What is Government?

Every government has and exercises three basic kinds of power: Legislative power – the power to make law and to

frame public policies. Executive power – the power to execute, enforce, and

administer law. Judicial power – the power to interpret laws.

Dictatorship vs. Democracy

Power is exercised differently based on the type of government. In a dictatorship, power is exercised by a single

person, or by a small group, and those in power are not held responsible to the will of the people.

In a democracy, power rests with the majority of the people. The will of the majority gives supreme authority.

The State

The term state is used incorrectly in the United States of America. A state is a body of people, living in a defined

territory, organized politically, and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority. It is a legal entity.

A nation is an ethnic term, referring to races or other large groups of people.

A country is a geographic term, referring to a particular place, region, or area of land.

States

There are four defining characteristics of a state. It must have a population, meaning people must live

within its borders. It must have territory, meaning it must have a land to

call home. It must be sovereign, meaning it has supreme and

absolute power within its own territory. It must have a government, meaning some sort of

ruling body that is organized politically.

Why is Texas, and other “States,” not really states?

The “States” of the United States of America are not really states because they are not sovereign. The must answer to the higher authority of the U.S. Constitution and the U.S. government.

Major Political Ideas

How did the state originate? There are four theories. Force Theory – small groups claimed land and

forced all within it to submit to rule. Evolutionary Theory – state developed naturally

from the family. One family grouped with other families to develop clans. Clans formed tribes, tribes formed states.

Divine Right – God created the state and gave those of royal birth a divine right to rule. Ancient China, Egypt, Aztec, Maya, Pre-WWII Japan

Social Contract – The state is an agreement among people. Based on the teachings of Thomas Hobbes, James Harrington, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Social Contract Theory

Thomas Hobbes wrote that the state arose out of a voluntary act of free people, and that the state exists only to serve the people.

John Locke taught similar principles, and influenced Thomas Jefferson in the writing of the Declaration of Independence.

6 Purposes of Government

Form a more perfect union – to link the states together

Establish justice – fair, reasonable, and impartial law

Insure Domestic Tranquility – ensure peaceProvide for the Common Defense – defend

countries from foreign and domestic threatPromote the General Welfare – protect the

quality of lifeSecure the Blessings of Liberty - freedoms

Forms of Government

Feudalism – dominant political system of medieval Europe, based on the rule of local lords bound to a king by ties of loyalty.

Classic Republic – a representative democracy in which a small group of elected leaders represent the concerns of the electorate.

Absolute Monarchy – a king or queen holds total control of the military and the government

Forms of Government (cont.)

Authoritarianism – an individual or group has unlimited authority. There is no restraint on the power of the government.

Despotism – rule by a despot, who uses his power tyrannically.

Liberal Democracy – based on the protections of individual rights and freedoms and on a consent of the governed.

Totalitarianism – government attempts to control all facets of citizens’ lives.

Who Can Participate?

Governments can be classified according to three criteria Who can participate in the governing process The geographic distribution of power The relationship between the legislative and executive

branches of government

Systems of Government

Unitary government – a centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single, central agency.

Federal government – powers are divided between a central government and several local governments.

Confederation – a joining of several groups for a common purpose.

Presidential and Parliamentary Forms of Government

In a presidential government, the executive and legislative branches are separate from each other and coequal. The chief executive is chosen independently and has

powers not subject to the control of the legislature.In a parliamentary government, the executive

is made up of the prime minister, who is chosen from the legislative branch. The PM is the leader of the majority party, and is subject to influence from the Parliament.

Citizenship in a Democracy

5 basic notion of American democracy The government recognizes the fundamental worth

and dignity of every person A respect for the equality of all people A faith in majority rule and a protection of minority

rights An acceptance of the necessity of compromise An insistence upon the widest possible degree of

individual freedom

Great Britain

Great Britain does not have a written Constitution like the U.S. Its Constitution has been compiled through various

charters, acts of Parliament, and court decisions throughout its history. The British also hold many customs and practices that haven't been written anywhere to be as valid as law.

The Monarchy

The English monarchs once ruled with absolute power, but today only serve as a symbol for the country. All acts are performed in the name of the queen, however all real power belongs to the Prime Minister and Parliament.

Parliament

Parliament is the central institution of British government and holds both legislative and executive powers. Made up of two houses

The House of Lords – the upper chamber The House of Commons – the lower chamber

The executive body consists of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, they are chosen from the majority party, and are voting members of Parliament.

The Prime Minister is removed if his party loses its majority, or if Parliament calls for a vote of “no confidence,” at which time, the entire Parliament goes up for new elections.

The Courts

The UK has three separate court systems – one in England and Wales, one on Scotland, and one in Northern Ireland.

Civil cases are tried in county courts, serious criminal cases are tried in the Crown Court, less serious criminal cases are tried in the magistrates’ courts.