1. Principles of Government
Magruder Chapter One

2. Government and the State
Section One

3. What is Government? Government makes and enforces public policies.
Government consists of lawmakers, administrators, and judges.

4. Four Characteristics of a State
Population
A state consists of people
Largest country – China – 1.3 billion
Smallest country – Vatican – 800 people

5. Four Characteristics of a State
Territory
A state must have land

6. Four Characteristics of a State
Sovereignty
Sovereign states determine their own form of government

7. Four Characteristics of a State
Government
Government consists of the machinery and personnel by which the state is ruled.

8. Origins of the State The Force Theory
A person or group forced control over an area and people

9. Origins of the State The Evolutionary Theory
States originated in the family

10. Origins of the State The Divine Right Theory
God gave individuals or groups the right to rule

11. Origins of the State The Social Contract Theory
People agreed to give up power to the state in return for the state’s service to the general well-being of the people.

12. The Purpose of Government
Found in the Preamble of the United States Constitution
To Form a More Perfect Union
In union there is strength
To Establish Justice
The law should be administered reasonably, fairly, and impartially

13. The Purpose of Government
To Insure Domestic Tranquility
Without order, people would live in anarchy
Provide for the Common Defense
The state’s security rests on wise defense and foreign policies

14. The Purpose of Government
To Promote the General Welfare
The state has a responsibility to provide a variety of public services
To Secure the Blessings of Liberty
Freedom is necessary for a democracy

15. Forms of Government
Section Two

16. Classifying Governments
No two governments are alike
Governments are classified in order to analyze them

17. Geographic Distribution of Power
Unitary Government
Power is held in a single, central agency
Can create lower levels of government and can remove them at any time
All final decisions are made by the central government
Examples are Great Britain, France, Italy

18. Geographic Distribution of Power
Federal Government
Powers are divided between a central agency and several local governments
Each state government is specifically protected within a written constitution
Both levels can make final decisions
Examples are the US, Canada, Germany

19. Geographic Distribution of Power
Confederate Government
The central government has limited power with the most important authority reserved for member states
States control the vast majority of the power
Examples are the US under the Articles and the Confederate States of America

20. Legislature and Executive
Presidential Government
Executive and Legislative branches are independent and co-equal
Cannot serve in both at the same time
One cannot dissolve the other

21. Legislature and Executive
Parliamentary government
Members of the Executive Branch are also members of the Legislative Branch
One branch can remove the other if the need arises

22. Number Who Can Participate
Dictatorship
Participation in government is limited to the individual or group who rules
Democracy
The people hold the power and give consent to the government to rule

23. Basic Concepts of Democracy
Section Three

24. The Five Basic Concepts
The Foundations of Democracy
The fate of American democracy rests on the people’s acceptance of certain basic concepts.
The acceptance of the basic concepts of democracy presents Americans with problems and challenges.

25. The Five Basic Concepts
Fundamental Worth of the Individual
Democracy insists on the worth and dignity of all.
Sometimes the welfare of one person must be subordinated to the interests of the many.

26. The Five Basic Concepts
Equality of All Persons
Democracy insists on the equality of opportunity.
Democracy insists on equality before the law.

27. The Five Basic Concepts
Majority Rule and Minority Rights
Democracy argues that the majority will be right more often than wrong.
Democracy searches for satisfactory solutions to public problems.
The majority must recognize the right of the minority to become the majority.

28. The Five Basic Concepts
Necessity for Compromise
Compromise allows citizens to make public decisions.
Compromise is not an end in itself but a means to reach a public goal.

29. The Five Basic Concepts
Individual Freedom
Freedom cannot be absolute, or anarchy will result.
American democracy strives to strike a balance between liberty and authority.