 Principles of Government Chapter One Notes Updated 2015

What is Government?  What happens if there is NO government in a state/country?  What does a government provide for its people?

Government is… … is a group of people and agencies entrusted with making and carrying out laws & policies agreed on by the larger population.

What does government do for you?

Every government has 3 types of power!

Theories that existed at time of establishment of U.S. Gov.  Force Theory – claimed control over a territory & forced people to submit  Evolutionary Theory – primitive families allowed heads of families to rule  Divine Right Theory – God created the state & those with royal birth had  “divine right of kings”.

Divine Right- European Kings  People give up their “individual sovereignty” in exchange for the peace & to a monarchy-King with absolute power!  From Thomas Hobbes ( )  Humans had lived in a “state of nature” but entered the “Social Contract” out of necessity; gave power to a King in exchange for safety and services.

Idea of Natural Rights- Democracy  Rights that cannot be taken away  “God given rights”  Rights not from gov’t  From John Locke ( )  Declaration of Independence largely based on Locke- ideas of democracy over monarchy.  Jefferson: “life, liberty, pursuit of happiness”

Hobbes & Locke

Founding Fathers attempts to create government after independence from England. Articles of Confederation- Failed The Constitution- Exist today!

Preamble of Constitution 1 st line- We the people

Purpose of our Gov’t – stated in Preamble of Constitution  Form a More Perfect Union  help the states work together cooperatively  Establish Justice  citizens should be treated fairly  Insure Domestic Tranquility  maintain order within society

Purposes (con’t)  Provide for the Common Defense  Protect us against foreign enemies  Promote the General Welfare  provide services to benefit citizens  Secure the Blessings of Liberty  make sure that future generations continue to enjoy the same freedoms that we have

Citizens Duties= required

Preamble/Purpose of Government  Review/discussion two or three aspects of the preamble are the most important?  Review video clips  Discovery Education- John Locke  School House Rock, The Preamble School House Rock, The Preamble

Many different types of governments in the world!

Democracy  …in a Democracy – the citizens have the power & elect their political leaders  “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”  Two types of Democracies  Direct Democracy – people vote directly on policies- town meetings…  Representative Democracy/Indirect Democracy citizens elect leaders and then authorize those leaders to make decisions.

Dictators

 American Economic System Our economic system is based on similar principles to our political system of democracy. Both emphasize equality of opportunity and a belief in individual freedom. Free enterprise system.

Free Enterprise System  Other name for the US economic system or capitalism which is based on similar principles in our democracy  Private ownership; investments made by private decisions; success/ failure determined by competition in the market  Individual initiative, profit

Capitalism & Free Enterprise Economic System

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