Government

-Purpose

-Theories

-Categories of Government

-Types of Government

Learning Targets:

• I can describe the purpose of government

• I can compare and contrast the different theories of government

• I can compare and contrast the different types of government

What is a nation?

• Population• Land with boundaries• Sovereignty:

– A nation has supreme and absolute power within its own territory

• Government– The institution through

which a society makes and enforces public policies

4 Purposes of Government

1. Keep societies ordered

1. Peace at home

2. Provide public service

1. Transportation/ education

2. Protection1. Police

2. Military

4 Purposes of Government

3. Promote standards of behavior

• Rules of conduct (Laws)

4. Make economic decisions

• Type of system/ money/ trade/ natural resources

Theories of Government

• Evolutionary Theory– The state developed out

of the early primitive family in which one person was the head

– Original family unit becomes a network of families (clan)

– Eventually clans come together to make a tribe

– The tribes then settle to make a state

Theories of Government

• Divine Right Theory– The state was created by God who gave those of

royal birth the “divine right” to rule.

Theories of Government

• Force & Conquest Theory– One group claims

control over an area and forced all people within its borders to submit to their rule.

Theories of Government• Social Contract Theory

– People lived in a “state of nature”

• No government or order

– People gave up freedom in exchange for protection and security

– As long as the state protects the peoples “natural rights” (life, liberty, & property), the people will give up freedoms and abide by the laws

Categories of GovernmentHow Power is Divided

• Unitary (Centralized)– All powers belong to a

central authority– Local power is created for

convenience and stems from central authority

• (United Kingdom/ U.S. State governments)

• Federal – Power is divided between

national and state governments

• U.S.

Types of Government:Autocracy

• Autocracy– Power and authority to rule are in the hands

of a single ruler

•Totalitarian Dictatorship

•Leader exercises absolute control aspects of social and economic life

•People lack the power to limit their rule.

•Examples: Germany under Hitler/ Soviet Union under Stalin

Types of Government:Autocracy

• Monarchy

– King, Queen, Emperor, or Tsar exercises supreme power of government

– Complete and unlimited power (divine right)

– Power usually inherited

– Example: Saudi Arabia/ Kuwait/ Old England

Types of Government:Oligarchy

• Small group holds power• Power comes from wealth, military power, social

power or a combination of these

• Communist Totalitarianism – Total control over all aspects of life

• Reinforced by propaganda

– Sometimes having seeming democratic institutions such as assemblies and elections

– All opposition is suppressed– Example: China/ Cuba

Types of Government:Democracy

• Direct Democracy– All citizens have a vote on all topics– (does not exist in today’s world)

• Indirect Democracy (Democratic Republic)– People elect representatives giving them

power to govern• Responsible to carry out the peoples will

– Regularly scheduled elections make representatives responsible to the people

Environment That Promotes Democracy

• Freedom of Economic Decisions– Freedom to own property and private control

of money leads to free political decisions

• Large Middle Class– Economic comfort leads to more confident to

make political decisions – Those in poverty are less likely to vote or

make political decisions

• Educated Public