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PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT Chapter 1

Explore the origins, purposes, and distribution of power in government systems. Learn about different forms of government and their impact on society. Discover the dangers that can arise when governments and their decisions are challenged.

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PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT Chapter 1

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  1. PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT Chapter 1 Why do we have governments?

  2. ORIGINS OF GOVERNMENT What do you think is the way governments began? Was it from the gathering of weapons? Was it from the first gathering of people? Hereditary or familial ties?

  3. WHAT IS GOVERNMENT? • Government • Institutions, people, and processes by which the nation-state or political unit is ruled and its public policy is created and administered. • Created by the citizens of the Nation-State • Nation-State is a political unit, with a defined territory, organization under a government, and authority to make and enforce laws. • Nations can be ethnic, linguistic, ideological, and cultural • Kurdish • Spanish • ISIS • Steelers Nation

  4. PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT • Protection • People are free from outside influences or oppression • Public Order • Establishment of laws, courts, and police forces to maintain order • Resolution of Conflicts • Social issues are solved or injustice is righted • Stable Economy • Regulation of business practices, monitoring of currency and the industry markets • Public Services • Transportation and communications networks, public health, and citizen welfare

  5. ORIGINS OF GOVERNMENT • Evolution Theory • Extension of Familial relationships, Elders over their offspring • Force Theory • Conquest of one group by another, more powerful, group • Divine Right Theory • Rulers inherit power from God • Social Contract Theory • John Locke – Humans choose to establish order • Cooperation and freedom by the people’s power • Rulers only have power through the support of the people

  6. POWER IN THE ELITES • Elites • Marxist Theory • Those to control the economy have the power • Power Elite • Corporate leaders, military officers, and key politicians • Bureaucrats • People behind the scenes, who make the government work • Pluralists • Power is split amongst many groups

  7. WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE? A government well-run by a bureaucracy, where the people you elected to represent you were not the real people making decisions. A secret, select few held power, but ran the country smoothly. You had power in many different people and places (political leaders, military, university elites, businessmen) but the country did not run as smooth as the others?

  8. SPREAD OF GOVERNMENT • Political power is spread through: • Geography • Separate branches/influences • Number of people in power

  9. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION • Unitary Systems • All of the power of the government is held in a single unit or agency • Federal Systems • Governmental powers are divided between central authority and a number of regional political subdivisions • Confederations • A weak central government has limited authority, and the regional subdivisions of the country have the most power

  10. SEPARATE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT • Separate branches: Legislative and Executive • Parliamentary System • Executive leaders are chosen by and responsible to the legislature • Presidential System • The legislative and executive branches of the government are separate and function independently

  11. POWER OVER THE PEOPLE • Rule by 1 “Autocracy” • Absolute Monarchy • One person rules over the people • Hereditary - passed down to the next generation or to family members • Other types of Monarchy • Limited - meaning they are mostly ceremonial leaders • Constitutional - meaning they are given some power through a constitution • Dictatorship • Rule by one person, who rules through fear and intimidation • Often gained power through the military

  12. POWER FOR A FEW • Rule by a Few • Aristocracy • Rule by the intellectual elite • Might have the best in mind for the people • Theocracy • Rule through a religious group or leader • Usually have the best in mind for the people • Will sometimes claim divine right • Political Party • One group with similar ideas will rule the country • All elected positions are filled with party members

  13. POWER OF/BY/FOR THE PEOPLE • Rule by Many • Direct/Participatory Democracy • Power through all members of society • Democratic Centralism • Power in one party or ruling group, but free discussion of issues within the group • Representative Democracy • Power held in representatives speaking for and voted into office by all of society

  14. DANGERS OF THE GOVERNMENT Anonymous and Guy Fawkes • Symbols of standing up to governments and corporations • Any entity that tries to impose its will on the people • Believe in spreading anarchy across the world

  15. DANGERS OF THE GOVERNMENT Anonymous and Guy Fawkes • Anarchy • A state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority • Group believes no government is a good government Is it dangerous to be right when the government is wrong? • What happens to people who stand up against the government? • French Revolution (1789) • Russian Revolution (1917) • Confederate States of America (1860) • Easter Rising (1916)

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