1. Government and the State
Chapter 1
Government and the State
American Government
Magruder’s American Government Chapter 1

2. Why government?
Do you think society needs a government? Why or why not?
What are the main differences between a dictatorship and a democratic form of government?
Do you remember the three parts of the US government?
Chapter 1 Section 1

3. Government and Politics
Government includes the institutions that make and enforce public policies.
It is made up of people who have authority and control over people.
Politics is the process of resolving disputes.
According to Harold Laswell,“ Politics is who gets what, when, and how.”

4. The State
We often use the term state and country to mean the same thing.
A state is a body of people living in a defined territory.
A state is organized with a government with the power to enforce laws.

5. Sovereignty
Every state is sovereign, meaning it has power within its own territory.
A state can decide its own domestic and foreign policies.
A democracy, where people make decisions, has popular sovereignty.

6. Forms of Government Dictatorship Democracy
A government ruled by a single all powerful ruler
Although similar to an absolute monarch, a dictator does not inherit power
A dictator takes power through force or persuasion (e.g. Hitler)
Rule by the people
Originated in Greece and Rome
A republic is a democratic government in which people elect representatives

7. Theories of Government
Monarchy
Democracy
Divine Right of Kings
Monarchs rule with power from God
Social Contract Theory
State is created to serve the people..
Written Laws are a Constitution.
People can vote to change a government

8. Preamble of US Constitution Outlines Purpose of Government
Create a union of states
Establish justice with fair laws
Insure domestic tranquility, fair laws
Provide for common defense
Promote general welfare: services
Secure blessings of liberty: individual freedoms
Chapter 1
American Government

9. Three Parts of Government
US established three branches of government:
Legislative branch makes the laws
Executive branch carries out the laws
Judicial branch interprets the laws.

10. The US is a Federal System of Government
The Founders made the US a federal system of government in which power is shared between the national government and the states.
Chapter 1 Section 2

11. National and State Power
State Powers
National Power
The US Constitution grants the national or federal government to be in charge of:
Coining Money
Interstate Commerce
Raising an Army
Declaring War
The 10th amendment to the Constitution states that powers not belonging to the federal government are reserved for the states such as:
Police Powers
The running of schools

12. Confederate Forms of Government
A confederate form of government gives supremacy to the states and not the national authority.
Prior to the US Constitution the US had a weak central government under the Articles of Confederation.

13. Unitary Forms of Government
A unitary form of government is one in which the national government has power over the local governments.
National policy is carried out by regional and local governments.
For example, in Britain and France the central government dictates school policy
In the US, most school policy is up to the states and the local school boards.

14. The US has a Presidential System Britain has a Parliamentary system
The British Parliament chooses the Prime Minister.

15. Basic Concepts of Democracy
Worth of the Individual
Individual Freedom
Equality of all persons
Majority Rule
Minority Rights
Necessity of Compromise
Chapter 1 Section 3

16. Free Enterprise or Capitalism
Private ownership of businesses
The profit motive
Competition in the market place
Individual initiative
Chapter 1 Section 3

17. Government and Markets
Government regulation of business
We don’t have pure capitalism but a mixed economy
Government builds roads, schools, and provides services

18. Democracy and Capitalism
Do individual freedom and economic freedom go hand in hand?
Must a democratic government have a capitalist economic system?
Can dictatorships be capitalist? (e.g China)
Can socialist countries be democratic? (e.g Sweden)
How much is our political system dependent upon our economic system?