Introduction to Introduction to GovernmentGovernment

Chapter 1Chapter 1

The StateThe State

► SovereigntySovereignty—Every state (nation) is —Every state (nation) is sovereign.sovereign. It has supreme and absolute power within its own It has supreme and absolute power within its own

territory.territory. It can decide its own foreign and domestic policies.It can decide its own foreign and domestic policies. It is neither subordinate not responsible to any It is neither subordinate not responsible to any

other authority.other authority.►GovernmentGovernment

Every state is politically organizedEvery state is politically organized Gov. is the institution through which society Gov. is the institution through which society

makes and enforces its makes and enforces its public policies.public policies. This includes the power to use force if necessary This includes the power to use force if necessary

to compel people to accept its rule.to compel people to accept its rule.

4 Origins of State4 Origins of State

Historically, anthropologists believe that Historically, anthropologists believe that there are four main ways in which states there are four main ways in which states formed out of anarchy. They occurred formed out of anarchy. They occurred chronologically until the point we are at chronologically until the point we are at today.today.►Force TheoryForce Theory►Evolution TheoryEvolution Theory►Divine Right TheoryDivine Right Theory►Social Contract TheorySocial Contract Theory

Force TheoryForce Theory

One person or group claimed control over One person or group claimed control over an area and forced all within to submit to an area and forced all within to submit to their will.their will.

Evolution TheoryEvolution Theory

Natural development from early familyNatural development from early family Head of family was the “government”.Head of family was the “government”. Original family became a network of Original family became a network of

families—a clan, then a tribe.families—a clan, then a tribe. When tribe turned to agriculture, When tribe turned to agriculture,

abandoning nomadic traits, the state was abandoning nomadic traits, the state was born.born.

Divine Right TheoryDivine Right Theory

The state was created by God and He The state was created by God and He gave those of Royal birth the “divine gave those of Royal birth the “divine right” to rule.right” to rule.

Present day democracy rose out of Present day democracy rose out of challenge to this theory.challenge to this theory.

Social Contract TheorySocial Contract Theory

Most significant to American political systemMost significant to American political system Locke, Harrington, Hobbes and Rousseau developed this theory.Locke, Harrington, Hobbes and Rousseau developed this theory. State of nature was nasty and harsh.State of nature was nasty and harsh. A voluntary act of free people agreed to a contract, to create a A voluntary act of free people agreed to a contract, to create a

state.state. Those within the specified area agreed to give up to the state as Those within the specified area agreed to give up to the state as

much power as was needed to promote the well-being of the much power as was needed to promote the well-being of the state.state.

This contract, a constitution, the members of the state created a This contract, a constitution, the members of the state created a gov. to exercise the powers the people had granted to the state.gov. to exercise the powers the people had granted to the state.

The state exists The state exists ONLYONLY to serve the will of the people, they are the to serve the will of the people, they are the sole source of political power, and they are free to give or sole source of political power, and they are free to give or withhold that power as they choose.withhold that power as they choose.

Concepts promoted by this theory are directly related to the U.S. Concepts promoted by this theory are directly related to the U.S. Constitution: popular sovereignty, limited gov., individual rights.Constitution: popular sovereignty, limited gov., individual rights.

Purpose for Forming Purpose for Forming GovernmentGovernment

►To Form a More Perfect Union: US v GBTo Form a More Perfect Union: US v GB►To Establish Justice: Fair LawsTo Establish Justice: Fair Laws►To Insure Domestic Tranquility: Peace at To Insure Domestic Tranquility: Peace at

HomeHome►To Provide for Common Defense: ArmyTo Provide for Common Defense: Army►To Promote the General Welfare: Public To Promote the General Welfare: Public

SchoolsSchools►To Secure the Blessings of Liberty: To Secure the Blessings of Liberty:

FreedomFreedom

Classifying GovernmentClassifying Government

►There are three major classifications There are three major classifications for governmentsfor governments UnitaryUnitary FederalFederal ConfederateConfederate

Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government

►Unitary GovernmentUnitary Government—is a centralized —is a centralized government in which all powers held by the government in which all powers held by the government belong to a single agency.government belong to a single agency. They often create smaller, local governments for They often create smaller, local governments for

convenience, but all their power comes from the convenience, but all their power comes from the central source.central source.

NOT necessarily a dictator.NOT necessarily a dictator. Most governments in the world are unitary… Most governments in the world are unitary…

Great Britain.Great Britain. Can be both unitary and democratic, or unitary Can be both unitary and democratic, or unitary

and dictatorship.and dictatorship.

Federal GovernmentFederal Government

Federal GovernmentFederal Government—power of the —power of the government is divided between a government is divided between a central agency and local agencies.central agency and local agencies.

Confederate GovernmentConfederate Government

► Confederate GovernmentConfederate Government—an alliance of —an alliance of independent states.independent states.

► Power to handle ONLY those matters member Power to handle ONLY those matters member states have assigned it.states have assigned it.

► Typically, limited powers. Not power to make Typically, limited powers. Not power to make laws that effect individuals, but that affect the laws that effect individuals, but that affect the states—i.e. defense, foreign commerce, etc.states—i.e. defense, foreign commerce, etc.

► Allows for cooperation in matters of common Allows for cooperation in matters of common concern while still retaining separate identities.concern while still retaining separate identities.

Relationship between Relationship between Legislative and Executive Legislative and Executive

BranchesBranches►The two types of government where The two types of government where

there is both a legislative and there is both a legislative and executive branch areexecutive branch are PresidentialPresidential ParliamentaryParliamentary

►Each of these has a gives a different Each of these has a gives a different perspective on the relationship that perspective on the relationship that occurs between these two branches.occurs between these two branches.

Presidential GovernmentPresidential Government

►Presidential GovernmentPresidential Government—features a —features a separation of powers between executive separation of powers between executive and legislative branches of gov.and legislative branches of gov. Two branches are independent and co-equal.Two branches are independent and co-equal. President is chosen independently of President is chosen independently of

legislature, and has broad powers not subject legislature, and has broad powers not subject to direct control of legislative branch.to direct control of legislative branch.

The two branches regularly have several The two branches regularly have several powers which can check, block, or restrain the powers which can check, block, or restrain the other branch.other branch.

Parliamentary Parliamentary GovernmentGovernment

► Parliamentary GovernmentParliamentary Government—the executive is made —the executive is made up of the prime minister or premier and their cabinet.up of the prime minister or premier and their cabinet.

► They, themselves are members of the legislative They, themselves are members of the legislative branch.branch.

► Prime Minister is leader of the majority party.Prime Minister is leader of the majority party.► P.M. must have parliament approval of cabinet.P.M. must have parliament approval of cabinet.► Executive is chosen by legislature, part of legislature, Executive is chosen by legislature, part of legislature,

and subject to legislative control.and subject to legislative control.► Remain in office only as long as has confidence of Remain in office only as long as has confidence of

majority party in parliament.majority party in parliament.► Parliamentary government does not experience dead Parliamentary government does not experience dead

lock, as can happen in a presidential gov., b/w lock, as can happen in a presidential gov., b/w executive and legislative branches. However, means executive and legislative branches. However, means there are no checks and balances.there are no checks and balances.

► Majority of world’s gov. are parliamentary.Majority of world’s gov. are parliamentary.

Who can participate ?Who can participate ?

►Each type of governmental style Each type of governmental style determines who and what type of determines who and what type of citizenry can participate.citizenry can participate.

►The two types of government are The two types of government are DictatorshipsDictatorships DemocracyDemocracy

Under DictatorshipUnder Dictatorship

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

Gov. is NOT accountable for its policies, Gov. is NOT accountable for its policies, or the ways they are carried out.or the ways they are carried out.

Modern dictatorships tend to be Modern dictatorships tend to be totalitarian, they exercise authoritarian totalitarian, they exercise authoritarian rule over every aspect of human affairs rule over every aspect of human affairs (ex. Hitler, Mussolini, Kim Jon-Il)(ex. Hitler, Mussolini, Kim Jon-Il)

Under DemocracyUnder Democracy

► Supreme political authority rests with Supreme political authority rests with the people.the people.

► Direct Democracy (Rousseau) vs. Direct Democracy (Rousseau) vs. Representative Democracy (Locke/ Representative Democracy (Locke/ Jefferson) [i.e. Republic]Jefferson) [i.e. Republic]

U.S.AU.S.A U.K.U.K. FRAFRA CubaCuba

UnitaryUnitary ** ** **

FederalFederal **

ConfederacyConfederacy

PresidentialPresidential ** **

ParliamentaParliamentaryry

**

DemocracyDemocracy ** ** **

DictatorshipDictatorship **

Communism v SocialismCommunism v Socialism

SOCIALISMSOCIALISM

► Marx formulated the theoryMarx formulated the theory He called it CommunismHe called it Communism Today it is called SOCIALISM Today it is called SOCIALISM

► Poor will rise up and kill the Poor will rise up and kill the rich/ overthrow the gov’t. rich/ overthrow the gov’t. controlled by the richcontrolled by the rich

► A DICTATOR will take power A DICTATOR will take power for a brief period of time to for a brief period of time to divide up all the property of divide up all the property of the rich and redistribute to the rich and redistribute to all, according to need.all, according to need.

► DICTATOR will step down DICTATOR will step down and government will be run and government will be run by a direct democracyby a direct democracy

COMMUNISMCOMMUNISM

► NEVERNEVER in history has the in history has the DICTATOR stepped downDICTATOR stepped down

► Not Marx’s intentionNot Marx’s intention

► Examples: USSR, Cuba, Examples: USSR, Cuba, ChinaChina