FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT [Unit 1]

1. FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT[Unit 1]

2. Where did “politics” start? • The Greek philosopher Aristotle was one of the first to study government. • He studied the polis, a state consisting of a city and the surrounding countryside, of the ancient Greeks. • The Greeks gave us many terms and concepts of government such as politics, democracy, and republic.

3. States • The word state comes from the Latin word stare and means “to stand.” • A state is a political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from any higher authority.

4. Nations • The term nation commonly refers to an independent state or country. • A nation is a group of people united by bonds of race, language, custom, tradition, and, sometimes, religion.

5. Nation-State • A nation-state is a country in which both the nation and the state coincide. • The U.S.A is an example of a nation-state. France is also an example.

6. Features of a State • States share four essential features: • Population • Territory • Sovereignty • Government

7. Population • People are needed to form a state. • Population affects stability of a state. • States where people share a general political and social consensus, oragreement, have the most stable governments. • Mobility of people affects political power.

8. Territory • What are the territorial boundaries of the U.S. ? • A state MUST have territory in order to house its people. • The U.S. has gained land through treaties, war, and purchasing it. • The most notable purchases: Louisiana Purchase, the Gadsden Purchase, and Alaska. • The most notable treaties: Original 13 colonies, Territory in 1790, Texas, the Mexican Cession, and the Treaty of Paris (1898).

9. Sovereignty • Political sovereignty means that the state has the supreme and absolute authority within its territorial boundaries. • Theoretically, each state is equal in legal rights and duties. • In practice, states with greater economic strength and military capabilities have more power than other states.

10. Government • Government is the institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces decisions that are binding on all people living within the state.

11. Essential Features of a State! WHAT MAKES A STATE A STATE? • POPULATION • TERRITORY • SOVEREIGNTY • GOVERNMENT In each column the “feature,” the definition (explanation) for each feature, an example for each feauture, and draw a picture to remember each feature. (see pgs. 4-8 in the textbook if you need additional information)

12. Power of the Government • The decisions of government are authoritative – they can be enforced upon all society. • It gets its power from 2 sources – legitimacy and coercive force. • Legitimacy is the willingness of citizens to obey the government. • Coercive force comes from the police, judicial, and military institutions of government.

13. Unitary System • Governments range in size and type. Most larger countries have several levels of government – national, state, and local. • Aunitary system gives all key powers to the national or central government. The central government can still set up other local or state governments. • China is an example of unitary government

14. Federal System • The federal system divides the powers of government between the national government and state or provincial governments. • Each state has sovereignty in some areas. • The U.S. is an example.

15. Confederacy • A confederacy is a loose union of independent states. • The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), formerly known as the Soviet Union.

16. Constitution • A constitution is a plan that provides the rules for government. • 3 major purposes: • sets out ideals that the people bound by the constitution believe in and share; • it establishes the basic structure of government and defines the government’s powers and duties; and • it is the supreme law for the country.

17. 3 Major Types of Government • 1) Autocracy- Any system of gov’t in which the power and authority to rule are in the hands of a single individual • Oldest and most common form of government Types of autocracies: • Totalitarian (Hitler/ Napoleon) • Monarch (King/ Queen)

18. 3 Major Types of Government • 2) Oligarchy- Any system of government in which a small group holds the power • Derives power from wealth, military power, social positions, religion, or a combo of them all. • Example: Communist countries today

19. 3 Major Types of Government • 3) Democracy- System of government in which rule is by the people • Key Idea: People hold sovereign power

20. Two Types of Democracies • Direct Democracy- people govern themselves by voting on issues individually as citizens

21. Two Types of Democracies 2) Indirect/Representative Democracy- people elect representatives and give them the power

22. Democracy Cont. • Republic- voters are the source of the government’s authority (requires citizen participation) • Founding fathers wanted a republic because it would promote citizen participation • Not every democracy around the world is a republic, i.e. Great Britain

23. Advantages and Disadvantages • Unitary govt (autocracy, monarchy, theocracy, dictatorship): • Stable, quick acting, unifying, decisive; loyal subjects, clear line of succession, maintains order, efficient • Too complicated for one person, ruler might be corrupt or inept, people have no power, can lead to abuse, limited rights, uncertain transfer of power, power struggles • Oligarchy: • Experts take care of things while people live their lives, centralized power, less risk involved • Those in power usually get wealthy (hold most wealth), less change  less diversity, hinders experimentation, can lead to resentment and rebellion

24. ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES • Confederation: • Strong states, less chance of tyranny, sovereignty • Weak & ineffective in times of crisis, cannot tax (raise revenue for funding), power struggles among states and between states & federal level, doesn’t usually last long • Democracy • Individual rights protected, rule by the people, parties must make sure people are happy to be reelected, promotes equality, stable, creates good citizens, little risk of revolution, promotes change • Possible misuse of funds/time, potential corruption, public servants might be unqualified (majority rule), some don’t vote, quantity over quality, can be inefficient

25. Advantages/disadvantages • Federal system advantages • Structure diffuses power • Protection against tyranny • Efficient • Encourages participation, innovation and cooperation • Responsive to the people • Federal system disadvantages • Majority rule over minority rights • Stupid laws can be passed • Fighting between levels of govt. • Oppostion/competition • Uncertainty, inefficient • Can benefit the wealthy