Unit 1

1. Unit 1 Basic Political Theory and Historical Roots

2. The Basic Unit • The foundational political unit in the world is the state • Body of people in a territory with a government that has no higher authority • Examples: Mexico, Russia, Canada, the United States are all states

3. The 4 Characteristics of a State • Population • Territory • Sovereignty • Government Vice-President Joe Biden

4. How Did States Evolve? • Divine Right • 15th through 18th centuries, common thinking was that God gave certain people a “divine right” to rule over others

5. How Did States Evolve? • Social Contract • 1700’s philosophical response to the idea of Divine Right • Theory was developed by John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean Jacque Rousseau John Locke (1632-1704)

6. How Did States Evolve? • Social Contract • Free people decided to form states to keep themselves safe John Locke (1632-1704)

7. The Big Deal is: • If people formed states to serve their own interests, then government exists to serve the people

8. Purpose of Government • Based on the social contract theory, the purpose of American government is 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 • *In case you’re curious, this is the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution*

9. Different Forms of Government • Classified based on Who Can Participate • Democracy - “Government of the people, by the people, for the people” • Direct - people make policy themselves • Indirect - people vote for others who will make policy (also called republic)

10. Different Forms of Government • Classified based on Who Can Participate • Dictatorship – government is not accountable to anyone • Autocracy – single person holds unlimited power • Oligarchy – a small, self-appointed group rules

11. Different Forms of Government • Classified based on Geographic Distribution of Power • Unitary – one national government, smaller lower units have little or no say in policy • Examples : Israel, Great Britain, France

12. Different Forms of Government • Classified based on Geographic Distribution of Power • Federal – smaller units share power with the central national government • Examples : U.S., Mexico, Canada, Australia

13. Different Forms of Government • Classified based on Geographic Distribution of Power • Confederal – smaller regional governments hold the most power, united by a weak central government • Examples : European Union, Confederate States

14. Different Forms of Government • Classified based on Relationship between Legislative (people writing the laws) and Executive (people enforcing the laws) • Presidential – voters separately elect Executive and Legislative branch members

15. Different Forms of Government • Classified based on Relationship between Legislative and Executive Branches • Parliamentary – Executive is chosen from the Legislative branch

17. Basic Concepts of Democracy • Worth of the Individual • Equality of All Persons • Not necessarily equal conditions, but strive for equal opportunity

18. Basic Concepts of Democracy • Majority Rule, Minority Rights • Necessity of Compromise • Individual Freedom

19. Free Enterprise • Free Enterprise is the economic system associated with most democracies

20. Free Enterprise • Four factors of a free enterprise system: • Private ownership • Individual initiative • Profit • Competition

21. How it Works • The Law of Supply and Demand • When supply is high or demand is low, prices are low • When supply is low or demand is high, prices are high

22. Where does Government Fit in? • Government always plays a role in regulating an economy • Governments can fully control an economy, or let it be free • The U.S. uses a mixed economy, to protect the public and preserve private ownership