THE ORIGINS OF OUR GOVERNMENT

Thomas Hobbes

• Wrote: Leviathan

• Before GOV people lived in a state of nature (chaos)

• Weak overcome by strong

• Made GOV to protect themselves

DIVINE RIGHT THEORY

The idea that God created the state and the ruler of said state is doing the will of God. Usually Royalty… inherited by blood.

FORCE THEORY

An individual or small group takes power by force over a population of people.

JOHN LOCKE

• Wrote:Treatises on Government

• People must give their consent to be ruled.

• Natural Rights Life, Liberty and Property

THE SOCIAL CONTRACT

GOVERNMENT ONLY EXISTS TO PROTECT NATURAL RIGHTS

JEAN ROUSSEAU

• People were born free

• Purpose of GOV is to maintain that freedom

SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY

The idea that individuals give up whatever freedom is needed in order to create a state that provides safety and well-being.

EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

Government developed as families joined to form clans, which grew into tribes regulated by older males

THE BARON de Montesquieu

• First to theorize the separation of powers

• Said no one person should make law, enforce law, and interpret law

GREECE

• DIRECT DEMOCRACY

• EQUALITY IN VOTING

ROME

• REPRESENTATIVE

DEMOCRACY

ENGLANDENGLAND

• MAGNA CARTA

• CANNOT TAKE AWAY NATURAL RIGHTS WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW!

• ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

Established the symbolic monarch

• PARLIAMENT

House of Commons, House of Lords

JUDICIAL INFLUENCE

• ENGLISH COMMON LAW

• Legal Standard of Precedent

• Judges only selected cases that hadn’t been decided before

• Precedent, or preceding law decided similar cases