1. Ch. 1 - Principles of Govt What is Government? Govt is the institution through which a society makes & enforces its laws & rules 3 Pwrs of every govt: 1.Legislative – make laws 2.Executive – enforce laws 3.Judicial – interpret laws

2. 4 Features of a State (Independent Country): 1. Stable population – states w/ political & social consensus, or agreement, are the most stable 2. Territory w/ recognized boundaries 3. Sovereignty - having supreme & absolute pwr w/in own territory & can decide own foreign & domestic policies 4. Code of Laws or Govt Govt = institution; Politics = process What then keeps each of our 50 States from being independent countries?

3. Origins of Government: 1. Force Theory – born out of force; one person or small group claimed control 2. Evolutionary Theory – developed naturally from family; network of related families (clans, tribes) 3. Divine Right Theory – God had given those of royal birth a “divine right” to rule.

4. 4. Social Contract Theory – started out w/ no authority; only as safe as your own physical strength & intelligence could make you; an agreement to give up perfect freedom in exchange for safety & well-being of all; (Hobbes, Harrington, Locke, Rousseau) “Live Together, Die Alone;” a voluntary act of free people.

5. 6 Purposes of Govt (Preamble) 1. Form a More Perfect Union – “In Union there is Strength” Colonies had been quarreling 2. Establish Justice – “The most sacred of the duties of government” – Jefferson. Justice must be reasonable, fair, & impartial Describe the statue you can see on a court building.

7. 3. Insure Domestic Tranquility – Keeping the peace at home; order is essential for any society 4. Provide for the Common Defense – defend the nation against foreign enemies; mentioned more often in the Const. than any other policy 5. Promote the General Welfare – Gov’t acts as a servant to its citizens; public education, FDA, Fire/Police Dept. 6. Secure the Blessings of Liberty – Preserve & protect our freedom, each generation must learn and understand them anew, & be willing to stand up for them when necessary.

8. Systems of Govt Unitary government is centralized. All powers held by govt are held by a single central agency - most governments; ex. Great Britain; Parliament is the central organization Federal government - powers are divided b/t central & several local governments (ie States) Confederacy is an alliance of independent states; many states can cooperate in matters of common concern - rare today; closest ex. Is the European Union

9. Types of Govt autocracy – rule by one person; oldest & most common (dictatorship) monarchy – rule by king, queen, or emperor - absolute monarchs – inherited; unlimited power (king of Saudi Arabia) - constitutional monarch – share power w/ elected officials; ceremonial leaders (Britain, Japan) - voters elect the Legislature; then the Chief Executive is appointed from the Legislature oligarchy – rule by a few persons; power comes from wealth, military power, or social position

10. Dictatorship vs. Democracy A dictatorship exists where those who rule cannot be held responsible to the will of the people. - authoritarian; absolute & unchallengeable - the oldest & most common form of government In a democracy, authority rests with the people; government is conducted only w/ the consent of the governed - direct democracy – the will of the people is translated into policy by the people themselves - indirect democracy – representative democracy; small group chosen by the people to make policy

11. Favorable Conditions for Democracy - Active Citizen Participation – have the ability to vote, educate yourself about issues, serve on juries, work for candidates, & run for office - Favorable Economy – control of your own economic decisions provides foundation for political decisions - Widespread Education - Strong Civil Society – network of voluntary associations, economic groups, religious groups, special interests, etc. - a way for citizens to voice concerns & protect rights - Social Consensus – a general agreement about the purpose and limits of govt

12. Basic Concepts of Democracy 1) Worth of the Individual – a recognition of the fundamental worth & dignity of every person 2) Equality of All Persons – all men are created equal; equality of opportunity; equality before the law Do you think the founders really meant all men? 3) Majority Rule & Minority Rights – - the will of the people dictate public policy - majority will be right more often than wrong - may not always arrive at best decision - try to find satisfactory solutions to public problems - majority rule restrained by minority rights.

13. 4) Necessity of Compromise – finding the position most acceptable to the largest number; the process of blending & adjusting competing views & interests. 5) Individual Freedom – democracy cannot insist on complete freedom for the people (anarchy). -Finding proper balance b/t freedom for the individual & the rights of society is not easy. -Govt authority must meet the needs of society w/o becoming so great that it restricts beyond necessity -Like holding a dove

14. Role of Economic Systems All govt types must answer 3 questions: 1. What to produce? 2. How to produce it? 3. Who gets it? What do Americans typically believe about “who gets it”? - Capitalism – (free enterprise) includes private ownership & control of property, competition, freedom of choice, possibility of profit - Mixed-Market – free enterprise combined w/ govt - Socialism – govt owns the basic means of production, distributes products & wages, distribute wealth equally - Communism – 1 social class, property shared or held in common, (command economy) govt decides all 3 questions