1. Principles of Government Mr. Reed
Unit 1 Chapter 1 Section 1
Principles of Government
Mr. Reed

2. The State
State- a body of people living in a defined territory, organized politically, with the power to make and enforce laws

3. The State
Nation-state- when the boundaries of a state and nation are the same

4. Essentials Features of a State
There are four common essential features that make up a state in today’s society
Population
Territory
Sovereignty
Government

5. Population Most obvious, how many people, what do they look like, etc
Also affects stability, if pop shares a general political and social consensus, agreement about basic beliefs, then government is usually stable
Also affected by mobility

6. Territory Basically what they own, what are there boundaries
Usually a source of major conflict
May change as a result of:
War
Negotiations
purchase

7. Sovereignty Key to being a state
Means that state has the supreme and absolute authority within its territorial boundaries
No state has right to interfere with other state (in theory)

8. Government
Institution through which the state maintains social order, provides public services, and enforces decisions on all people living within the state
Derive power from two sources:
Legitimacy- willingness to obey the government
Coercive force- police, judicial, and military institutions

9. Theories of the Origin of the State
Evolutionary Theory- Head family serves as authority, until they eventually needed more organization

10. Theories of the Origin of the State
Force Theory- government emerged when all the people of an area were brought under the authority of one person or group.

11. Theories of the Origin of the State
Divine Right Theory- god or gods had chosen certain people to rule.
To oppose was to oppose a god or gods and to commit sin and treason

12. Theories of the Origin of the State
Social Contract Theory- theory that by contract, people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order and the state, in turn agrees to protect its citizens
Important People: John Locke and Thomas Hobbes

13. Social Contract Theory

14. Essential Needs of a Government (6)
From beginning

15. The Purposes of Government
Government has many purposes, but they will all fall somewhere under these four
Maintaining social order
Providing Public Service
Providing National Security
Making Economic Decisions

16. Maintaining Social Order
People cannot live in groups without conflicts
Provides ways of resolving conflicts among members of a group, such as making and enforcing laws

17. Providing Public Services
Helps to provide essential services that people cannot provide by themselves
These include:
Roads
Buildings
Make and enforce laws
Public health and safety

18. Providing National Security
Protect people from other states/nations or other threats
Helps deal with foreign nations
Major concern of sovereign state

19. Making Economic Decisions
Governments use their power, money, and resources to help keep people happy
Also use their resources to help other nations
Try to stimulate economy to help people in struggling times

20. Essential Questions
How do the four essential features help to determine whether a land mass is a state or not?
How do the Purpose of government effect your life on a daily basis?