The Basics of Government

1. The Basics of Government Government and the state

2. What is Government? Institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies (all the things government decides to do)

3. What is a State? -a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (with a govt) and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority States!!!

4. Why do we call Kansas a State? When we founded the “United States” it was meant to be States (governments) that were United Over time we went from being states the were united (plural) to being “The United States” (singular)

5. What is a Nation? Group of people with a common culture and identity

6. Word Breakdown • State=govt ruling a certain territory (sometimes a country) • Ex. Germany, USA, Japan, Kansas, New York • Nation=culture group with common ideas and way of life • Ex. Christian Nation, Osage Nation, Viking Nation, Americans • Nation-State-BOTH a Nation and a State (a Country) • Ex. USA, Great Britain, Kenya, India, Turkey, Japan, Korea • Stateless Nation- a culture group (nation) that is ruled by someone else…(a culture without a home country) • Ex. Kurds, Palestinians,

7. State, Nation, Nation State, Stateless Nation? • Which of the above words apply to … • USA? • Pawnees? • Palestinians? • Catholics? • Germany? • Russian Federation?

8. Four Characteristics of the State Population Territory Sovereignty Government

9. Population • You need people to create a state! • San Marino- 27,000 people • China- 1.3 Billion people

10. Territory You need a piece of land to set your state up on San Marino 24 sq miles Russia 6.6 million sq miles

11. Sovereignty Uuuhhhhhhmmmm……what http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5xVRXLgLxw

12. Sovereignty Sovereignty: the right to govern yourself Official def: when a state has supreme and absolute power within its own territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies. Its neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority Ex. USA is responsible for USA, Mexico is responsible for Mexico.

13. Government You have to have an organized structure….no anarchy.

14. How did humans come to rely on social organization and why did they create governments (States)? • 4 theories • Force Theory • Evolutionary Theory • The Divine Right Theory • Social Contract Theory

15. The Force Theory Pretty much exactly what it sounds like A person or a group of people take a plot of an area They then make/force people to submit to that person’s/people’s rule

16. The Evolutionary Theory States that states evolved from the family unit over time The head of the household has power Governmental structures arose from this organizational system

17. Divine Right Theory States that God (divine power) created the state Those born into royal families have the right to rule based on this Basically, God gave them the power to rule

18. Which theory is currently the foundation of our existing government? • Social Contract Theory • This theory was developed in the 1600s and 1700s by • Thomas Hobbes • Jean Jacques Rousseau • John Locke • Which Theory were these guys mainly challenging? • Divine Right Theory • What is this period of time called? • Enlightenment

19. John Locke and Thomas Jefferson • John Locke wrote Two Treatises of Government in which he discussed what may happen if a “Social Contract” is broken • Thomas Jefferson used these ideas in explaining why the Colonies were declaring independence from Britain, when he wrote…. • The Declaration of Independence

20. Purposes of Government • Form a more perfect union • Unite the people • Establish justice • Fair for all • Insure domestic tranquility • Peace at home • Provide for the common defense • Protect us from out enemies • Promote the general welfare • Life is good for all • Secure the blessings of liberty • Freedom

21. Quick History of US Government US Govt Documents (1770s-1790s) • Declaring Independence from Britain • Wrote and Established Articles of Confederation-FAIL • Constitutional Congress writes the Constitution • Wasn't going to pass unless a “Bill of Rights” was going to be added that restricted the Governments power. • Constitution was ratified (accepted) • Bill of Rights is immediately added to it (1st Ten Amendments)

22. Constitution A constitution is the body of fundamental laws setting out principles, structures and processes of a government THE CONSTITUTION is the US main structure and foundation of government-”The Supreme Law of the Land”

23. The Constitution Preamble: “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” School House Rock-Preamble

24. Three Branches Legislative Executive Judicial

25. Legislative Branch Make Laws/Write Laws/Legislate House of Rep. + House of Senate= Congress HOR-435, 2 year term, based on population Senate-100 6 year term, 2 per state

26. Executive Carries out the laws/enforces the laws President, VP, and his cabinets 4 year terms, 2 term max

27. Judicial Interprets laws and Settles disputes Supreme Court and Court Systems The Roberts Court, 2010Back row (left to right): Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, and Elena Kagan. Front row (left to right): Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Chief JusticeJohn Roberts, Anthony Kennedy, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg

28. Forms of Government • Democracy – People hold the power and allow the government to rule • Direct Democracy – People vote on all laws • Indirect democracy – A small group of people chosen by the people vote and make laws (representative democracy) • Consent of the governed • Which of the two do we use?

29. Forms of Government • Dictatorship – those who rule do not have to listen to the people • Autocracy – One person holds the power and makes the rule for everyone else • Unlimited political power for one • Oligarchy – a small group of people hold the power over everyone else

30. Distribution of Power in Government Unitary Government – All the power in one central location Confederate Government – Alliance of independent states Federal Government (Federalism) – Powers of the government are divided between a central government (federal) and regional governments (state and local) The constitution is superior to both

31. Relationship Between Legislative Branch and Executive Branch • Presidential – Legislative and Executive branches are distinct and equal • President is chosen separately from the legislature and there is a system of checks and balances • Parliamentary – People (voters) elect the legislature who selects the chief executive (Prime Minister, typically) from the majority party • Executive can be removed through a vote of no confidence

32. Relationship Between Legislative Branch and Executive Branch

33. Chart of Some Countries

34. Foundations of Democracy • A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person • Worth and dignity must be acknowledged by all • Welfare of one may be subordinated by the interest of the many • A respect for the equality of all persons • Equal opportunity • Equal in the eyes of the law • A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon minority rights • Majority is most likely right most of the time • Majority must listen to minority

35. Foundations of Democracy • An acceptance of the necessity of compromise • Find what is best and acceptable for the largest number of people possible • An insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom • Freedom cannot be absolute (anarchy will happen) • My freedoms end at the freedoms of another

36. Democracy and Free Enterprise The free enterprise system is an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods; investments that are determined by private decision rather than by state control; and determined in a free market. Decisions in a free enterprise system are determined bythe law of supply and demand. An economy in which private enterprise exists in combination with a considerable amount of government regulation and promotion is called a mixed economy.