Ch. 1 Notes GOVERNMENT BASICS

I. Government – Development of the state population – territory – sovereignty – government -

II. How states developed Force Theory – Divine Right of Kings – Social Contract – Enlightenment philosophers – natural laws - purpose of gov’t – contract – written document – role of the state -

III. Purpose of Gov’t

I. Government – Development of the state population – territory – with recognized boundaries sovereignty – independent and absolute; doesn’t have to answer to anyone else government – individual or group authorized to make and enforce rules for the state

II. How states developed Force Theory – individual who takes power through armed force; constant struggle to keep power = little personal liberty Divine Right of Kings – ruler chosen by God; to question the laws was to question God Social Contract – Enlightenment philosophers – Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau; movement towards human ability to reason, less focus on divine natural laws – people born into state of pure freedom purpose of gov’t – gov’t agrees to protect individuals from one another we agree to let the gov’t make laws contract – written document – a written contract protects us from abuse by the govt and outlines responsibilities of citizens; both parties must agree to any changes role of the state – the state exists to serve the people and derives all power from the people