Government Notes Chapter 1

Why government??Government is about open access, who has access, and how much access do you have or want?

The Dictionary1:the act or process of governing; specifically :authoritative direction or control2obsolete :moral conduct or behavior :discretion3 a:the office, authority, or function of governing bobsolete :the term during which a governing official holds office4:the continuous exercise of authority over and the performance of functions for a political unit :rule5 a:the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions and which is usually classified according to the distribution of power within it b:the complex of political institutions, laws, and customs through which the function of governing is carried out

6:the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization: as a:the officials comprising the governing body of a political unit and constituting the organization as an active agency bcapitalized :the executive branch of the United States federal government ccapitalized :a small group of persons holding simultaneously the principal political executive offices of a nation or other political unit and being responsible for the direction and supervision of public affairs:What isGovernment?Politics?How does it affect you, your family, and those around you?

1 thingCome up with a list of things, items, or people that the government has nothing to do with

Those that can come up with an item that WE cant relate to Govt will win something.

Government ImagesWhen you think about the word government, what images come to mind?

Examples?

1/9/2009What is government and one object exerciseWho should rule?Red or Blue StatesCurrent Event Quiz Books 13:30Basic #1Check Binder/Notebook

Let each person do his or her part. If one citizen is unwilling to participate, all of us are going to suffer. For the American idea, though it is shared by all of us, is realized in each one of us.-Barbara Jordan

Pop Quiz 11. Which local college might lose its accreditation? 2. What is the CA current budget deficit?3. What is our countrys current National deficit?4)Which governor is facing possible impeachment?5)Which two countries/peoples are current at war with each other in the Middle East?6)What day will President Elect Obama be inaugurated?

Government Notes Chapter 1The BOLD slides in RED you do not need to write.What is Gov?Government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

4 characteristics of GovPopulation

A state must have people, the number of which does not directly relate to its existence.

Sovereignty

Every state is sovereign. It has supreme and absolute power within its own territory and decides its own foreign and domestic policies.

Territory

A state must be comprised of landterritory with known and recognized boundaries.

Government

Every state has a government that is, it is politically organized.

Origin of the StateThe Force TheoryForce TheoryThe force theory states that one person or a small group took control of an area and forced all within it to submit to that persons or groups rule.

The Evolutionary Theory

The evolutionary theory argues that the state evolved naturally out of the early family.

The Divine Right Theory

The theory of divine right holds that God created the state and that God gives those of royal birth a divine right to rule.

The Social Contract Theory

The social contract theory argues that the state arose out of a voluntary act of free people

The Purpose of GovtWe the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Governments can be classified by three different standards:(1) Who can participate in the governing process.(2) The geographic distribution of the governmental power within the state.(3) The relationship between the legislative (lawmaking) and the executive (law-executing) branches of the government.

What is the difference between a state and a nation?

A nation is a human cultural and social community. Most members never meet each other, yet feel a common bond, it may be considered an imagined community. They also usually have common symbols such as a flag, or anthem.

A Nation does not need to have a specific territoryjust some sort of common thread.

Examples ?

DemocracyIn a democracy, supreme political authority rests with the people.

A direct democracywhere the will of the people is translated into law directly by the people themselves.

indirect democracya small group of persons, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, expresses the popular will.

Aka representative democracy

This can be you too!!!

What type of Democracy are we?By the information you have just learned, what sort of democratic system do we have?Direct or indirect democracy?

Dictatorship

A dictatorship exists where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people.

autocracyis a government in which a single person holds unlimited political power.

oligarchygovernment in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite.

http://ljhs.wordpress.com/2007/10/Two lesser known govtUnitary GovernmentA unitary government has all powers held by a single, central agency.

Confederate GovernmentA confederation is an alliance of independent states.

Who should rule?Who should rule? Do we need a ruler? Why?What would life be without rules or a ruler? Would there be order?Formal v informal rules(norms, folkways, laws as agents of social control)

If rules are only about maintaining order, then how do we have freedom? Could we have freedom in a world without rules? Why or why not?

Has the United States everHad a unitary government?Had a confederation type of government?

Yes, Articles of Confederation and sort during the Civil War

The FEDFederal GovernmentA federal government is one in where the powers of government are divided between a central government and several local governments.

The route of power

Different Govt for Different Folks

The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions:(1) A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person;(2) A respect for the equality of all persons;(3) A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights;(4) An acceptance of the necessity of compromise; and(5) An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom.

Democracy loves Free EnterpriseThe free enterprise system is where capital and goods are owned by private individuals or corporations, these good folks decide where, when, and what to invest in.Supply and Demand determines what is made and not the Govt unline in a Communist state.mixed economy is where the government regulates a free enterprise system, this is not socialism (ummm Staush!!)

What about access to information?NewspapersTelevisionCell phonesSnail MailThe internet

4 Purposes of State Government:

1. maintain social order*laws*enforcement of laws (police, courts)2. maintain a national defense (military)3. make economic decisions *how to conduct trade within its own borders*how to conduct trade with other countries

4. Provide Public services*build infrastructure (highways, canals, roads, dams)*postal services*water*education (is so hot right now)*services to help disadvantaged members of society (elderly, sick, poor)

4 Non-State Groups that influence global issues:

1. multi-national corporations* example: Nike, Chevron/Texaco, Adidas, Nintendo2. International organizations*example: United Nations, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Red Cross)

3. Political Movements*example: groups who have specific political agendas (human rights groups, Amnesty International, Green Peace) 4. Religions*Religions transcend State and National Borders. (Catholics, Protestants and Muslims can be found in almost every country in the world.

Democracy or Autocracy GameYes there will be prizes.