Government & the State

1. Government & the State What is government & where does it come from?

2. What is Government • Government: the institution through which a society make and enforces its public policies. • All of the things a govt. sets out to do • Taxes • Defense (Military) • Education Govt.’s must have power in order to make & carry out public policies

3. Governmental Power • Every government has and exercises 3 basic kinds of power • Legislative • Create laws • Executive • Enforce laws • Judicial • Interpret laws

4. Constitution • The body of fundamental law setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government • The powers a government has are outlined in a country’s constitution

5. Dictatorship: the ultimate responsibility for the exercise of these powers is held by a single person or group Supreme authority to themselves, not answerable to the people V for Vendetta Democracy: the responsibility for the exercise of these powers rests with a majority of the people Supreme authority rests with the people USA Who Exercises These Powers?

6. The State • A body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically (w/a govt.) & with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority • 4 main characteristics of a state are • Territory • Sovereignty • Government • Population

7. Population: a state must have people, whether or not it large or small, from there or visiting Territory A state must have land with known and recognized boundaries Govt.: every state should have a govt. to maintain order and accomplish public policies with in Sovereignty: it has supreme & absolute power with in its own territory & can decide its own domestic & foreign policies The State Cont.

8. Where do States come from? Evolutionary theory: developed natural out of early family • Family to clan • Clan to tribe • Nomads turn to agriculture attach themselves to land & the state is born Force theory: one person or a small group claimed control over an area and forced all within to submit to their rule

9. Divine Right Theory • 15th to 18th century • Believed that God had given those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule • People had to follow the king or they were sinning against god Chinese, Aztecs, Mayans, Egyptians, & some European Countries

10. Social Contract Theory • Developed by ideas of govt. by philosophers such as • Thomas Hobbes • John Locke • James Harrington • Jean Jacques Rousseau • Humans overcame their unpleasant life by unifying with another to create a state & by contract gave up power to ensure safety & well being.

11. State came out of a voluntary act of the people State exist to serve the people (the source of its power) The people are free to give or withhold power as they choose 6 main purposes of Govt. Form a more Perfect union Insure domestic tranquility Establish Justice Provide a common defense Promote General Welfare Secure the blessings of Liberty SC Theory Cont. & the Purpose of Govt.

12. Purposes of Govt. • Form a more perfect union • In union there is strength • Insure domestic Tranquility • Keep the peace • Establish Justice • Justice & law must be reasonable, fair, without bias

13. Purposes of Govt. Cont. • Provide a Common Defense • Defend against foreign enemies • Promote General Welfare • Public schools & protects the quality of water, air, & Food • Secure the blessing of liberty • Realizing that the dedication to freedom for the individual cannot be absolute

14. Democracy • power is held by the majority of the people • Republic: absolute power is held by those eligible to vote, representatives hold the political power • Representative: small group is chose to represent the interest of all • Republican: mix between the two The People Rule!

15. Dictatorship • Power is held by a single person or small group • Autocracy; a single person hold unlimited power • Oligarchy: the power to rule is held by a small elite group • Either type is authoritarian