Principles of Government

Government

Mr. Biddle

Aristotle

Scholar in ancient Greece.

First to study Gov’t He studied the Greek

Polis Many Gov’t terms

come from Ancient Rome and Greece– Politics, Democracy,

Republic

The State (Government)

The word state comes from a form of the Latin word “stare,” which means “to stand.”

Today a state is:1. A political community that occupies a

defined territory2. Has an organized Gov’t3. Makes laws w/o approval from a higher

power. (US States answer to a Federal Gov’t)

The State (Government)

Nation- any sizable group of people who are united by common bonds of Race, Language, customs, traditions, and sometimes religion.

Essential Features of a State

1. Population

2. Territory

3. Sovereignty

4. Government

Population

Effects Strength and stability of the Government.– Got to have people

to make it strong and they have to agree to make it stable

Territory States have to have an established

boundaries Defined borders

Sovereignty

Has complete power and authority with in territorial boundaries

Can’t interfere with other states

That why each state has its own laws– Seatbelt law– Speed limit

Government

The institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces decisions that are binding on all people living with in the state.

Theories of the Origin of Gov’t

Evolutionary Theory– The State evolved from

the family– The head of the family

served as the authority (can have hundreds of people)

– Ex- Abraham in the Old Testament

– Over time the extending families needed more organization

Force Theory

In early civilizations people built walled cities to help control flooding and for protection.

This banded people together and over time someone took charge and organization took place.

Divine Right Theory

People were chosen by God or gods and born to rule.

Ex- Alexander the Great

Social Contract Theory

People surrender to the state (gov’t) to protect themselves from one another and keep peace.

For our own good

Social Contract Cont.

Thomas Hobbes– Believed that people

were forced to stay in contract with the government and couldn’t get out.

John Locke (SC Cont.) Believed that people were

born with the right to life, liberty, and property.

To preserve these rights people willingly gave power to the government

When gov’t fails to do these things people are free to break the contract. (1688)

1776 American Colonists used this thought to break free of G.B.

The Purpose of Gov’t

1. Maintain social order

2. Provide public services (sewer systems/Healthcare)

3. Provide National Security (Armed Forces)

4. Control Economic System (Money)

The Formation of Govt’s

The relationship among the National Government and the smaller divisions can be described as either:

1. Unitary System

Gives all key powers to the National or Central Government (Canada/GB)

The Formation of Govt’s

2. Federal SystemDivides the power between National and State Government (US)* Each level has sovereignty in some

areas* Originally had a confederacy-loose union of independent states* When Constitution was drafted that changed

Constitution

Constitution- a plan that provides the rules for government.

Purposes

1. Sets ideas shared by Nation

2. Establishes basic gov’t structure and defines its powers and duty

3. Provides the Supreme Law

Constitution Cont.

US Constitution (1787) is the oldest Constitution still being used today.

The Preamble- states the major goals of the gov’t.

Constitutions are divided into parts called articles and sections (have the procedures for amending or changing the constitution)

– US has 7 articles and 21 sections

Constitution Cont.

Constitutional Law- The interpretation and application of the Constitution.

Politics- The effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of government.– People get involved with politics to try and

achieve benefits– There is constant struggle with what a

Gov’t should provide and shouldn’t

Nations

Industrialized Nations- A nation with large industries and advanced technology that provides a more comfortable way of life than developing nations

Developing Nations- a nation only beginning to develop industrially.

Types of Government

1. Autocracy– Any system of government in which the

power and authority to rule are in the hands of a single individual.

– Oldest and most common form of gov’t– Power is gained through Inheritance or

ruthless military power.

Types of Government Totalitarian Dictatorship

– The ideas of the leader are glorified and the gov’t seeks to control all aspects of social and economic life

– The gov’t is not responsible to the people.

– People have no power to limit the gov’t rule.

– Ex- Hitler, Stalin

Types of Government Monarchy

– King, Queen, or Emperor exercise the supreme powers of Gov’t.

– Absolute Monarch- Have complete and unlimited power to rule their people

• Rare Today (prominent 1400-1700’s)• Ex- Napoleon

– Constitutional Monarch- Share gov’t powers with the elected legislatures or serve as the ceremonial leaders of their governments.

– Most constitutional monarchies employ a parliamentary system in which the monarch may have strictly ceremonial duties or may have reserve powers, depending on the constitution

Napoleon

Types of Government 2. Oligarchy

– Any system of gov’t in which a small group holds the power.

– Groups derive their power from wealth, military power, social position, or a combination of these.

– Ex- The Medici family of Florence during the Renaissance (Aristocratic Families)

– Communist Russia is said to be an Oligarchy.

Cosimo de Medici

Types of Government

3. Democracy– Any system of gov’t in which the rule is by

the people. (People have sovereign power)– Comes from Greek word demos (“The

people”)– “Government of the People, by the People,

and for the People.” - Abe Lincoln

Forms of Democracy

Direct Democracy– The people govern

themselves by voting on all issues individually as citizens

– Typically can only exist in small groups or societies

Forms of Democracy Representative Democracy (Indirect) – The

people elect representatives and give them the responsibility and power to make laws and conduct government.

Assembly of Reps may be called– Council– Legislature– Congress (House of Representation and Senate)– Parliament

Forms of Democracy

Republic- Voters hold sovereign power. Elected officials exercise that power When coming out of the Constitutional

Convention (1787) Franklin was asked what type of government he gave the people.

He answered, “A Republic, Madam, If you can keep it!”– Meaning that the people had to

participate for it to work

Characteristics of Democracy

Individual Liberty Majority Rule w/ Minority Rights Free Elections Competing Political Parties

Individual Liberty

Free to do anything as long as it doesn’t infringe on anyone else’s freedoms

Majority Rule w/ Minority Rights

The majority votes count as long as they don’t infringe on the minorities rights

The Constitution protects the minority

Free Elections

Gives people a chance to choose their leaders and voice their opinions on various issues

Everyone’s free to vote Free to voice opinions Gives access to competing ideas

Competing Political Parties Political Party -Group of individuals with

broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, and conduct gov’t.

5 General Criteria for Democracy

1. Active citizen participation 2. Favorable Economy

- Free Enterprise (Control own Economic decisions)

3. Wide Spread Education4. Strong Civil Society

- Associations, economic groups, Church organizations (exist independent of gov’t)

5. Social Consensus- Everyone must agree on the powers of gov’t

Economic TheoriesEconomics – The

study of human efforts to satisfy seemingly unlimited wants through the use of limited resources (Land, water, minerals, and trees)- Also includes human factors such as skills, knowledge, and physical abilities

Economics Cont.

There are never enough resources to produce all of the wants and services people need.

People must decide how to use these limited resources.

Normally the Government makes that decision.

Three Major Economic Decisions

1. What and how much should be produced

2. How goods and services should be produced

3. Who gets the goods and services produced

These questions can be answered differently

Three Major types of Economic Systems

1. Capitalism

2. Socialism

3. Communism

Capitalism

An Economic system providing free choice and individual incentive for workers, investors, consumers, and business enterprises.

People make their own decisions

5 Main Characteristics of Capitalism

1. Private ownership and control of economic resources

2. Free Enterprise (Gov’t only maintains Free market)

3. Competition among businesses

4. Freedom of Choice

5. Possibility of Profits

Adam Smith (1776)

Came up with the idea of a Laissez-faire type gov’t.

French for “To let alone”

The Gov’t is hands off of the economy and doesn’t interfere

Mixed-Market Economy

The U.S. is described as this Free Enterprise mixed with Government

decisions Government keeps competition Free

and fair and protects the public interests.

Socialism

The Government owns the basic means of production, determines the use of resources, distributes the products and wages, and provides social services such as education, Healthcare, and Welfare.

Goals of Socialism

1. The distribution of wealth and economic opportunity equally among people

2. Society’s control of all major decisions about production

3. Public ownership of most land, of factories and of other means of production.

Democratic Socialism

People have basic human rights and have some control over the Government through free elections and multiparty systems.

Government still owns the basic means of production and makes most decisions

Opponents feel that socialism hinders economic growth.

Communism Karl Marx* –

German thinker and writer

Socialist Believed capitalism

would fail Advocate for violent

revolution Published “The

Communist Manifesto” in 1848 and “Das Kapital” (1867)

Marx Believed

An Industrialized nation was split into Capitalists (Bourgeoisie) and workers (Proletariat).

The capitalist rule the workers and don’t give them proper compensation for their labor, b/c capitalist keep the profits giving the workers just enough to survive.

He thought that eventually the workers would rebel violently and kill the capitalist.

Communism

Communism- Overtime every class system would evolve into one class where everyone has all aspects of society in common and you would have no need for Government.

Command Economy- Those in charge decide what to produce, how much, and how it is distributed. – State owns everything