Chapter 1 Notes

1. Chapter 1Notes

2. Government • The authority which carries on the work of looking after public interest and consists of laws and customs and the public officials who execute these laws.

3. 5 reasons as to why we need Government • 1. to define the right and duties of individuals • 2. to compel people to perform their duties • 3. to protect life and property • 4. to carry on activities performed by public officials • 5. exercise police powers

4. Police Powers • Passing laws to protect a majority of its citizens. • 1. Health • Ex: CDC, immunizations, FDA • 2. Safety • Ex: Speed Limits, Seat Belts, Safety seals on food • 3. Welfare • Ex: Emissions Inspections, Minimum Wage, Recycling • 4. Morals • Ex: Curfews, outlaw gambling and prostitution, age restrictions

5. 4 Basic Characteristics of a State • State – a body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, with the authority to make decisions. • Population • Size of state doesn’t matter • Sovereignty • Every state is sovereign because it has supreme power • Territory • Land and recognized boundaries • Government • Agency through which the state exerts its will and works to accomplish goals

6. Origins of a State (Theories) • Evolutionary • belief that govt. evolved from the family • Divine Right • Idea that early ruler thought their right to rule came from a higher supreme being • Social Contract • A group of men got together and drew up a contract and agreed to rule according to the will of the people • Force • One man seized control of a group

7. Purpose of Govt. • To form a more perfect union • Establish justice • Insure domestic tranquility • Provide for the common defense • Promote the general welfare • Secure the blessings of liberty

8. 3 basic forms of govt. • Unitary • One main central govt. • Confederation • An alliance of independent states • Federation • Shared powers between 2 main govts.

9. Democracy • Definition – a govt. of, for, and by the people • 2 types • Pure or Direct – 100% participation • Representative or Indirect – we the people elect representatives to serve us

10. 5 Basic Concepts of Democracy • Majority Rule/Minority Rights • Compromise • Individual Freedom • Worth and Dignity of an Individual • Equality

11. Are the following groups equal? • 1. Women • YES • 2. Nonsmokers • YES, Gaining Rights • 3. Smokers • Losing Rights • 4. Handicapped • YES

12. More Questions… • 5. Unborn Children • No, during 1st trimester • 6. Minor Children • YES and NO • 7. Gays and Lesbians • Marriage – not legal • Adoption – depends on state • Denied jobs or lose custody

13. More Questions… • 8. Atheists • YES • 9. Criminals • YES – Due process • 10. Terminally ILL • NO

14. Parliamentary No Checks and Balances No Separation of Powers Direct Legislation Parliament and Prime Minister No fixed term Presidential Separation of Powers Checks and Balances No Direct Legislation Chief Executive – President Elected by People Fixed Term Parliamentary vs. Presidential Governments

15. Different Types of Rule • Oligarchy – Rule by few • Ex: South Africa • Monarchy – Rule by one man or woman • Timocracy – Rule by military • Aristocracy – Rule by the wealthy • Totalitarian – govt. gives rights to people that they see fit. – Ex: Nazi • Dictatorship – one man seized control of a group – Ex: Cuba

16. English Philosophers –standard 1b. • Baron de Montesquieu • Wrote Spirit of Laws • Born Charles Louis de Secondat State of Nature • All people are not equal • Women weaker than men, but not in govt. Government • 3 branches – separation of powers

17. English Philosophers • Thomas Hobbes • Wrote the Leviathan • State of Nature • Humans desire to obtain power • Will do anything to get power • Naturally wicked and greedy • Free to pursue own desires • Government • Absolute monarchy because they can’t control themselves • Avoid the “state of nature”

18. English Philosophers • John Locke • Two Treatises • Physician • Admired by peers • State of Nature • Consent of governed • People are sovereign • Equal • Religious freedom • Government • Natural rights – life, liberty, property • Rule of law • Representative govt.

19. Limited Government • Limited Government- The idea that the government should not be involved too much in people’s daily lives. • What does this do to the power of a government?

20. Rule of Law • The idea that no one is above the law (even kings and Presidents) and that citizens can only be punished by the government IF they’ve committed a crime using rules and procedures set by the law. • What does this prevent a government from doing to its citizens? • **Not right or wrong- it’s legal or illegal** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZDd2v18vfw

21. Magna Carta Limited Government – government is not all powerful. Trial by Jury ( 7th Amendment)

22. English Bill of Rights No standing army Bear arms Right to free speech Regular sessions of legislature No cruel or unusual punishment

23. English Petition of Rights • Consent of Taxation • No Quartering of Troops

24. Social Contract Theory and Declaration of Indep. Both argued that people enter into a social contract with the government and it violates that contract, the people have the right to rebel. Radical for their time because most Europeans believed that their monarchs’ power was granted by God. The D. of I. established a new precedent for holding monarchies accountable for their actions.

25. Declaration of Independence • Listed grievances of the colonists against the king • Stated that . . . • people have natural rights • Government cannot exist without the people • People have the right to abolish the government