Government: What? Why? How?A BASIC STARTING POINT FOR GOVERNMENTAL STUDY

What is a state?

The state—a body of , living in a organized and with the to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority

PEOPLE

POWERPOLITICALLYDEFINED TERRITORY

What are the necessary qualities of a state?

• POPULATION• TERRITORY• SOVEREIGNTY—the possession of

supreme and absolute power within its boundaries

• GOVERNMENT

What is government?

the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

Why did governments come about?

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

Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the

general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do

ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

So…

• Form a more perfect union

• Establish justice

• Insure domestic tranquility

• Provide for the common defense

• Promote the general welfare

• Secure the blessings of liberty

How did governments come about?

FORCE THEORY—the strongest rule

THEORY 1

How did governments come about?

EVOLUTIONARY THEORY—governments build from simpler groups (family…clan…tribe, etc)

THEORY 2

How did governments come about?

DIVINE RIGHT THEORY—God created the state; God ordained those with royal standing the “divine right” to rule

THEORY 3

How did governments come about?

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY—in the state of nature, life was “nasty, brutish, and short.” Humans agreed to a mutual agreement between the rulers and the ruled for the benefit of all.

THEORY 4

Three ways to classify governments

• DEMOCRACY—supreme political authority rests with the people

METHOD 1: By who can participate

DIRECT—the will of the people is directly turned into public policy

INDIRECT—the will of the people is represented by appointed leaders

Also known as REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY

Impractical Poor decisions

ELITIST THEORY OF DEMOCRACY

Three ways to classify governments

• DICTATORSHIP—those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people

METHOD 1: By who can participate

AUTOCRACY—a single person holds unlimited power

MONARCHY—heredity determines ruler

MILITARY—force determines ruler

OLIGARCHY—power is held by a small, usually self-appointed group

Three ways to classify governments

• UNITARY—all powers by the government belong to one central government

• FEDERAL GOVERNMENT—powers are divided between a central government and a local government (division of power)

• CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT—an alliance of independent states

METHOD 2: Geographic distribution of power

Three ways to classify governments

• PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT—executive and legislative branches of the government are elected by the voters

• PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT—the executive branch is elected by the legislative branch

METHOD 3: Relationship between the legislative and executive branches

Zoom in on re

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tative dem

ocracy

Who has the power? To what ends do they use the power?

Who has the power? To what ends do they use the power?

Karl Marx

Who has the power? To what ends do they use the power?

CAPITALISTS (BOURGEOISE) WORKERS

POLITICAL POWER

ECONOMIC STRUGGLE —WHOEVER CONTROLS ECONOMY, CONTROLS GOVERNMENT

Who has the power? To what ends do they use the power?

Max Weber

Who has the power? To what ends do they use the power?

POLITICAL POWER

TRUE POWER IS HELD BY POSTION AND STRUCTURE RATHER THAN ECONOMICS

(BUREAUCRACY)

LEADERS BUREAUCRACY

Who has the power? To what ends to they the power?

C. Wright Mills

Who has the power? To what ends do they use the power?

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SELECT POLITICIANS

Who has the power? To what ends do they use the power?

Pluralist

Who has the power? To what ends do they use the power?

MANY LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT; MANY COMPETING INTERESTS/GROUPS/PEOPLE

Who has the power? To what ends do they use the power?

• POWER—the ability of one person to get another person/group to do what the first person wants

• AUTHORITY—the right to use power

• LEGITIMACY—the source from which power comes