercise of the powers maybe held by A small group or single person as in a A small group or single person as in a

dictatorshipdictatorship The majority of the people as in a democracyThe majority of the people as in a democracy

Government is among the oldest of all Government is among the oldest of all human inventions (when the only way to human inventions (when the only way to survive was to regulate their and their survive was to regulate their and their neighbor’s behavior).neighbor’s behavior).

What is a POLITICIAN?What is a POLITICIAN? Somebody go look it up in the Somebody go look it up in the

dictionary. dictionary. I am not a crook!

The StateThe State

PopulationPopulation A state must have people, the number of which A state must have people, the number of which

does not directly relate to its existence.does not directly relate to its existence.TerritoryTerritory A state must be comprised of land—territory A state must be comprised of land—territory

with known and recognized boundaries.with known and recognized boundaries.SovereigntySovereignty Every state is Every state is sovereignsovereign. . It has supreme and It has supreme and

absolute power within its own territory and absolute power within its own territory and decides its own foreign and domestic policies.decides its own foreign and domestic policies.

GovernmentGovernment Every state has a government — that is, it is Every state has a government — that is, it is

politically organized.politically organized.

The state can be defined as having these four characteristics:

Origins of the StateOrigins of the State

The Force TheoryThe Force Theory The force theory states that one person or a small group took The force theory states that one person or a small group took

control of an area and forced all within it to submit to that control of an area and forced all within it to submit to that person’s or group’s rule.person’s or group’s rule.

The Evolutionary TheoryThe Evolutionary Theory The evolutionary theory argues that the state evolved The evolutionary theory argues that the state evolved

naturally out of the early family.naturally out of the early family.

The Divine Right TheoryThe Divine Right Theory The theory of divine right holds that God created the state The theory of divine right holds that God created the state

and that God gives those of royal birth a “divine right” to and that God gives those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule.rule.

The Social Contract TheoryThe Social Contract Theory The social contract theory argues that the state arose out of a The social contract theory argues that the state arose out of a

voluntary act of free people.voluntary act of free people.

The Purpose of The Purpose of GovernmentGovernment

The main purposes of government are described in The main purposes of government are described in the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States:the Preamble of the Constitution of the United States:

““We the People of the United States, in We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, Order to form a more perfect Union,

establish Justice, insure domestic establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Tranquility, provide for the common

defense, promote the general Welfare, and defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to secure the Blessings of Liberty to

ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United establish this Constitution for the United

States of America.”States of America.”

What does that Mean????What does that Mean???? ““We the People of the United States, We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to and secure the Blessings of Liberty to

ourselves and our Posterity, ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this do ordain and establish this

Constitution for the United States of Constitution for the United States of America.”America.”

Forms of GovernmentForms of Government How can we classify governments? How can we classify governments? How are systems of government defined in terms of How are systems of government defined in terms of

who can participate?who can participate? How is power distributed within a state?How is power distributed within a state? How are governments defined by the relationship How are governments defined by the relationship

between the legislative and executive branches?between the legislative and executive branches?

Classic Forms of Classic Forms of GovernmentGovernment

Feudalism- serfs and land lordsFeudalism- serfs and land lords Classic republic- Greek city statesClassic republic- Greek city states Absolute monarchy- king or queen holds total Absolute monarchy- king or queen holds total

control of the government and militarycontrol of the government and military Authoritarianism- individual or group holds Authoritarianism- individual or group holds

unlimited authorityunlimited authority Despotism- rule by despot-tyrannical rulerDespotism- rule by despot-tyrannical ruler Liberal democracy- based on protecting indiv. Liberal democracy- based on protecting indiv.

Rights and the consent of the governed Rights and the consent of the governed Totalitarianism- where government attempts Totalitarianism- where government attempts

to control all facets of the citizens livesto control all facets of the citizens lives

Classifying GovernmentsClassifying Governments

(1) Who can participate in the governing (1) Who can participate in the governing process.process.

(2) The geographic distribution of the (2) The geographic distribution of the governmental power within the state.governmental power within the state.

(3) The relationship between the (3) The relationship between the legislative (lawmaking) and the legislative (lawmaking) and the executive (law-executing) branches of executive (law-executing) branches of the government.the government.

Governments can be classified by three different standards:

Classification by Who Classification by Who Can ParticipateCan Participate

Democracy Democracy In a democracy, supreme In a democracy, supreme

political authority rests political authority rests with the people. with the people.

A direct democracy exists A direct democracy exists where the will of the where the will of the people is translated into people is translated into law directly by the people law directly by the people themselves.themselves.

In an indirect democracy, a In an indirect democracy, a small group of persons, small group of persons, chosen by the people to act chosen by the people to act as their representatives, as their representatives, expresses the popular will.expresses the popular will.

DictatorshipDictatorship A dictatorship exists where A dictatorship exists where

those who rule cannot be those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will held responsible to the will of the people.of the people.

An autocracy is a An autocracy is a government in which a government in which a single person holds single person holds unlimited political power.unlimited political power.

An oligarchy is a An oligarchy is a government in which the government in which the power to rule is held by a power to rule is held by a small, usually self-small, usually self-appointed elite.appointed elite.

Classification by Geographic Classification by Geographic Distribution of PowerDistribution of Power

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government A unitary government has all powers held by a single, A unitary government has all powers held by a single,

central agency. (Most governments are this.)central agency. (Most governments are this.)

Confederate GovernmentConfederate Government A confederation is an alliance of independent states.A confederation is an alliance of independent states.

Federal GovernmentFederal Government A federal government is one in which the powers of A federal government is one in which the powers of

government are divided between a central government are divided between a central government and several local governments.government and several local governments.

An authority superior to both the central and local An authority superior to both the central and local governments makes this division of power on a governments makes this division of power on a geographic basis.geographic basis.

Classification by the Classification by the Relationship Between Relationship Between

Legislative and Executive Legislative and Executive BranchesBranches

Presidential and Parliamentary Governments

Presidential and Presidential and Parliamentary Forms of Parliamentary Forms of

GovernmentGovernment Presidential Government- exec and legist. Presidential Government- exec and legist.

are separate, each can block action over are separate, each can block action over the otherthe other

Parliamentary Government-Parliamentary Government- the exec is the prime minister- leader of the the exec is the prime minister- leader of the

majority party – remain in power as long as majority party – remain in power as long as they have the confidence of the majoritythey have the confidence of the majority

if the parliament defeats the PM on an if the parliament defeats the PM on an important matter- “vote of no confidence”- important matter- “vote of no confidence”- P.M. and his cabinet must resign and new P.M. and his cabinet must resign and new government formedgovernment formed

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Basic Concepts of Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy

What are the foundations of What are the foundations of democracy?democracy?

What are the connections between What are the connections between democracy and the free enterprise democracy and the free enterprise system?system?

How has the Internet affected How has the Internet affected democracy?democracy?

FoundationsFoundations

(1) A recognition of the fundamental worth (1) A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person;and dignity of every person;

(2) A respect for the equality of all persons;(2) A respect for the equality of all persons;

(3) A faith in majority rule and an insistence (3) A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights;upon minority rights;

(4) An acceptance of the necessity of (4) An acceptance of the necessity of compromise; andcompromise; and

(5) An insistence upon the widest possible (5) An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom.degree of individual freedom.

The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions:

Democracy and the Free Democracy and the Free Enterprise SystemEnterprise System

The free enterprise system is an economic The free enterprise system is an economic system characterized by private or corporate system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined by private decision rather are determined by private decision rather than by state control; and determined in a than by state control; and determined in a free market.free market.

Decisions in a free enterprise system are Decisions in a free enterprise system are determined by the law of supply and demand.determined by the law of supply and demand.

An economy in which private enterprise exists An economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion is government regulation and promotion is called a mixed economy.called a mixed economy.

Democracy and the Democracy and the InternetInternet

Democracy demands that the people be Democracy demands that the people be widely informed about their widely informed about their government.government.

Theoretically, the Internet makes Theoretically, the Internet makes knowledgeable participation in knowledgeable participation in democratic process easier than ever democratic process easier than ever before.before.

However, all data on the World Wide However, all data on the World Wide Web is not necessarily true, and the Web is not necessarily true, and the long-term effects of the Internet on long-term effects of the Internet on democracy has yet to be determined.democracy has yet to be determined.

So here we are…So here we are…

The American The American Revolution just Revolution just ended, there is ended, there is still division still division among the among the colonies… and colonies… and we need a we need a government…government…