Unit 1 Basic Political Theory and Historical Roots.

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Unit 1 Unit 1 Basic Political Basic Political Theory and Theory and Historical Roots Historical Roots

Transcript of Unit 1 Basic Political Theory and Historical Roots.

Page 1: Unit 1 Basic Political Theory and Historical Roots.

Unit 1Unit 1Basic Political Theory Basic Political Theory and Historical Rootsand Historical Roots

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The Basic UnitThe Basic Unit

►The foundational political unit in The foundational political unit in the world is the the world is the statestate Body of people in a territory with Body of people in a territory with

a government that has no higher a government that has no higher authorityauthority

Examples: Mexico, Russia, Examples: Mexico, Russia, Canada, the United States are all Canada, the United States are all statesstates

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The 4 Characteristics of a The 4 Characteristics of a StateState

►PopulationPopulation►TerritoryTerritory►SovereigntySovereignty►GovernmentGovernment

Vice-President Joe Biden

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How Did States Evolve?How Did States Evolve?

►Divine RightDivine Right 1515thth through 18 through 18thth

centuries, centuries, common thinking common thinking was that God was that God gave certain gave certain people a “divine people a “divine right” to rule over right” to rule over othersothers

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How Did States Evolve?How Did States Evolve?

►Social ContractSocial Contract 1700’s 1700’s

philosophical philosophical response to the response to the idea of Divine Rightidea of Divine Right

Theory was Theory was developed by John developed by John Locke, Thomas Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean Hobbes, and Jean Jacque RousseauJacque Rousseau

John Locke (1632-1704)

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How Did States Evolve?How Did States Evolve?

►Social Social ContractContract Free people Free people

decided to form decided to form states to keep states to keep themselves themselves safesafe

John Locke (1632-1704)

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The Big Deal is:The Big Deal is:

►If people formed states If people formed states to serve their own to serve their own interests, then interests, then government exists to government exists to serve the peopleserve the people

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Purpose of GovernmentPurpose of Government

► Based on the social contract theory, the purpose of Based on the social contract theory, the purpose of American government is to:American government is to: Form a More Perfect UnionForm a More Perfect Union Establish JusticeEstablish Justice Insure Domestic TranquilityInsure Domestic Tranquility Provide for the Common DefenseProvide for the Common Defense Promote the General WelfarePromote the General Welfare Secure the Blessings of LibertySecure the Blessings of Liberty

►*In case you’re curious, this is the Preamble to *In case you’re curious, this is the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution*the U.S. Constitution*

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Different Forms of Different Forms of GovernmentGovernment

► Classified based on Classified based on Who Can ParticipateWho Can Participate Democracy - “Government of the people, by Democracy - “Government of the people, by

the people, for the people”the people, for the people”►Direct - people make policy themselvesDirect - people make policy themselves►Indirect - people vote for others who will Indirect - people vote for others who will

make policy (also called make policy (also called republicrepublic))

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Different Forms of Different Forms of GovernmentGovernment

► Classified based on Classified based on Who Can ParticipateWho Can Participate Dictatorship – government is not accountable to Dictatorship – government is not accountable to

anyoneanyone►Autocracy – single person holds unlimited Autocracy – single person holds unlimited

powerpower►Oligarchy – a small, self-appointed group rulesOligarchy – a small, self-appointed group rules

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Different Forms of Different Forms of GovernmentGovernment

► Classified based on Classified based on Geographic Distribution Geographic Distribution of Powerof Power Unitary – one Unitary – one

national government, national government, smaller lower units smaller lower units have little or no say have little or no say in policyin policy►Examples : Israel, Examples : Israel,

Great Britain, Great Britain, FranceFrance

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Different Forms of Different Forms of GovernmentGovernment

► Classified based on Classified based on Geographic Geographic Distribution of PowerDistribution of Power Federal – smaller Federal – smaller

units share power units share power with the central with the central national national governmentgovernment►Examples : U.S., Examples : U.S.,

Mexico, Canada, Mexico, Canada, AustraliaAustralia

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Different Forms of Different Forms of GovernmentGovernment

► Classified based on Classified based on Geographic Distribution Geographic Distribution of Powerof Power Confederal – smaller Confederal – smaller

regional governments regional governments hold the most power, hold the most power, united by a weak united by a weak central governmentcentral government►Examples : Examples :

European Union, European Union, Confederate StatesConfederate States

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Different Forms of Different Forms of GovernmentGovernment

►Classified based on Classified based on Relationship between Relationship between Legislative Legislative (people writing the laws) (people writing the laws) and and Executive Executive (people enforcing the laws)(people enforcing the laws) Presidential – voters separately elect Presidential – voters separately elect

Executive and Legislative branch Executive and Legislative branch membersmembers

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Different Forms of Different Forms of GovernmentGovernment

►Classified based on Classified based on Relationship Relationship between Legislative and Executive between Legislative and Executive BranchesBranches Parliamentary – Executive is chosen Parliamentary – Executive is chosen

from the Legislative branchfrom the Legislative branch

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Basic Concepts of DemocracyBasic Concepts of Democracy

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

Not necessarily equal Not necessarily equal conditions, but strive for conditions, but strive for equal opportunityequal opportunity

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Basic Concepts of DemocracyBasic Concepts of Democracy

►Majority Rule, Minority Majority Rule, Minority RightsRights

►Necessity of CompromiseNecessity of Compromise►Individual FreedomIndividual Freedom

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Free EnterpriseFree Enterprise

►Free Enterprise Free Enterprise is the economic is the economic system system associated with associated with most most democraciesdemocracies

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Free EnterpriseFree Enterprise

►Four factors of a Four factors of a free enterprise free enterprise system:system:Private ownershipPrivate ownership Individual Individual initiativeinitiative

ProfitProfitCompetitionCompetition

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How it WorksHow it Works

►The Law of Supply and The Law of Supply and DemandDemand When supply is high or demand When supply is high or demand

is low, prices are lowis low, prices are low When supply is low or demand is When supply is low or demand is

high, prices are highhigh, prices are high

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Where does Government Fit Where does Government Fit in?in?

►Government always plays a role Government always plays a role in regulating an economyin regulating an economyGovernments can fully control Governments can fully control an economy, or let it be freean economy, or let it be free

The U.S. uses a The U.S. uses a mixed economymixed economy, , to protect the public and to protect the public and preserve private ownershippreserve private ownership