Post on 21-Jan-2016
Origins of Government
What is Government?
Objectives
To learn what a government is and what it consists of
To understand the philosophies incorporated into our present form of government
To review the documents that were precursors to our current constitution and amendments
What is Government?
The institution through which society makes and enforces its policies.
Three powers Legislative Executive Judicial
Varies in type and formation
Government and The State
State Definition
Land with People
Defined Territory Organized
Politically Power to make
and enforce laws
Types of States Sovereign
Self –Governing Monopoly on
legitimate use of force
Hegemonious Subject to
outside control Federated
Have given partial sovereignty to a federal government
Forms of Government Classified according to three criteria:
Who can participate Democracy Dictatorship
Geographic distribution of power Unitary Federal Confederate
Relationship between legislative and executive powers
Presidential Parliamentary
Montesquieu French Theory of Separation of
Powers Executive Legislative Judicial Checks and Balances
Significant influence on American Founding Fathers
Voltaire French Advocated for civil
liberties Right to Fair Trial Freedom of Religion Free trade
John Locke English Social Contract Theory
Natural Rights Separation of Powers Separation of Church
and State Right to and Occasional
Obligation of Revolution Significant Influence on
Declaration of Independence Natural Right to
defend “Life, health, Liberty, or Possessions”
Beccaria Italian First Argument against
Death Penalty State does not have
right to take life Is not useful nor
necessary punishment Influence on Penal systems No Cruel or Unusual
Punishment Right to Speedy Trial Right to Bear Arms
Machiavelli
Italian Authored
The Prince Discourses on Livy
Separation of Powers Republicanism
Mary Wollstonecraft
British Feminist Republican Advocated equality in
both classes and gender
Women only appear inferior due to lack of education
Code of Hammurabi
One of the first written legal codes 282 laws enacted by Babylonian king Laws had scaled punishments
Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth Death penalty Punishment varied by social class
Magna Carta
Initially enacted by John I in 1215 at the insistence of nobles
Multiple versions between 1215 and 1297 Only Three Clauses remain in force today (1, 9, 29) Other clauses repealed or replaced after 1828
Limited Royal Powers Guaranteed Rights of Free Men Created a version of Parliament (Council of
Barons/ House of Lords)
The Petition of Right
1628 Response by Parliament to Charles I’s
request for increased taxes Limited power of the monarch Declared that even the monarch was
subject to the law of the land Early bill of rights Parts of US constitution are based from
it including the 3rd amendment.
English Bill of Rights
1688-89 Provisions offered to William & Mary
in exchange for the crown following the Glorious Revolution (abdication of James II)
Predecessor to US Bill of Rights (1st, 2nd, 5th, & 8th amendments)
Mayflower Compact
First governing document of Plymouth colony
Social contract for survival Majoritarian rule
Signed by 41 of 101 passengers
Colonial Government
Each colony granted a charter from the monarch
Three types Royal Proprietary Charter
Each colony had a governor and a legislature
Virginia Declaration of Rights
June 1776 Proclaimed the inherent rights of
men including rebellion against inadequate government
Influenced later documents Declaration of Independence Bill of Rights
Iroquois Confederation
Confederation of six Native American nations
Formed own centralized democratic government prior to European colonization Grand Council (50 Members) Women, especially mothers, had
significant influence on decision making and “elections”
Influenced both Articles of Confederation and US Constitution
Document Activity
Get into groups of 4-5 You will be given a copy of a historical
document. DO NOT WRITE ON IT!!!!! Read the document to yourselves and discuss
it as a group As a group summarize the key points of the
document (need a minimum of 3) Write these down
Select a spokesperson to present the summary to the class
Turn in a written summary and the original document at the end of class as instructed
Next Time
Royal Injustices Revolution! A new nation Articles of Confederation Constitutional Convention Ratification of the Constitution