Chapter 1Chapter 1Principles of GovernmentPrinciples of Government

Section 1--Objectives:Section 1--Objectives:• Define government and the basic Define government and the basic

powers every government holds.powers every government holds.• Describe the four defining Describe the four defining

characteristics of the state.characteristics of the state.• Identify four theories that attempt to Identify four theories that attempt to

explain the origin of the state.explain the origin of the state.• Understand the purpose of government Understand the purpose of government

in the United States and other in the United States and other countries.countries.

Section 1--Why It Matters:Section 1--Why It Matters:• Here, Senator Kassebaum tells us Here, Senator Kassebaum tells us

that a democracy—which insists on that a democracy—which insists on the importance of each and every the importance of each and every person and, at the same time, insists person and, at the same time, insists on the equality of all persons—on the equality of all persons—inevitably produces a political inevitably produces a political climate “both frustrating and climate “both frustrating and invigorating.”invigorating.”

Section 1--Political Section 1--Political DictionaryDictionary• GovernmentGovernment• Public policyPublic policy• Legislative Legislative

powerpower• Executive Executive

powerpower• Judicial powerJudicial power

• ConstitutionConstitution• DictatorshipDictatorship• DemocracyDemocracy• StateState• SovereignSovereign

Section 1—Government and Section 1—Government and the Statethe State• What is Government?What is Government?

– How society makes and enforces public How society makes and enforces public policies.policies.•TaxationTaxation•DefenseDefense•EducationEducation•Crime Crime •HealthHealth

Section 1—Government and Section 1—Government and the Statethe State• What is Government? (cont.)What is Government? (cont.)

– All governments exercise 3 kinds of All governments exercise 3 kinds of power.power.•LegislativeLegislative•ExecutiveExecutive• JudicialJudicial

– Can take many organizational formsCan take many organizational forms•Single—dictatorshipSingle—dictatorship•All the people—democracyAll the people—democracy

Section 1—Government and Section 1—Government and the Statethe State• What is Government? (cont.)What is Government? (cont.)

– Old, basic institutionOld, basic institution– ““Man is by nature a political animal”—Man is by nature a political animal”—

AristotleAristotle– ““Polis”—peoplePolis”—people– Politics and government do not mean Politics and government do not mean

the same thing.the same thing.– Politics is a processPolitics is a process

Section 1—Government and Section 1—Government and the Statethe State• The StateThe State

– ““A body of people”—more than 190 nowA body of people”—more than 190 now– ““Nation” really means ethnic groupingNation” really means ethnic grouping– ““Country” is a geographic termCountry” is a geographic term– PopulationPopulation

•Can vary widely—San Marino 27,000, China Can vary widely—San Marino 27,000, China 1.3 billion & USA 300 million1.3 billion & USA 300 million

•Homogeneous vs. diversifiedHomogeneous vs. diversified– Language, race, religion, ethnic background, Language, race, religion, ethnic background,

historyhistory

Section 1—Government and Section 1—Government and the Statethe State• The State (cont.)The State (cont.)

– Territory—land, a requirement of a “state.”Territory—land, a requirement of a “state.”– Sovereignty—supreme and absolute power Sovereignty—supreme and absolute power

within its territory.within its territory.• NOTE—US “states” are not “states” but divisions NOTE—US “states” are not “states” but divisions

because they are not “sovereign.because they are not “sovereign.– Government—natural orderGovernment—natural order

• Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)—”the war of every man Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)—”the war of every man against every man.” “Without government. . . There against every man.” “Without government. . . There would be continual fear and danger of violent death would be continual fear and danger of violent death and life [would be] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and and life [would be] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”short.”

Section 1—Government and Section 1—Government and the Statethe State• Major Political IdeasMajor Political Ideas

– Four theories about the origin of Four theories about the origin of governmentgovernment•The Force Theory—power/conquestThe Force Theory—power/conquest•The Evolutionary Theory—extension of the familyThe Evolutionary Theory—extension of the family•The Divine Right Theory—ordained by godThe Divine Right Theory—ordained by god•The Social ContractThe Social Contract

– Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes– James Harrington (1611-1677)James Harrington (1611-1677)– John Locke (1632-1704)John Locke (1632-1704)– Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)– Theory behind the US ConstitutionTheory behind the US Constitution

Section 1—Government and Section 1—Government and the Statethe State• The Purpose of GovernmentThe Purpose of Government

– Preamble of the US ConstitutionPreamble of the US Constitution•““We the people of the United States, in Order We the people of the United States, in Order

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

– Articles of Confederation—1781Articles of Confederation—1781– Constitution--1787Constitution--1787

Section 1—Government and Section 1—Government and the Statethe State• The Purpose of Government (cont.)The Purpose of Government (cont.)

– Establish Justice—law must be Establish Justice—law must be reasonable, fair and impartial.reasonable, fair and impartial.

– Insure Domestic Tranquility—order and Insure Domestic Tranquility—order and peacepeace

– Provide for the Common DefenseProvide for the Common Defense– Promote the General Welfare—Promote the General Welfare—

education, water, air, roads, etc.education, water, air, roads, etc.– Secure the Blessings of LibertySecure the Blessings of Liberty

Section 1—Government and Section 1—Government and the Statethe State• John Locke---John Locke---Second Treatise of Second Treatise of

GovernmentGovernment

Section 2--Objectives:Section 2--Objectives:• Classify governments according to three Classify governments according to three

sets of characteristics.sets of characteristics.• Define systems of government based on Define systems of government based on

who can participate.who can participate.• Identify different ways that power can be Identify different ways that power can be

distributed, geographically, within a distributed, geographically, within a state.state.

• Describe a government by how power is Describe a government by how power is distributed between the executive and distributed between the executive and legislative branch.legislative branch.

Section 2--Why It Matters:Section 2--Why It Matters:• Governments come in many different Governments come in many different

forms—democratic or dictatorial, forms—democratic or dictatorial, unitary or federal or confederate, unitary or federal or confederate, presidential or parliamentary. But, presidential or parliamentary. But, whatever its form, government has whatever its form, government has an impact on nearly every moment an impact on nearly every moment and nearly every aspect of your life.and nearly every aspect of your life.

Section 2--Political Section 2--Political Dictionary:Dictionary:• AutocracyAutocracy• OligarchyOligarchy• Unitary governmentUnitary government• Federal governmentFederal government• Division of powersDivision of powers• ConfederationConfederation• Presidential governmentPresidential government• Parliamentary governmentParliamentary government

Section 2—Forms of Section 2—Forms of GovernmentGovernment• Classifying GovernmentsClassifying Governments• Who Can ParticipateWho Can Participate

– DemocracyDemocracy•Direct—all participateDirect—all participate• Indirect—representativeIndirect—representative

– DictatorshipDictatorship•Autocracy—single personAutocracy—single person•Oligarchy—small eliteOligarchy—small elite

Section 2—Forms of Section 2—Forms of GovernmentGovernment• Geographic Distribution of PowerGeographic Distribution of Power

– Unitary—single, highly centralizedUnitary—single, highly centralized•Great BritainGreat Britain

– Federal government—division of powersFederal government—division of powers•United States, Canada, Mexico, India, GermanyUnited States, Canada, Mexico, India, Germany

– Confederate government—”alliance” of Confederate government—”alliance” of independent states.independent states.•EU, early US, ConfederacyEU, early US, Confederacy

Section 2—Forms of Section 2—Forms of GovernmentGovernment• Relationship Between Legislative and Relationship Between Legislative and

Executive Bodies.Executive Bodies.– Presidential GovernmentPresidential Government

• Independent selection of presidentIndependent selection of president•Checks and balancesChecks and balances

– Parliamentary GovernmentParliamentary Government•Leader chosen is a member of parliamentLeader chosen is a member of parliament•Sometimes there is also a weak figureheadSometimes there is also a weak figurehead

Section 3--Objectives:Section 3--Objectives:• Understand the foundations of Understand the foundations of

democracy.democracy.• Analyze the connections between Analyze the connections between

democracy and the free enterprise democracy and the free enterprise system.system.

• Identify the role of the Internet in a Identify the role of the Internet in a democracy.democracy.

Section 3—Why It Matters:Section 3—Why It Matters:• Democracy insists on the Democracy insists on the

fundamental importance of each and fundamental importance of each and every individual. The free enterprise every individual. The free enterprise system is a natural counterpart to system is a natural counterpart to democracy—for it, too, is built on the democracy—for it, too, is built on the concept of individualism.concept of individualism.

Section 3—Political Section 3—Political Dictionary:Dictionary:• CompromiseCompromise• Free enterprise systemFree enterprise system• Law of supply and demandLaw of supply and demand• Mixed economyMixed economy

Section 3—Basic Concepts of Section 3—Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy• FoundationsFoundations

– Churchill: “No one pretends that Churchill: “No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”tried from time to time.”

Section 3—Basic Concepts of Section 3—Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy• Foundations (cont.)Foundations (cont.)

– American democracy rests on these basic American democracy rests on these basic notions:notions:• A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of

every person.every person.• A respect for the equality of all persons.A respect for the equality of all persons.• A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon

minority rights.minority rights.• An acceptance of the necessity of compromise, and An acceptance of the necessity of compromise, and • An insistence upon the widest possible degree of An insistence upon the widest possible degree of

individual freedom.individual freedom.

Section 3—Basic Concepts of Section 3—Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy• Foundations (cont.)Foundations (cont.)

– Worth of the IndividualWorth of the Individual– Equality of All PersonsEquality of All Persons

•Equality of OpportunityEquality of Opportunity•Equality Before the LawEquality Before the Law

– Majority Rule, Minority RightsMajority Rule, Minority Rights•Not “best or right” but “satisfactory” solutionsNot “best or right” but “satisfactory” solutions

– Necessity of CompromiseNecessity of Compromise

Section 3—Basic Concepts of Section 3—Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy• Foundations (cont.)Foundations (cont.)

– Individual Freedom—not “complete” Individual Freedom—not “complete” freedomfreedom• Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes: “The right to Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes: “The right to

swing my fist ends where the other man’s swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.”nose begins.”

•President John F. Kennedy: “The rights of President John F. Kennedy: “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.”one man are threatened.”

Section 3—Basic Concepts of Section 3—Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy• Democracy and the Free Enterprise Democracy and the Free Enterprise

SystemSystem– Often called CapitalismOften called Capitalism– Law of Supply and Demand—scarcity drivenLaw of Supply and Demand—scarcity driven– Government and the Free Enterprise SystemGovernment and the Free Enterprise System

•Mixed economyMixed economy•Abraham Lincoln: “The legitimate object of Abraham Lincoln: “The legitimate object of

government, is to do for a community of people, government, is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves—in at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves—in their separate, and individual capacities.”their separate, and individual capacities.”

Section 3—Basic Concepts of Section 3—Basic Concepts of DemocracyDemocracy• Democracy and the InternetDemocracy and the Internet

– Abundance of dataAbundance of data– 180 million participants180 million participants– Rapid movement of ideasRapid movement of ideas– OFTEN inaccurate.OFTEN inaccurate.