Origins of the State Unit 1

Warm-up Talk with your neighbor and come up with 4 necessary/ essential characteristics that are needed to define a state. We will discuss your answers in five minutes.

The State Country (Geographic term) or Nation (Ethnic term). Definition: A body of people living in a defined space with the power to make and enforce laws without having to check with any higher authority and with an organization to do this.

The 4 essential characteristics of a state. 1. Population – people who are members or citizens of a state. Size doesn’t matter Population has a large influence on the type of government chosen by the state. - Is the population rural or urban? - What do people do for jobs? - Do people get along on a general basis or do they disagree?

The 4 essential characteristics of a state. 2. Territory: the area in which a state’s rule applies A state must have set boundaries but they’re not always agreed upon. Example: Palestine/Israel Boundaries can change in 3 ways: 1. War- lose or gain territory 2. Negotiation- trading territory 3. Purchase- buy land from other state

The 4 essential characteristics of a state. 3. Sovereignty: the ability to rule absolutely within a given territory because of the states can set their own foreign policy and agendas. States are all equal in theory, but not in reality. *By "sovereignty" in its largest sense is meant supreme, absolute, uncontrollable power, the absolute right to govern.

The 4 essential characteristics of a state. Government: the organization that makes and enforces the laws. It has many roles that involve making public policy (laws and rules that affect the public) but there are four main ways their governing affects the public. ** its where the state exerts its will and works to accomplish its goals. A. Who makes up the government? - People who exercise the power; those who are giving the power or have control over the people

The 4 essential characteristics of a state. B. What does the government do? Creates public policy: taxes, education, defense, crime, healthcare, transportation, environment, civil rights, and working conditions. 1. Keeping order- making and enforcing laws- police force and court systems 2. Protecting the country- defending the country 3. Providing services- people who need help and keep people safe 4. Making economic decisions- how they’re going to spend the money. Make decisions about how the economy is going to function. Most public policy set by gov’t has do to with $$

The 4 essential characteristics of a state. What kind of power does the government have? 1. Legislative power 2. Executive power 3. Judicial power What should it not be allowed to do? - That is defined by a country’s constitution What would life be like without a government?