1. HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT 1 Role of Government Section 1: Government and the Public Good Section 2: Forms of Government Section 3: Foundations of Democracy CHAPTER 1

2. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 2 Section 1: Government and the Public Good Objectives: What is government, and why is it important? How have some philosophers described the nature and purpose of the state? What functions does government perform? How does government promote the public good?

3. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 3 Section 1: Government and the Public Good The meaning and importance of government: Government is an institution with the power to make and enforce rules for a group of people. It is important because it creates and enforces laws to protect and promote the public good.

4. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 4 Section 1: Government and the Public Good Descriptions of the nature and purpose of the state Early philosophers: Rulers receive their authority to govern from God, called the divine right of Kings. Thomas Hobbes: The people create the state through a social contract. The people surrender their individual sovereignty to the state in exchange for peace and order provided by the state. John Locke: The power of the government comes from the people governed. Government’s role is to protect people’s natural rights.

5. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 5 Section 1: Government and the Public Good Functions of government: maintaining order providing services resolving conflict promoting values

6. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 6 Section 1: Government and the Public Good How the government serves the public good: The government makes policies that address a wide range of interests.

7. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 7 Section 2: Forms of Government Objectives: In what ways are monarchies, republics, and dictatorships different from one another? What are the advantages and disadvantages of unitary, federal, and confederal systems? What are the major advantages and disadvantages of presidential and parliamentary forms of government?

8. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 8 Section 2: Forms of Government Differences among monarchies, republics, and dictatorships: monarchies— power is based on inheritance republics—representatives are chosen by the people dictatorships—control is in the hands of a single person or small group

9. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 9 Section 2: Forms of Government Types of government systems: unitary—all legal power is held by the central government federal—legal powers are shared among national, state, and local governments confederal—independent states join together to accomplish common goals without a central government

10. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 10 Section 2: Forms of Government Differences between presidential and parliamentary forms of government: Presidential: The legislative and executive branches remain separate and independent of each other. The executive branch is headed by a president, who is chosen independently of the legislature and acts as head of state. Parliamentary: The executive branch is headed by a prime minister, who is chosen by the legislature. The chief executive and head of state are separate offices.

11. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 11 Section 3: Foundations of Democracy Objectives: What are the major principles of democracy? What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?

12. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 12 Section 3: Foundations of Democracy Principles of democracy: allowing choice recognizing individual worth promoting respect for the law protecting minority rights promoting the public good

13. A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON Role of Government 13 Section 3: Foundations of Democracy Difference between direct democracy and representative democracy: direct democracy—citizens make and vote on laws representative democracy—citizens elect representatives to make laws and run the government

14. HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT 14 Chapter Wrap-Up 1.How is government authority distributed in unitary, federal, and confederal systems? 2.What is legitimacy and where does a government get it? 3.What is the source of authority in a monarchy? in a democratic republic? in a dictatorship?

15. HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON A MERICAN GOVERNMENT HOLT 15 Chapter Wrap-Up 4.How does feudalism differ from an absolute monarchy? from a constitutional monarchy? 5.What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy? 6. Why is it important that democracy gives people the opportunity to make choices? Does equality of opportunity mean the same thing as equality of results? Why or why not?