American Government Chapter 1, Principles of Government

Ch1 Principles of Government, Sec 1, Government and the State What is Government? – Government is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. Every government has three basic powers. – Legislative Power (make laws) – Executive Power (execute, enforce, and administer the laws) – Judicial Power (interpret laws)

Ch1 Principles of Government, Sec 1, Government and the State How is a state defined? – Population – Defined Territory (land) – Sovereignty (has supreme and absolute power) – Government (politically organized)

Ch1 Principles of Government, Sec 1, Government and the State Origins of the State – The Force Theory The state was created through brute force – The Evolutionary Theory The state was developed naturally via the family – The Divine Right Theory The state was developed by “God” and the rulers (Kings and Queens) believed that their power was derived by birth- right. – The Social Contract Theory The state was developed through a “social contract” between the government and the people. The best example of this is the Constitution of the United States.

Ch1 Principles of Government, Sec 1, Government and the State The Purpose of Government (Preamble to the Constitution) – Form a More Perfect Union – Establish Justice – Insure Domestic Tranquility – Provide for the Common Defense – Promote the General Welfare – Secure the Blessings of Liberty

Ch1 Principles of Government, Sec 2, Forms of Government Three basic ways to classify governments – Who can participate – The geographic distribution of power within the state – The relationship between the legislative and executive branch

Ch1 Principles of Government, Sec 2, Forms of Government Who can participate in government – Democracy Supreme political authority belongs to the people – Dictatorship Autocracy is a government in which a single person holds unlimited power Oligarchy is a government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite group

Ch1 Principles of Government, Sec 2, Forms of Government Geographic Distribution of Power – Unitary Government Centralized government. – Federal Government Power is divided between a central government and several local governments (federalism) – Confederate Government An alliance of independent states

Ch1 Principles of Government, Sec 2, Forms of Government Relationship Between the Legislative and Executive Branches – Presidential Government The executive and legislative branches of government are separate. – Parliamentary Government The executive and legislative branches are combined The Prime Minister holds the duties of “our” President

Ch1 Principles of Government, Sec 3, Basic Concepts of Democracy Worth of the individual Equality of ALL people Majority rule, minority rights Necessity of compromise Individual freedom