Intro to Government Chapter One
What is Government? Formal vehicle through which polices are made and affairs of state are conducted Governments include: Lawmakers (creators) Executives (implementers) Judges (interpreters and appliers) A “state” is a body of people living within a defined territory, organized politically (under a govt) and having the power to make and enforce laws w/o the consent of a higher authority
Sovereignty Sovereign states determine their own form of government. They have supreme, absolute power of a state within its own territory
Origin of the “state” 1. Force theory: person/group forced control over an area and individs. 2. Evolutionary theory: state originated in the family 3. Divine right: God gave individs or groups the right to rule 4. Social Contract theory: ppl agreed to give power to the state in return for the state’s service to the general well-being of the ppl
Types of Government Monarchy: Power is vested in hereditary lines who rule Totalitarianism: power resides in a leader who rules according to self-interest, w/o regard for individ. Rights and liberties Oligarchy: Right to participate dpends on the possession of wealth, social status, military position, or achievement Anarchy: total lack of govt
Types of Govt: Democracies Democracy: gives power to the ppl Direct democracy: will of ppl translated into public policy directly by ppl themselves, in mass meetings. DOES NOT EXIST (on a national level) Indirect (representative) democracy: small group of ppl elected by the ppl to act on their behalf express their popular will. Held accountable thru elections
Distribution of Power results in Different kinds of Democratic Governments Unitary governments: power is held in a single, central agency. Local govt is created by the central govt for convenience and answers directly to the central govt. Most common kind of govt. Federal govt: powers divided b/w a central govt and local govts, each with their own set of laws, officials, and agencies Confederation: alliance of independent states. Has little authority, and limited power.
Popular Consent… Govts draw their power from the consent of the governed Based on the premise of: 1.Majority is more often right than wrong. Majority have the “right” to be wrong, thus majority rule Majority rule: only policies that collectively garner the support of a majority of voters will be made into law 2. Democracy searches for satisfactory solutions to public problems. Can be trail and error. Democracy recognizes that solutions to public problems can be improved
3. Majority must recognize the right of the minority, by fair and lawful means, to become the majority. Majority must be willing to listen to and consider the minorities argument, and welcome its suggestions. Minority rights – rights guaranteed to those that are not part of the majority – must be protected as well
Our Government was/is based on that. Also: Democracy is based on… 1. Equality of opportunity, not necessarily equality of condition 2. Equality before law 3. No one should be held back for reasons of race, color, culture, religion, or gender
Individual Freedoms… Freedom cannot be absolute, or anarchy will result Anarchy leads to rule by the strongest, best armed, and ruthless American democracy strives to strike a balance b/w liberty and authority Each individual must be as free to do as he or she pleases as far as freedom of all will allow
Contemporary Theories of Democratic Govt Pluralism: groups with similar interests work together to create public policy As such, policymaking is open, with no single group dominating, and allowing access across multiple avenues
Contemp Theories Hyperpluralism – pluralism gone wrong. The many competing groups have grown too strong, weakening the government
Contemp theories: Elitism – Upper class elite holds the power and makes the policy, regardless of government organization 1% of the U.S. population contains 1/3 of the income. Who is funding these groups and politicians? And who are these 1%?