Government and the State

What is government? Government- institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies Public Policies- all the things a government decides to do 3 Basic types of power Legislative Executive Judicial

The State State- a body of people, living in a defined territory, with a government, that can enforce laws without consent of higher authority Population Territory Sovereignty Government

Origin of the state Force Theory- created through force Evolutionary Theory- develop naturally from family model Divine Right Theory- god mad it, gave people right to rule Social contract Theory- agree to create state, out of necessity

The Purpose of Government Form a more perfect union Establish justice Provide for the common defense Promote the General welfare Secure blessings of Liberty

Classifying governments Who can participate Geographical distribution of power within the state Relationship between legislative and executive

Types of Government Democracy- supreme political authority rests with the people Direct Democracy- vote for laws directly Indirect (Republic)- vote for representatives Dictatorship- answers to self and not people Autocracy- single person unlimited power Oligarchy- ruled by elite

Geographical Distribution of power Unitary Government- centralized government Federal Government- governing powers divided between central and local governments Confederate Government- alliance of independent states

Legislative and Executive Branches Presidential Government- separation of powers between executive and legislative branches (coequal) Parliamentary Government- executive branch is prime minister and cabinet, they are members of the legislative branch, PM leader of majority party (or coalition)

Foundations of Democracy 1. fundamental worth and dignity of every person 2. respect for the equality of all persons 3. faith in majority rule and an insistence on minority rights 4. acceptance of the necessity of compromise 5. insistence upon the widest possible degree of individual freedom

Responsibilities and Duties of citizenship Jury duty Attend school Pay taxes Register for the draft Obey the law Responsibilities Voting Volunteering participating

Democracy and the free enterprise system Individual freedom regulation