Principles of Government Chapter 1

 I. Central Questions A. Is government necessary?A. Is government necessary? B. Is government in conflict with our individual nature?B. Is government in conflict with our individual nature? C. How should we be governed?C. How should we be governed?  1. Who holds power  2.Who creates policies  3.Who influences the government? D. What should government do?D. What should government do?  1. Does government do what we want it to do?  2. What is the scope of government?

 II. Overview of Government: what is similar A.G overnment, politics, and public policyA.G overnment, politics, and public policy  1.Definitions: a. Government IS THE STRUCTURE that makes and enforces public policy. a. Government IS THE STRUCTURE that makes and enforces public policy. b. Public policies: the outcomes of government (action or inaction)b. Public policies: the outcomes of government (action or inaction) c. Politics: Who gets what and how.

B. Four key institutions for all governments:  (1) Those who create the law  (2) Those who implement or carry out the law  (3) Those who interpret and apply the law  (4)B ureaucracies C. Every government changes leaders.  (1) Some peacefully  (2) Some violently

D. W hat governments doD. W hat governments do 1. maintain national defense. 1. maintain national defense. 2. provide public goods. 2. provide public goods. 3. police powers. 3. police powers. 4. provide public services. 4. provide public services. 5. socialize their young into the political culture. 5. socialize their young into the political culture. 6. collect taxes to pay for the services they provide. 6. collect taxes to pay for the services they provide.

 III. Types of Governments: what is different A. Distribution of Power: Who Holds the Power?A. Distribution of Power: Who Holds the Power?  1. Unitary Government -- Power is held in a single, central agency.  2. Federal Government -- Powers are divided between a central and local governments.  3.Confederation -- An alliance of independent states. B. What is done with the Power: Relationship Between Legislature and Executive Branches.B. What is done with the Power: Relationship Between Legislature and Executive Branches.  1. Presidential Government — Features a separation of powers.  2. Parliamentary Government — Members of the executive branch are also members of the legislative branch (the parliament).

C. Who Can Participate?C. Who Can Participate?  1. Autocracy: Dictatorship, Monarchy — exercise absolute authority over the people.  2. Oligarchy: small group of people hold the power.  3. Democracy: sovereignty is located with the people who hold the power and give consent to the government to rule. a. Direct democracy: Will of people translated into public policy directly by people themselves, in mass meetings.. a. Direct democracy: Will of people translated into public policy directly by people themselves, in mass meetings.. b. Representative democracy: Small group of people elected by the people to act on their behalf to express their will. b. Representative democracy: Small group of people elected by the people to act on their behalf to express their will.

 IV. Economic Systems A. Three questionsA. Three questions  1.What is produced?  2.How is it produced?  3. For whom is it produced? B. Traditional Economies function as they always haveB. Traditional Economies function as they always have C. Command Economy- A central power answers all questionsC. Command Economy- A central power answers all questions D. Capitalism - Free EnterpriseD. Capitalism - Free Enterprise  1. Adam Smith: traditional founder?? 2. private ownership  3. Compete for profit. Rewards for risk and initiative

E. Mixed Economy- Private Enterprise is combined and supported by govt. regulation and promotionE. Mixed Economy- Private Enterprise is combined and supported by govt. regulation and promotion F. Socialism : Economic CollectionismF. Socialism : Economic Collectionism  1. public ownership  2. plan which goods are produced  3.nationalizes key enterprises  5. people share many of their economic desires  6. distribution of wealth and opportunity

G. Communism- Karl Marx Communist ManifestoG. Communism- Karl Marx Communist Manifesto  1. Against Capitalism because it causes revolution. a.Labor Value EXPLOITATION IS SYSTEMICa.Labor Value EXPLOITATION IS SYSTEMIC  Workers are actually paid less than their worth (i.e. enough to live on) b.Surplus Value (that money not paid to the workers) becomes profit (i.e. capital).b.Surplus Value (that money not paid to the workers) becomes profit (i.e. capital). c. fewer jobs because of increase in technology d. Separation of workers from the fruits of labor (products)creates alienation e. This is dehumanizing. f.Results: Class Warfare (Conflict is the motor for progress)f.Results: Class Warfare (Conflict is the motor for progress)  2. Major emphasis is on HUMANITY