Unit 1Chapter 1Section 1

Principles of GovernmentMr. Young

2, 3, 4, 5 periods

Essential Questions How do the four essential features help to

determine whether a land mass is a state or not?

How do the Purpose of government effect your life on a daily basis?

Difference betweencountry, nation, state Country- geography of something, where it is

located

Difference betweencountry, nation, state Nation- denote the people, who lives there

Difference betweencountry, nation, state State- the political within a territory

The State State- a body of people living in a defined

territory, organized politically, with the power to make and enforce laws

The State Nation-state- when the boundaries of a state

and nation are the same

Essentials Features of a State There are four common essential features

that make up a state in today’s society1. Population2. Territory3. Sovereignty4. Government

Population Most obvious, how many

people, what do they look like, etc

Also affects stability, if pop shares a general political and social consensus, agreement about basic beliefs, then government is usually stable

Also affected by mobility

Territory Basically what they

own, what are there boundaries

Usually a source of major conflict

May change as a result of:

1. War2. Negotiations3. purchase

Sovereignty Key to being a state Means that state has

the supreme and absolute authority within its territorial boundaries

No state has right to interfere with other state (in theory)

Government Institution through which the state maintains

social order, provides public services, and enforces decisions on all people living within the state

Derive power from two sources:1. Legitimacy- willingness to obey the

government2. Coercive force- police, judicial, and military

institutions

Theories of the Origin of the State Evolutionary Theory-

Head family serves as authority, until they eventually needed more organization

Theories of the Origin of the State Force Theory-

government emerged when all the people of an area were brought under the authority of one person or group.

Theories of the Origin of the State Divine Right Theory-

god or gods had chosen certain people to rule.

To oppose was to oppose a god or gods and to commit sin and treason

Theories of the Origin of the State Social Contract Theory-

theory that by contract, people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order and the state, in turn agrees to protect its citizens

Important People: John Locke and Thomas Hobbes

Social Contract Theory

The Purposes of Government Government has many purposes, but they

will all fall somewhere under these four1. Maintaining social order2. Providing Public Service3. Providing National Security4. Making Economic Decisions

Maintaining Social Order People cannot live in

groups without conflicts

Provides ways of resolving conflicts among members of a group, such as making and enforcing laws

Providing Public Services

Helps to provide essential services that people cannot provide by themselves

These include:1. Roads2. Buildings3. Make and enforce laws4. Public health and

safety

Providing National Security Protect people from

other states/nations or other threats

Helps deal with foreign nations

Major concern of sovereign state

Making Economic Decisions Governments use their

power, money, and resources to help keep people happy

Also use their resources to help other nations

Try to stimulate economy to help people in struggling times

Essential Questions How do the four essential features help to

determine whether a land mass is a state or not?

How do the Purpose of government effect your life on a daily basis?