1. THE ORIGINS OF OUR GOVERNMENT

2. EVOLUTIONARY THEORY
Government developed as families joined to form clans, which grew into tribes regulated by older males

3. FORCE THEORY
An individual or small group takes power by force over a population of people.

4. DIVINE RIGHT THEORY
The idea that God created the state and the ruler of said state is doing the will of God. Usually Royalty… inherited by blood.

5. SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY
The idea that individuals give up whatever freedom is needed in order to create a state that provides safety and well-being.

6. JOHN LOCKE consent to be ruled. • Natural Rights Wrote:
Treatises on Government
• People must give their
consent to be ruled.
• Natural Rights
Life, Liberty and Property

7. THE SOCIAL CONTRACT
GOVERNMENT ONLY EXISTS TO PROTECT NATURAL RIGHTS

8. Thomas Hobbes Before GOV people lived in a state of nature (chaos)
Wrote: Leviathan
Before GOV people lived in a state of nature (chaos)
Weak overcome by strong
Made GOV to protect themselves

9. JEAN ROUSSEAU People were born free
Purpose of GOV is to maintain that freedom

10. THE BARON de Montesquieu
First to theorize the separation of powers
Said no one person should make law, enforce law, and interpret law

11. GREECE
DIRECT DEMOCRACY
EQUALITY IN VOTING

12. ROME
REPRESENTATIVE
DEMOCRACY

13. ENGLAND
MAGNA CARTA
CANNOT TAKE AWAY NATURAL RIGHTS WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW!
ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS
Established the symbolic monarch
• PARLIAMENT
House of Commons, House of Lords

14. JUDICIAL INFLUENCE ENGLISH COMMON LAW Legal Standard of Precedent
Judges only selected cases that hadn’t been decided before
Precedent, or preceding law decided similar cases