BASIC POLITICAL THEORY AND HISTORICAL ROOTS

What is Government?  Government- Is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies. Among the oldest of all human inventions Every government has and exercises (3) basic kinds of power. 1. Legislative Power The power to make law and public policy 2. Executive Power The power to enforce law 3. Judicial Power -The power to interpret laws (to determine their meaning) -To settle disputes that arise within the society

The Basic Unit  The foundational political unit in the world is the state  A body of people in a territory organized politically and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority  Examples: Mexico, Russia, Canada, the United States are all states

The 4 Characteristics of a State  Population  Territory  Sovereignty  Government

How Did States Evolve?  Theory #1 - Force  One group took control by force and imposed their will upon others

How Did States Evolve?  Theory #2 – Evolutionary  Heads of families became heads of clans as the families grew, eventually leading to a network of tribes that formed states

How Did States Evolve?  Theory #3 – Divine Right  15 th through 18 th centuries, Western world believed God gave certain people a “ divine right” to rule over others

How Did States Evolve?  Theory #4 – Social Contract  Theory was developed by John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean Jacque Rousseau John Locke ( )

How Did States Evolve?  Theory #4 – Social Contract  Free people decided to form states to keep themselves safe John Locke ( )

SO WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

The Big Deal is: If people formed states to serve their own interests, then government exists to serve the people

Philosophers Evolutionary Theory  Aristotle B.C  Believed the state evolved from family  Gov’t exists for moral ends  Gov’t promotes a life of integrity & higher learning  Gov’t to protect property

Philosophers Divine Right theory  William Blackstone  Wrote “Commentaries on the laws of England”  Believed laws of human nature/nature are created by God  Believed the “King can do no wrong”

Social Contract Theory  Thomas Hobbes  Gov’t is required to bring societal order  People lived in a state of nature (chaos)  Promoted equality  However, people are selfish  Gov’t must police selfish people  “Correct the offender, not ‘ eye for an eye ’”

Social Contract Theory __________ _____________: -ENGLISH PHILOSOPHER ( ) -CHALLENGED THE BELIEF THAT KINGS HAD A ____ RIGHT TO RULE. -ARGUED THAT PEOPLE HAVE ______ _____ THESE RIGHTS INCLUDE: 1. __________ 2. __________ 3. __________ John Locke divine Natural rights life liberty property

John Locke  Locke argues that people have the right to _______ a government that does not protect their natural rights.  Locke argues that a _______ _____________exists between the ________ (the people) and the government. This contract says: The government will ________ the people’s rights and in return the people will agree to follow the laws of the government. protect change Social contract governed

Government Agrees to protect Natural Rights People Agree to follow The rules of The government If the Government denies the people their rights than the people have the right to Rebel. People will have to give up some of their freedoms The Big Question: How much of your freedom are you willing to give up?

John Locke  John Locke’s ideas on rights and the role of government can be seen in the _____________ ___ _______________ Declaration of Independence “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government”

John Locke  John Locke’s ideas on natural law can be found in the ________________ under the _________ amendment.  No person shall be deprived ______, _______, or __________ without due process of law Constitution 5th Life Liberty Property

Philosophers Social Contract  Jean Jacques Rousseau  Wrote “The Social Contract”  We like order & stability > chaos  Man intentionally gives up some freedom to join society

________ ___ _____________: -French Philosopher ( ) -Said that ________ within a government has to be treated very carefully. -He argued that government should _______ or separate power and that each part should ______ on each other to keep power ________. Baron de Montesquieu power divide check balanced Montesquieu

 The _______ ________ took his advice and have divided its government into ____ parts of branches. They are the:  ___________-Makes the laws  ___________-Enforces the laws  ___________-Decides the law This is known as ___________ of ____________ Each branch has certain powers but another branch often HAS to _______ on their power to make sure their actions are good for the _________ and that power is __________. United States 3 Legislative Executive Judicial check nationbalanced Separation Powers

3 Branches of Government

Montesquieu  List 2 ideas of Montesquieu that can be found in our Constitution: Separation of Powers 3 branches of government -legislative, executive, judicial Checks and balances

Purpose of Government  Based on the social contract theory, the purpose of American government is to:  Form a More Perfect Union  Establish Justice  Insure Domestic Tranquility  Provide for the Common Defense  Promote the General Welfare  Secure the Blessings of Liberty

Classifying Governments: When classifying we classify into 3 parts: I. Who can participate? II. The geographic distribution of governmental power III. The relationship between legislative and executive branches.  I. Who Can Participate A. Democracy - “Government of the people, by the people, for the people”  Direct - people make policy themselves  Indirect - people vote for others who will make policy (also called republic )

 Classified based on Who Can Participate B. Dictatorship – government is not accountable to anyone  Autocracy – single person holds unlimited power  Oligarchy – a small, self-appointed group rules

II. Classified based on Geographic Distribution of Power A. Unitary – one national government, smaller lower units have no say in policy  Examples : Israel, Great Britain, France

 Classified based on Geographic Distribution of Power B. Federal – smaller units share power with the central national government  Examples : Mexico, Canada, Australia

 Classified based on Geographic Distribution of Power C. Confederal – smaller regional governments hold the most power, united by a weak central government  Examples : European Union, Confederate States

III. Classified based on Relationship between Legislative & Executive A. Presidential – Separately elect Executive and Legislative branch members

 Parliamentary – Executive is chosen from the Legislative branch

Basic Concepts of Democracy  Worth of the Individual  Equality of All Persons  Not necessarily equal conditions, but strive for equal opportunity

Basic Concepts of Democracy  Majority Rule, Minority Rights  Necessity of Compromise  Individual Freedom

Free Enterprise aka Capitalism  Free Enterprise is the economic system that allows most democracies to work.

Free Enterprise  Four factors of a free enterprise system: 1. Private ownership 2. Individual initiative 3. Profit 4. Competition

How it Works  The Law of Supply and Demand  When supply is high or demand is low, prices are low  When supply is low or demand is high, prices are high  These are market forces. If consumers want things or not, consumers decide…

Where does Government Fit in?  Government always plays a role in regulating an economy  Governments can fully control an economy, or let it be free  The U.S. uses a mixed economy, to protect the public and preserve private ownership