1. Principles of Government Chapter 1

2.  What would your lives be like if you had been free to do whatever you wanted without any parental oversight?  How are parents and government similar?  In Chapter 1, the role of government and how it affects people’s lives are discussed.

3. Government and the State:  What is Government? The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies  Public Policies – All of those things a government decides to do. All of those things a government decides to do.

4. Three Branches of Government:  Legislative Congress – MAKES LAWS Congress – MAKES LAWS  Executive President – ENFORCE LAWS President – ENFORCE LAWS  Judicial Courts – INTERPRET LAWS Courts – INTERPRET LAWS  Every government has and exercises these 3 powers

5. Powers of Government:  Constitution A body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government A body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government  Dictatorship Those whose rule is not held responsible by the people Those whose rule is not held responsible by the people  Democracy Supreme authority rests with the people Supreme authority rests with the people

6. The State:  Population – A state must have people  Territory – A state must have land  Sovereignty – A state has supreme and absolute power within its own territory and can decide its own foreign and domestic policies. It is neither subordinate nor responsible to any other authority.  Government – Every state is politically organized

7. Origins of the State:  Force Theory –one person gained control over an area and forced all within it to submit to his rule  Evolutionary Theory – state developed out of early family. Head of family was the govt. over years, becomes a network of related families. Clan to tribe. Tribe to the state.

8. Origins of the State (cont.)  Divine Right Theory – God created the state and gave royal families a divine right to rule (divine right of kings). People had to obey king or they would disobey God  Social Contract Theory – people agreed to give up to the state as much power as was needed for the safety of all. State began as voluntary act of free people. Most influenced the U.S. government.

9. Purpose of Government (Preamble of the Constitution)  Form a More Perfect Union (Strength)  Establish Justice (Is it equal for all?)  Insure Domestic Tranquility (Order)  Provide for the Common Defense (Security)  Promote the General Welfare (Services, school, food protection)  Secure the Blessings of Liberty  What is the overall purpose of U.S. government?

11. Best type of government?  With a partner, discuss: The class has been transported to an island or other isolated area, and must decide on a new type of government. Discuss the type of government you want, the functions it will perform, how it will benefit the people, and how leaders will be selected. Be ready to share your plans. The class has been transported to an island or other isolated area, and must decide on a new type of government. Discuss the type of government you want, the functions it will perform, how it will benefit the people, and how leaders will be selected. Be ready to share your plans.

12. Forms of Government:  Who Can Participate? Democracy – Political authority rests with the people. Democracy – Political authority rests with the people. Direct Democracy – Mass meetings -Does not exist today – Ancient Greek culture Direct Democracy – Mass meetings -Does not exist today – Ancient Greek culture Representative Democracy – small group of people chosen by the people act as representatives of the popular will. Voters can vote officials out of office. AKA indirect democracy Representative Democracy – small group of people chosen by the people act as representatives of the popular will. Voters can vote officials out of office. AKA indirect democracy Dictatorship – Those whose rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. Dictatorship – Those whose rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. Autocracy – single person holds unlimited political power. Autocracy – single person holds unlimited political power. Oligarchy – power to rule is held by a small, usually self- appointed elite. Power held by small groups of people Oligarchy – power to rule is held by a small, usually self- appointed elite. Power held by small groups of people

13. Geographic Distribution of Power:  (where is the power held?)  Unitary - Centralized government, where power held by one specific body. (Great Britain, State govts.)  Federal – Powers are divided between central and local/regional governments (federalism) – (U.S.)  Confederate – Alliance of Independent States; central govt. has only powers the member states assigned to it. Limited powers. (European Union, Articles of Confederation, Confederate States of America)

14. Relationship between Legislative and Executive Branches:  Presidential Government – Executive and Legislative Branches are SEPARATE! Separation of powers (U.S. is world’s leading example)  Parliamentary Government – The Executive Branch is made up of members from the Legislative Branch. Most govts. in the world are parliamentary. Avoids prolonged conflict of presidential govt. Lack of checks and balances  See chart on page 16

15.  Choose the 3 terms in the following list that describe the U.S. government:  Unitary  Federal  Confederate  Presidential  Parliamentary  Dictatorship  democracy

16. Basic Concepts of Democracy  Worth of the Individual  Equality of All Persons (opportunity and before the law)  Majority Rule, Minority Rights  Necessity of Compromise  Individual Freedom “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins” “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins” Title IX

17. Democracy and the Free Enterprise System  Economic system characterized by private ownership of businesses, individual initiative, profit, competition.  Law of Supply and Demand  Both democracy and free enterprise based on concept of individual freedom

18. Mixed Economy  Government participates to protect the public and preserve private enterprises  Combines capitalism with government regulation and promotion Economic activities regulated by govt. through food and drug laws, pollution laws, building ordinances, etc. Economic activities regulated by govt. through food and drug laws, pollution laws, building ordinances, etc. Economic activities promoted by grants, building roads, operating schools, etc. Economic activities promoted by grants, building roads, operating schools, etc.