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What is the purpose of Government?

What is the purpose of Government?. 1 st lecture – US History and Government. What were the goals of these characters ’ governments?. Comments. So….what purpose do you think government serves?. Functioning governments provide three things:. Maintain order Provide public goods

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What is the purpose of Government?

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  1. What is the purpose of Government? 1st lecture – US History and Government

  2. What were the goals of these characters’governments?

  3. Comments

  4. So….what purpose do you think government serves?

  5. Functioning governments provide three things: • Maintain order • Provide public goods • Protect property

  6. Function of Government I: Maintain Order • John Locke a political theorist argues that government is created to escape the state of nature (a time of no order where neighbor fights neighbor for life, liberty and property). • As a result, crops are not planted, science is not developed, trade does not occur

  7. Function of Government II: Develop Public Goods • What are public goods? • Pick a public good and in your group figure out how it should be paid for?

  8. Function of Government II: Develop Public Goods • Problem: the free rider • How do we make people pay for facilities (roads, parks, schools) that are available to everyone but still have to be paid for? • Solution: Government

  9. Function of Government III: Protect Property • How do we know who owns what? • More important than it sounds – why maintain a home if it can be taken away? Why create a business that can be shut down at any time? • Government creates rules (sometimes elaborate) to protect who owns what

  10. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT #1 Purpose of Government News Clippings Due: September 11 and 14

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