Principles of Government Chapter 1

Government & Its Purpose Government: institution people and processes by which nation state is ruled and makes public policy Nation State: political unit with a defined territory, under a government, with authority; national unit Territory Population Sovereignty Government

Purpose Sovereignty: free from outside interference Maintenance of public order Resolution of conflict Responsible for stable economy Provisions of public serve

Theoretical Origins of Government Evolution theory Force theory Divine right theory Social contract theory

Power and Forms of Government Elite: small, privileged group with disproportionate power Marxist theory by Karl Marx Power elite theory by C. Wright Mills Bureaucrats by Max Weber Pluralist theory

Forms of Government Geographic distribution Legislative / Executive Number who Participate

Geographic Distribution Unitary system Federal system Confederation system

Legislative / Executive Branches Parliamentary government: legislative Presidential government: executive

Number who Rule Rule by one Rule by a few Rule my many Absolute monarchy Dictatorship (tyrant) Rule by a few Aristocracy Theocracy oligarchy Political party Rule my many Direct democracy or participatory democracy Representative democracy Democratic centralism - rules to help the people