{ Defining Government and Types of Government

Characteristics of Government Government Often has 3 kinds of power: legislative, executive, judicial Made up of people who have power over citizens Must have power to carry out policies Some kind of written constitution and laws Enforces public policies Institution that Provides order, security& protection to citizens

{ A State 1) Population 2) Territory 3) Sovereignty 4) Government

 Smallest=San Marino with 27,000 people (smaller than C’ville)  Doesn’t have to be homogenous Population—must have people but it doesn’t matter how many

 China—1.3 billion  India—1.2 billion   US--316,530,000  Indonesia—  Indonesia—237,641,326   Brazil--193,946,886   Pakistan   Nigeria   Bangladesh   Russia   Japan What are the top five countries in population?

 Largest=Russia with 6.6 million square miles  US=3.787,425 square miles  Smallest=Vatican City with.17 square miles Territory—must have known and recognized boundaries; includes water, land and air; often cause of conflict

Sovereignty—must have absolute power within its territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies

Government—must be politically organized; includes the machinery and the people that rule the state

So what’s the differences between The State and A State?

 Who gets to participate?  Democracy vs. Dictatorship Characterizing Governments

Democracy is…..

Characteristics of Democracy DEMOCRACY Majority rule and minority rights Govt. by and for the people Necessity of Compromise Worth of the individual Individual Freedom Everyone equal under the law

{ Democracy is …. a system of government in which the people rule either directly or through elected representatives

I: Popular Consent (popular sovereignty)  government derives its power from the consent of the people American Democracy: Basic Ideals & Principles

II: Respect for the Individual  each person has the right to reach their own potential  all entitled to “certain unalienable rights” American Democracy: Basic Ideals & Principles

III: Equality of Opportunity  “all men are created equal”  What kinds of equality should the government guarantee? Political? Economic? Social? American Democracy: Basic Ideals & Principles

IV: Personal Liberty  “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”  self-determination  “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.” American Democracy: Basic Ideals & Principles

V: Rule of Law  “a government of laws and not of men”  safeguard of liberty American Democracy: Basic Ideals & Principles

Fortunate Son Fortunate Son recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969) Fortunate Son Some folks are born made to wave the flag, ooh, they're red, white and blue. And when the band plays "Hail To Th Chief", oh, they point the cannon at you, Lord, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no, Some folks are born silver spoon in hand, Lord, don't they help themselves, oh. But when the taxman come to the door, Lord, the house look a like a rummage sale, yes, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son. It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no. Yeh, some folks inherit star spangled eyes, ooh, they send you down to war, Lord, And when you ask them, how much should we give, oh, they only answer, more, more, more, yoh, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no, It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no,

Is it patriotic or unpatriotic to protest a war? Explain.

Other types of political systems: Who gets to participate

Two types of democracy  Direct democracy—will of the people is translated into public policy directly by the people themselves in mass meetings  Representative democracy—a small group of persons chosen by the people to act as their representatives express the popular will

{ Oligarchy A government in which the power to rule is held by a small, usually self-appointed elite

{ Monarchy a form of government in which supreme authority is vested in a single and usually hereditary figure, such as a king or queen, and whose powers can vary from those of an absolute despot to those of a figurehead

{ Dictatorship A government ruled by a leader who has no responsibility to the will of the people. The government is not accountable for its policies, nor for how they are carried out.

 Unitary—one single government; usually creates local governments but only to do what the central government tells them to do; local governments are the minions of the central government  Federal—power is divided between a central government and several local governments; both levels of government act directly on the people  Confederation—alliance of independent states Categorizing by Geography

Categorizing by relationship between executive and judicial branches

 executive is made up of prime minster and cabinet.  All are also part of the legislative branch.  Prime minister is the leader of the majority party. S/he picks the cabinet and other legislators approve.  Prime minster is subject to control by legislators  Remain in office as long as they have support of legislators  New prime minster/cabinet can be picked or a new general election can be called  Advantage:  Disadvantage: Parliamentary

 Executive and legislative branches are separate, independent and co-equal  President is elected for a set term and has power not subject to control of legislative branch  Two branches have powers that can block the other  Advantage:  Disadvantage: Presidential