1. Basic Political Theory and Historical Roots

2. What is Government?
Government- Is the institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.
Among the oldest of all human inventions
Every government has and exercises (3)
basic kinds of power.
1. Legislative Power
The power to make law and public policy
2. Executive Power
The power to enforce law
3. Judicial Power
-The power to interpret laws (to determine their meaning)
-To settle disputes that arise within the society

3. The Basic Unit
The foundational political unit in the world is the state
A body of people in a territory organized politically and with the power to make and enforce law without the consent of any higher authority
Examples: Mexico, Russia, Canada, the United States are all states

4. The 4 Characteristics of a State
Population
Territory
Sovereignty
Government

5. How Did States Evolve? Theory #1 - Force
One group took control by force and imposed their will upon others

6. How Did States Evolve? Theory #2 – Evolutionary
Heads of families became heads of clans as the families grew, eventually leading to a network of tribes that formed states

7. How Did States Evolve? Theory #3 – Divine Right
15th through 18th centuries, Western world believed God gave certain people a “divine right” to rule over others

8. How Did States Evolve? Theory #4 – Social Contract
Theory was developed by John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean Jacque Rousseau
John Locke ( )

9. How Did States Evolve? Theory #4 – Social Contract
Free people decided to form states to keep themselves safe
John Locke ( )

10. SO WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

11. The Big Deal is:
If people formed states to serve their own interests, then government exists to serve the people

12. Philosophers Evolutionary Theory
Aristotle B.C
Believed the state evolved from family
Gov’t exists for moral ends
Gov’t promotes a life of integrity & higher learning
Gov’t to protect property

13. Philosophers Divine Right theory
William Blackstone
Wrote “Commentaries on the laws of England”
Believed laws of human nature/nature are created by God
Believed the “King can do no wrong”

14. Social Contract Theory
Thomas Hobbes
Gov’t is required to bring societal order
People lived in a state of nature (chaos)
Promoted equality
However, people are selfish
Gov’t must police selfish people
“Correct the offender, not ‘eye for an eye’”

15. Social Contract Theory
__________ _____________:
-English philosopher ( )
-Challenged the belief that kings had
a ____ right to rule.
-Argued that people have ______ _____
these rights include: 1. __________
2. __________
3. __________
John Locke
divine
Natural rights
life
liberty
property

16. John Locke change Social contract governed protect
Locke argues that people have the right to
_______ a government that does not protect their natural rights.
Locke argues that a _______ _____________exists between the ________ (the people) and the government. This contract says:
The government will ________ the people’s rights and in return the people will agree to follow the laws of the government.
change
Social contract
governed
protect

17. The Social Contract Theory
People
will have
to give up
some of
their
freedoms
Government
Agrees to protect
Natural Rights
People
Agree to follow
The rules of
The government
The Big
Question:
How much
of your
freedom
are you
willing to
give up?
If the Government denies
the people their rights than
the people have the right to Rebel.

18. Declaration of Independence
John Locke
John Locke’s ideas on rights and the role of government can be seen in the _____________ ___ _______________
Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government”

19. John Locke Constitution 5th Liberty Life Property
John Locke’s ideas on natural law can be found in the ________________ under the _________ amendment.
No person shall be deprived ______, _______, or __________ without due process of law
Constitution
5th
Liberty
Life
Property

20. Philosophers Social Contract
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Wrote “The Social Contract”
We like order & stability > chaos
Man intentionally gives up some freedom to join society

21. Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu power divide check balanced
________ ___ _____________:
-French Philosopher ( )
-Said that ________ within a
government has to be treated very
carefully.
-He argued that government should
_______ or separate power and that
each part should ______ on each
other to keep power ________.
Baron de Montesquieu
power
divide
check
balanced

22. Montesquieu United States 3 Legislative Executive Judicial
The _______ ________ took his advice and have divided its government into ____ parts of branches. They are the:
___________-Makes the laws
___________-Enforces the laws
___________-Decides the law
This is known as ___________ of ____________
Each branch has certain powers but another branch often HAS to _______ on their power to make sure their actions are good for the _________ and that power is __________. 3
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Separation
Powers
check
nation
balanced

23. 3 Branches of Government

24. Montesquieu Separation of Powers 3 branches of government
List 2 ideas of Montesquieu that can be found in our Constitution: 1. 2.
Separation of Powers
3 branches of government
-legislative, executive, judicial
Checks and balances

25. Purpose of Government
Based on the social contract theory, the purpose of American government is to:
Form a More Perfect Union
Establish Justice
Insure Domestic Tranquility
Provide for the Common Defense
Promote the General Welfare
Secure the Blessings of Liberty

26. Classifying Governments: When classifying we classify into 3 parts:
I. Who can participate?
II. The geographic distribution of governmental power
III. The relationship between legislative and executive
branches.
I. Who Can Participate
A. Democracy - “Government of the people, by the people, for the people”
Direct - people make policy themselves
Indirect - people vote for others who will make policy (also called republic)

27. Classified based on Who Can Participate
B. Dictatorship – government is not accountable to anyone
Autocracy – single person holds unlimited power
Oligarchy – a small, self-appointed group rules

28. II. Classified based on Geographic Distribution of Power
A. Unitary – one national government, smaller lower units have no say in policy
Examples : Israel, Great Britain, France

29. Classified based on Geographic Distribution of Power
B. Federal – smaller units share power with the central national government
Examples : Mexico, Canada, Australia

30. Classified based on Geographic Distribution of Power
C. Confederal – smaller regional governments hold the most power, united by a weak central government
Examples : European Union, Confederate States

31. III. Classified based on Relationship between Legislative & Executive
A. Presidential – Separately elect Executive and Legislative branch members

32. Parliamentary – Executive is chosen from the Legislative branch

34. Basic Concepts of Democracy
Worth of the Individual
Equality of All Persons
Not necessarily equal conditions, but strive for equal opportunity

35. Basic Concepts of Democracy
Majority Rule, Minority Rights
Necessity of Compromise
Individual Freedom

36. Free Enterprise aka Capitalism
Free Enterprise is the economic system that allows most democracies to work.

37. Free Enterprise Four factors of a free enterprise system:
1. Private ownership
2. Individual initiative
3. Profit
4. Competition

38. How it Works The Law of Supply and Demand
When supply is high or demand is low, prices are low
When supply is low or demand is high, prices are high
These are market forces. If consumers want things or not, consumers decide…

39. Where does Government Fit in?
Government always plays a role in regulating an economy
Governments can fully control an economy, or let it be free
The U.S. uses a mixed economy, to protect the public and preserve private ownership