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What is Government?

What is Government?. Institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. It is made up of those people who exercise its powers, all those who have authority and control over people Questions? What are public policies? Who are “those people”? What are “its powers”?

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What is Government?

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  1. What is Government? • Institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. • It is made up of those people who exercise its powers, all those who have authority and control over people • Questions? • What are public policies? • Who are “those people”? • What are “its powers”? • What is meant by “control”?

  2. Every government exercises power • Their concepts of legislative, executive and judicial are just different.

  3. But what is the interaction between these branches and that of the citizenry of the state. It is . . .

  4. The State • A body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority.

  5. The Force Theory • For over a thousand generations, the Jedi knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the old Republic... before the dark times... before the empire.

  6. Might makes right • When a person or small group claimed control over an area and forced all within it to submit to that person’s or group’s rule.

  7. The Evolutionary Theory

  8. Government developed naturally out of the family unit • Then a network of related families • Then a clan • Then a tribe • Then after tribes developed agriculture and nomadic ways ended, the modern state began to develop

  9. The Divine Right Theory

  10. The Social Contract Theory

  11. Social Contract Theory • Thomas Hobbes • “In the state of nature profit is the measure of right.” • John Locke • “Government has no other end, but the preservation of property.” • Jean Jacques Rousseau • “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”

  12. Purpose of Government (at least ours- What does each really mean? Does America accomplish these?) • Form a More Perfect Union • Establish Justice • Insure Domestic Tranquility • Provide for the Common Defense • Promote the General Welfare • Secure the Blessing of Liberty

  13. Classifying Governments • Who can participate? • What is the geographic distribution of governmental power within the state? • What is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches?

  14. Who can participate? • Democracy • Oligarchy • Dictatorship

  15. Basic Concepts of Democracy • I can • Understand the foundations of democracy • Analyze the connections between democracy and the free enterprise system • Identify the role of the Internet in a democracy

  16. What does this image say about democracy? Do you agree?

  17. Basic Notions of Democracy • A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person • A respect for theequality of all persons • A faith inmajority rule and an insistence upon minority rights • An acceptance of the necessity of compromise • An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom

  18. What Hart Adds to This Definition • Control over government decision about policy is constitutionally vested in elected officials • Elected officials are chosen in frequent and fairly conducted elections • Practically all adults have the right to vote • Practically all adults have the right to run for elective office • Citizens should have the rights to express themselves without danger of severe punishment • Citizens have a right to seek out alternative sources of information • Citizens have the right to form relatively independent associations or organizations • Popularly elected officials cannot be overridden by unelected officials • The polity must be self-governing

  19. What does this say about democracy? Do you agree? Solutions?

  20. What an oligarchy might look like.

  21. Bellwork • Review: what are the 4 characteristics of the state?

  22. Refresh your memory • Barney Fife • Schoolhouse Rocks

  23. Geographic Distribution of Power • Unitary • Federal • Confederate

  24. Relationship Between Legislative and Executive Branches • Presidential • Parliamentary • Semi-Presidential

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