Roots of Government

What is Government A government is the formal instrument or vehicle through which policies are made and the business of the state are conducted.

Philosophies of Government Prior to U.S. most countries in Europe were run by a king. During the Enlightenment, people began to question the “divine right” of kings. Q: What is meant by “Divine Right”? Two English philosophers and one French philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau espoused the “social contract theory – requires all people to give their consent to be governed.

Social Contract – An agreement between the people and the government signifying their consent to be governed. Mayflower Compact – Document written by the Pilgrims enumerating the scope of their government and its expectations of citizens.

Thomas Hobbes One of two English social contract theorists. Without government life would be chaos. “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” Struggle to survive against the evil of others. Therefore, governments had to step on peoples rights and liberties: to control society. To provide safeguards for property. Single ruler to protect weak against the strong.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau More optimistic about the state of nature. Man has been corrupted by governments. Governments were a source of power and inequality which cause human alienation and corruption. The inequality in our lives would have been avoided by preserving the simple and solitary life that nature intended for us.

John Locke His position is between Hobbes and Rousseau. Social contract to replace state of nature with a system of government. Believed in chief executive to administer laws. This person should be limited by law or “social contract” with the people governed. Natural rights of men – Life, liberty, property Thomas Jefferson based the Declaration on Locke’s arguments.

These philosophies and debates about government underlie current debates about the appropriate role of government. 1. Government is the solution to human needs and problems. 2. Government is often part of the problem. 3. Government creates the social order that protects its citizens. 4. Government limits our freedoms.

Purposes of Government Community and nation-building – common language, norms and values, national identity. Security and Order – internal and external Protecting rights – social rights, political rights, economic property rights. Locke considered property rights of extreme importance for a prosperous community. Promoting Economic Efficiency and Growth – can ease results of market failure.

Provide public goods ( clean air, national defense ) Control externalities – costs not borne by the producer or consumer ex. Effects of toxic waste. Social Justice – redistribute wealth and resources. Protecting the weak – protect individuals and groups that cannot speak for themselves.

Types of Government Direct Democracy – members of the polity (decision makers) meet to discuss policy decisions and agree to majority rule. Indirect Democracy – citizens elect representatives to govern on their behalf. Authoritarian systems – policy makers chosen by someone other than the citizens. Monarchy – rule by hereditary kings. Totalitarian – leader who rules in his own self- interest.

Oligarchy – participation is conditioned by wealth or property, or privilege.