US Government

US GovernmentChapter 1Principals of GovernmentEssential features of a StateNation - a group of people who share a common belief system, culture and language.State - a political unit made up on of one or many nations. (Country)Can you have more than one nation living inside a state?Essential features of a StateFour main components of a State1 - Population - a state must have people 2 - Territory - recognized boarders3 - Sovereignty - the ability to make its own laws and have those laws recognized by other states4- Government -an organization that makes and enforces its public policyDifferent types of GovernmentsUnitary system - A centralized government in which all powers belong to a sing central agency.Federal system - a government whose powers are divided between a central government and local governmentsWhat is the purpose of a federal government?Economic ConditionsDeveloped nation - as nation that is industrialized and manufactures productsDeveloping nation - a nation that has not been industrialized and does not manufacture products - agrarian societies, sustenance farmingWhat is the relationship between developed nations and developing nations?Other groups who Influence StatesPolitical Organizations - United Nations, PLO, IRA

Multinational Corporations - Bear Sterns, AIG, McDonalds

International Organizations - OPEC, CARE, UNICEFPurposes of GovernmentsWhy are governments important1.Maintain Social Order2.Provide public Services3. Provide National Security4.Provide and control and economic systemPolitics and GovernmentPolitics - use of strategy in obtaining any position of power or controlPeople seek benefits from government

How do people use politics to obtain benefits from government?Constitutions and GovernmentsConstitution - a plan that provides the rules for government.Purposes of a Constitution1.Sets out common beliefs of the people2.Establishes structure for government3.Provides a supreme law for the stateA country that gives their constitution the authority to place limits on the powers of those who govern are called Limited GovernmentsQuestion for thoughtIt makes no difference what kind of government a country has as long as the citizens are safe, well-fed and comfortable.

Agree or DisagreeTypes of GovernmentsAutocracy - Rule by one personOligarchy - Rule by a few peopleDemocracy - Rule by many peopleTypes of AutocraciesTotalitarian Dictatorship - a person seizes power for himself by force and controls the government by his own will.MonarchyAbsolute Monarch - power to govern is held by the king aloneConstitutional Monarch (limited Monarch) power of the king is governed by a constitutionOligarchiesGovernments run by a few select individuals.Communist countriesReligious governmentsElitist GovernmentsDemocraciesDirect Democracy - all people vote on all issues - too complicated for everyday person to understand - too time consumingRepresentative Democracy - people represent others to vote on issues for theRepublic - voters hold the sovereign power to elect representatives DemocraciesCharacteristics of democracies1.Individual liberty - people are free to make their own choices2.Majority Rule with Minority Rights - people are protected from the rule of the majority if it is harmful or dangerous3.Free Elections - people are allowed to vote freely and power is exchanged without violence4.Competing political parties - groups of individuals with broad common interestsNeeds for a True DemocracyFavorable economy - no one who is starving cares about how the country is being runWidespread Education - if you can not educate yourself about the issues, you really will not care about issuesSocial Consensus - people sharing the same belief system (individual liberty and equality for all)Economic SystemsRole of an economic system - three basic economic questions1.What goods and services will be produced2.How will those goods and services be produces3.Who will receive those goods and servicesEconomic systemCapitalism - Main characteristicsPrivate ownershipFree enterprise - ability to trade freelyCompetition among business - no monopoliesFreedom of choice - government does not interfere in creation of productsPossibility for profitsEconomic SystemsSocialism - Main characteristicsEqually distribute wealthGovernmental control of productionPublic ownership of land, factories and other means of productionDemocratic Socialism - people have free elections, but those elected control the economyEconomic SystemsCommunism - one class of people who hold all property in common.To each according to his needs, from each according to his ability - Karl MarxCommand economy - government decides the answer to the three basic economic questionsAssignmentVocabulary Page 24Questions 1 - 10