Principles of Government

Chapter One

Government is necessary in every society (Ch. 1 Sec.1)

What is a state in the modern world?An independent political unit.There are four requirements for being a state

I. PopulationII. TerritoryIII. GovernmentIV. Sovereignty

Origins of Government

Beginnings of organized government took place over 5,000 years ago with development of early civilizations.

Theories of Government

Aristotle studied government. He questioned how people gain and keep power.The Divine Right of Kings says that royal power came from god and no authority on earth could take it away.These are very old explanations of power.

Social Contract Theory

In this theory of government, people would enter into a contract of government in exchange for protection.The Social Contract Theory is based on the “Natural Rights” of people.

Thomas Hobbs

In 1651, Hobbs suggested in his book Leviathan that long before government developed people lived in a state of nature where it was “Survival of the Fittest.”Life was “poor, nasty, brutish & short.”To improve their lives, people entered into a social contract

John Locke

In 1690, Locke took a more optimistic view of the Social Contract Theory.Locke believed people had “natural rights” to “life, liberty, and property.”In making a social contract, Locke believed people agreed to obey the government or ruler, pay taxes, and follow reasonable laws.

John Locke (cont)

In return the ruler was obligated to protect their “natural rights.”If the ruler did not do this the contract was broken.

Chapter 1 Section 1 Quiz

1) What are the four requirement of a state?2) How many years back can organized

government be traced?3) The theory of government that holds royal

power comes from god?4) Who wrote Leviathan?5) John Locke believed people had “natural

rights” to what?

Governments act through a Political System (Ch. 1 Sec. 2)

Areas of Government Action• Keeping Order in a Society• Providing National Defense• Providing Public Services

Keeping Order in a Society

Government is to keep society orderly and peaceful.To prevent crimes and ensure people safety.Governments also maintain order by issuing money, enforcing legal contracts, making traffic regulations, and licensing drivers and doctors.

Providing National Defense

To protect a nations sovereignty, governments must establish a defense system. Ex: Military Forces, CIAGovernment must also rely on foreign policy.This includes everything from negotiations, agreements, and treaties with foreign nations to protect national security.

Providing Public Service

Public Health

Public Safety

Public Transportation

Public Communication

Public Education

General Welfare

Conflicts and PoliticsConflicts over Values: Social conflicts range from arguments in a restaurant to riots in the streets. Some Values are Tangible and some are not.

Resolving Conflicts

To resolve conflict every organized government in history has operated within a political system.

Chapter 1 Section 2 Quiz

1) What are the three areas of government action?

2) What must a government establish to protect its sovereignty?

3) What is an example of a defense system?4) What has every government operated

within to resolve conflict?5) Are all values Tangible?

Governments take many forms (Ch.1 Sec. 3)

How Authority is Divided• Unitary (centralized) Government

• Sovereign States: The Confederation• Divided Powers: Federalism

Unitary (centralized) Government

When the central government has authority over all political subdivisions within the state.An advantage to this form of government is that it has relatively uniform policies.Disadvantages include it inflexibility; policies are applied everywhere with no exceptions.

Sovereign States: The Confederation

This is the opposite of a Unitary Government. In this form of government, the state governments(political subdivisions) are more powerful than the central government.

Divided Powers: Federalism

In this form of government political authority is divided between a national government and its political subdivisions(states).Federalism represents a nice blend of Unitary and Confederate forms of government

Who Rules the State?

Aristotle had names for three basic forms of rule that are still used.

I. AutocracyII. Oligarchy

III. Democracy

AutocracyWhere a single individual holds both political power and authority.Throughout history the most popular form of autocratic rule has been Monarchy, which means one ruler.Monarchs usually inherited the throne or claimed divine right.Until the late 1700’s most monarchs tended to be absolute.

Dictatorship

This is a form of autocratic rule.Dictators acquire and maintain leadership in the state through fear and force – war, revolution, assassination

Oligarchy

Rule by a few powerful people.Some oligarchies that have been based on high social status or wealth are known as Aristocracies.Totalitarian Rule: A government in which rulers try to reshape the state, the people, and society totally.

Democracy

“Rule by the people”Democratic governments are selected by the states adult citizens and respond to their wishes.“Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Two types of Democracy

Direct Democracy• Meant that all had a

chance to participate in

government on a first hand basis.

Representative Democracy

• Means that the people elect

representative to be their voice in

government.

Republic

Any government in which the people exercise their political power through elected representatives.

Chapter 1 Section 3 Quiz

1) Strong state government with a weak central government is known as?

2) Divided Powers is also known as?3) Rule by a few people is called an?4) Rule by a single individual is known as?5) What are the three basic types of rule

according to Aristotle?

Principles guide American Democracy (Ch. 1 Sec. 4)

The Rights of Individuals• Individual Worth• Individual Liberty

• The Rights of Citizens

Individual Worth

A basic principle of American Democracy.It is a democratic belief that it is far better for individuals to make their own mistakes than to entrust their choices to a monarch, dictator, or oligarchy.

Individual Liberty

The Freedom to chose is the basis of liberty.Individuals can make their own decisions in life without undue interference from govt. authorities.Civil Liberties are the protection the law gives to people’s freedom of thought and action.

The Rights of Citizens

Every member of society is entitled to Civil Rights; The rights of a citizen.The government must treat everyone equally.Civil Rights grant every citizen equal opportunity.

Political Principles

• Rule by Law• Representative Government

• Majority Rule with Minority Rights

Rule by LawIn Democracy, no person, no matter how important, is above the law.Laws apply to government officials as much as to ordinary citizens.Public officials must make decisions based on law.It is also important in democracy that all citizens know the law of the land.

Representative Government

This is the people right to elect representatives who make their laws.This is a right of choice that many Americans fail to exercise.In many non-democratic governments, people are forced to vote.

Majority Rule with Minority Rights

In a democracy. Most decisions are made by majority rule.In the U.S., law makers and policies are chosen by majority rule.At the same time, minority rights are respected in a democracy.Freedom of speech, press and assembly exist to allow fro minority rights.

Putting Principles in Practice

These principles of American Democracy are closely linked and depend on one another.It would be impossible to maintain civil liberties if there were no limits on government power.Sometimes these principles collide. Individual’s rights may conflict.

Putting Principles into Practice (cont)

Majority rule may mean that some people’s opinions are not being represented in government.Rule by law put limits on individuals’ choices.

Chapter1 Section 4 Quiz

1) Democratic belief that it better for individuals to make their own mistakes?

2) Freedom to choose?3) Is every U.S. citizen entitled to civil

rights?4) No one being above the law is called?5) What do civil rights grant?

Citizenship is a Special Status (Ch. 1 Sec. 5)

Citizenship is not defined in the text of the Constitution.When the Constitution was written in 1787, the laws of each state determined who could vote, hold office, or have other rights of citizenship.Slaves, Freedmen, Native Americans, and Women usually could not vote.

Fourteenth Amendment

The first definition of national citizenship was given in the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868.It’s intent was ensure newly freed blacks the rights of American Citizens.“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens……”

Citizenship by Birth

According to the 14th Amendment, almost everyone born in the U.S. is an American Citizen.This follows a principle of international law called “Jus Soli” or “the right of soil.”

Citizenship by Birth (cont)Children born to American citizens traveling abroad also automatically become U.S. citizens.This also follows another legal principle known as “Jus Sanguinis” or “the right of citizenship by blood.”

Dual Citizenship

Most nations follow these two principles of citizenship by birth or blood.In most cases, some countries, including the U.S. require a person to declare their allegiance to one country or the other.Otherwise complications are likely to arise over taxes or military service.

Becoming an American Citizen

Naturalization: The process of granting someone citizenship who has not acquired it by birth.

Requirements for Naturalization

Live in the U.S. for at least 5 years.The ability to readSpeak English

Understand American Government and HistoryGood Moral Character

Collective Naturalization

When large groups of people are granted citizenship at the same time.Ex: Hawaii – 1900, Puerto Rico – 1917, Virgin Islands – 1927, Guam – 1950.

Losing Citizenship

Losing citizenship is rare but does happen in some circumstances.Expatriation: Formally surrendering your citizenship.Other ways of losing citizenship include voting in a foreign election or leaving the country to avoid a military draft.

Rules for Aliens

Aliens are citizens of another country that are living in the U.S.Resident Alien: citizen of a foreign country living permanently in the U.S. with intent of becoming a citizen.Non-Resident Alien: Plans to reside in the U.S. for a limited time only. (I.e. foreign exchange students)

Rules for Aliens (cont)

Enemy Aliens: In wartime, people from countries at war with the U.S. Their rights and freedoms within this country are likely to be limited because of war.Illegal Aliens: People who enter the U.S. without permission, usually to find work or escape political troubles.

Chapter 1 Section 5 Quiz

1) What is the term for citizenship by birth?2) What is Naturalization?3) What is “Jus Sanguinis?”4) What is formally surrendering your

citizenship called?5) What is an Illegal Alien?