FOUNDATIONS OF GOVERNMENT Chapter 1

SECTION 1 – THE PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT What is Government? Why do we need it? Characteristics of State: a political unit with the power to make and enforce laws over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory. Population Territory Government Sovereignty– power; independence;

FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT Security Maintain Order Resolve Conflict Provide Service Provide for the Public Good THEORIES OF RULE Divine Right – ruler chose by God Natural Law and Natural Rights – rational order and human behavior Social Contract Theory - Agreeing among yourselves to allow yourself to be governed.

PHILOSOPHERS Hobbes – Leviathan = “state of nature” without government or laws. John Locke – government is a product of social contract. Even in a state of nature they are governed by natural laws they consent to. Limited government – life liberty and property need to be protected from the government Rousseau – state of nature people were happy and it was government that corrupted human condition and introduced inequality. The Social Contract (1762) – only solution is a social contract based government that responded to the will of the people.

SECTION 2 – FORMS OF GOVERNMENT

MONARCHY Inherit the thrown Supreme authority Absolute – unlimited and unchecked Autocracy – one person rules

DICTATORSHIP One person or small group has control Often violent Usually authoritarian Most extreme form is TOTALITARIAN All aspects of life Nazi Germany Oligarchy – rule of few, small group Often theocracies – religion

DEMOCRACY “demos” = people Direct – like in ancient Greece Republic – aka indirect or representative like the US

UNITARY AND FEDERAL Unitary governments - uni- means one. Federal – government is divided and power is shared locally and nationally c

PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY One president chosen by the people with a separate legislative branch Parliamentary systems do not show a division between the executive and legislative branches.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF DEMOCRACY AND PURPOSES OF GOVERNMENT… IDEALS Liberty Equality Self Governance PRINCIPLES 1. Fundamental worth of the individual – free to live life people can reach their highest potential 2. Rule of Law – limits on power 3. Majority Rule/Minority rights – minority rights are protected against the majority 4. Necessity of Compromise – give up a little and come to an agreement 5. Citizen Participation – self-government requires participation; citizens must be informed FREE ENTERPRISE – make own economic choices.

DO WE HAVE A DEMOCRACY? Majoritarian theory Elitist theory Pluralist theory Bureaucratic theory

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS If citizens are fit to select political leaders, why may they be unfit to govern themselves without such leaders? What is the difference between power, authority and legitimacy? What is democracy, and why is democracy alone not sufficient to protect people?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT U.S. political culture and political socialization help create shared fundamental values including liberty (freedom), equality, private property and order. The dilemma of modern government is to balance freedom, order and equality. The changing face of America – aging and ethnic changes, family structure and education…what will the impact be on politics?

POLITICAL SPECTRUM

PURPOSE OF GOV’T - PREAMBLE P. 29 #9 – Read the preamble; What are the purposes of government? Explain each statement. Chapter 1 Review Ch. 29 #1-7