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Chapter 1. Principles of Government. Government and the State 1.1. What is Government. Government is the institution through which society makes and enforces public policies Public policy—everything government does Powers of Government Legislative Executive Judicial. The State.
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Chapter 1 Principles of Government
What is Government • Government is the institution through which society makes and enforces public policies • Public policy—everything government does • Powers of Government • Legislative • Executive • Judicial
The State • A Statea body of people, living in a defined territory, organized politically, and can make and enforce its own laws • Population • Territory • Sovereign • Government
Origins of the State • There are 4 main theories as to how the state emerged • Force Theory • Evolutionary Theory • Divine Right Theory • Social Contract Theory
Purpose of Government • Form a More Perfect Union • Establish Justice • Insure Domestic Tranquility • Provide for the Common Defense • Promote General Welfare • Secure the Blessings of Liberty
Democracy Forms of Government 1.2 Parliamentary Confederation Unitary Dictatorship Presidential
Classifying Government • Governments are classified according to 1 or more basic features: • Who can participate • Geographic distribution of power • Relationship b/t the legislative and executive branch
Who Can Participate • Democracy—supreme political authority rest with the people “government of the people, by the people, for the people”—Abraham Lincoln • Direct • Indirect • Republic • Dictatorship—those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people • Autocracy • Oligarchy
Geographic distribution of power • Power is located in one or more places geographically • Unitary—All power is held by a single, central government • Federal—Power is divided between a central and several local governments • Confederate—An alliance of independent states
Relationship Between the Legislative and Executive Branches • Presidential—branches are separate, independent of one another, and coequal • Parliamentary—executive is made up of prime minister or premier. That person is part of the legislative branch
Foundations • The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions • Worth of the Individual • Equality of All Persons • Majority Rule, Minority Rights • Necessity of Compromise • Individual Freedom
Democracy and the Free Enterprise System • Free enterprise—private ownership of capital goods, investments made by private decisions • Supply and demand • Mixed economy
Democracy and the Internet • With access to computers and the internet, more and more Americans obtain political information through this media. • Reliability? • Advantages/Disadvantages?