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
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